Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-12-04
Seem to me most important now briefly cali
your attention.


To Develop American Steamship Lines.
l desire to repeat with added urgency the
recommendatlons contained in my last annual
message in relation to the development OF
clause Of the tariff bill will be largely linn
tied, and its benefits retarded aud dimin-
1sbeil, l. provision is not contemporaneousIy
nlad3 t. courage the establishment of first
class cam communication between our
pn:n' @nl be ports OF such nations as
coptn ciGl exchanges. The steamship car
ryirg III mails sta! eddy and frequently
2nd "Htl1ng TO passengers r. comfortable,
dition o foreign tra2e 1t carries the order
Vi IN bay +, Lut not all that is ordered
." % Gh5. ii gives to the sailing vessels such
ago as are not urgent or perishable, and
,'frt c-!y at lea t. promote that important adj
uLtt OF commerce. There is both in this
-. rt.ry AID in the nations of Central and South
tu erica Il tate Of expectation and confidence
IS ~ l&cr, &sel trade that will give double
vIu, y~Cr prompt action upon this question.
Water for Arid Regions.
The su"ect OF the conservation and equal
distribution OF the water supply OF the arid
-lULS has A&d much attention from Congress-
ami a isfactory basis. The urgency of the sub
So aces not grow out Of any large present
agriculture. but out of the danger that
the wa er supply and the sites for
the necessary catch basins may fall into the
hands OF Individuals or private corporations
ami be used 70 render subserVient the large
ar as dependent upon such supply. The
owner OF the water is the owner of the
lands, however the titles may run. All
unappropriated natural water sources and
all necessary reservoir sites should be held
fair rates, of the homestead settlers who will
eventually take up these lands. The United
States should not, in my opinion, undertake the
construc ion OF dams or canals, but should
limit its work to such surveys and observations
will determine the water supply both
surface and subterranean, the areas capable
of irritation, and the use, location OF,
and storage capacity of reservoirs. This done,
the use Of the water and of the reservoir
sites might be granted to the respective States
or Territories or to individuals or as sociations,
upon the condition that the necessary works
should be constructed and the water fur
nished st fair rates, without discrimination,
the rates to be subject to supervision by
the Legislatures or by boards of water com.
missioners duly constituted. The essential
thing to be secured is the common and equal
use at fair rates of the accumulated water sup.
ply. 1t We're almost better that these lands
should remain arid than that those who occupy
them should become the slaves of unrestrained
monopolies, controlling the essential element OF
land values and crop results.
Better Election Laws.
If any intelligent and loyal company q
American citizens were required to catalogue
not doubt that with absolute unanimity II
would begin with free and honest elections.s
And it is gratifying to know that generally
there is q growing and non partisan demand
for better election laws But against this sign
of hope and progress must be set the depressing
and undeniable fact that election laws and
methods are sometimes cunningly contrived to
secure minority control while violence com,
pleteg the shortcomings OF fraud.
Pass the Election Law
In my last annual message I suggested that
the development Of the existing law providing
a Federal supervision Of Congressional cleo
these abuses. The need of such a law has
manifested itself In many parts OF the country,
and its wholesome restraints and penal
ties will be useful in all The constitution:
ality of such legislation has been affirmed
by the Supreme Court. Its probable effect.
iEeness is evidenced by the character n h. Tot OF
denounced as if it were g. new exercise OF
Federal power and an invasion OF the rights
of the States Nothing could be further from
the truth. Congress has already fixed the
time for the election Of members OF Congress.
1t has declared that votes for members OF
Congress must be by written or printed ballots
it has provided for the appointment by the Cir.
cult Courts in certain cases, and upon the petit
ton of certain number of citizens, of election
supervisors and made it their duty to supervise
the registration OF voters conducted by the
State officers to challenge persons offering
to register; to personally inspect and scrut-
inize the registry lists, and 10 affix their
names to the lists for the purpose of identifca-
ton and the prevention OF frauds to attend at
elections and remain with the boxes Till the
votes are all cast and counted to attach to the
registry list and election returns any statement
touching the accuracy and fairness OF the regis.
I1v llSb ana elecIlOu, duu 10 take anu trauBIL1b
to the Clerk of the House of Representatives any
evidence of the fraudulent practices which may
be presented to them. The same law provides
for the appointments OF Deputy United States
Marsha1s to attend at the polls, support the
supervisors in the discharge of their duties
and to arrest persons violating the election
law. The provisions of this familiar title IN
the Revised Statutes have been put to exc rc1se
by both the political PARTIES and in the North
as well rs in the South, by the filing with the
court of the petitions required by law.
It is not, therefore, . question whether We
shall have federal election law. for We nov