The Russellville Democrat., 1890-12-11

had occasion. in May last to transmit to Congress report adopted by the inferna. tl0liai American Conference upon the subject of the incorporation of an international American bank, with q view to facilitating money exchange between the states repre- sented in that conference. such an lnsttfu- ton would greatly promote the trade VIC are seeking to develop. renew the recommen- datlon that careful and well guarded char ter be granted.
 RELIEF FOR THE SUPREME COURT.
 The bill for the relief of the Supreme Court has, after many years of discussion, reached q position when final action is easily attain able, and it is hoped that any differences of opinion may be so barInonized as to save the essential features of this very important measure. In this connection I earnestly re. new my recommendation that the salaries Of the Judges of the United states District courts be SO readlusted that none Of them. shall receive less than s5,0o0 per annum.
 NATIONAL BANKRUPT LAW.
 Tbeenactment of a National bankrupt law ! Istili regard as very desirable. The constitu. ton having given to Congress jurisdiction Of this subject It should be exercised and uni form rules provided for the administration of insolyent debtors. Tine fnconyenienees re- salting from the occasional and temporary exercise of this power by Congress, and from the conflicting State codes of insolvency which come into force intermediately should be removed by the enactment of a simple, in expensive and permanent National bankrupt law.
 
 also renew my recommendation in favor of legislation affording just copyright and protection to foreign authoron footing of reciprocal advantage for our authors. abroad
 SAFETY coUPLERs.
 It may still be impossible for this Congress to inaugurate, by suitable legislation, a movement looking to uniformity and in creased safety in the use of eouplers and brakes upon freight trains engaged inter state commerce. The chief difficulty in the WAY Is to secure agreement as to the best appliances, simplicity, effect iveness, and cost being considered This difficulty will only yield to legislation, which should be based upon full inquiry and im- partial tests The purpose should be to sc cure the cooperation of all well disposed managers and owners. but the fearful fact that every years delay involves the sacrifice of 1000 lives and the mAiming Of 2o000 young men should plead both with Congress and the managers against anf needless delay.
 THE ARID REGIONS.
 The subject of the conversion and equal distribution of the water supply Of the arid regions has had much attention from Con gress, but has not yet been put upon per mauent or satisfactory basis. The urgency of the subject does not grow ont of any lands for agriculture, but out cf the danger that the water supply and It's sites Tor the necessary catch basins may fall into the hands Of individuals or private corporations and be used to render snbsery- ient the large areas dependent upon such supply.
 
 The use of the telegraph by the Post ofHco Department as means for the rapid trans mission Of written communications Is, be- lieve, upon proper terms, quite desirable. The Government does not own or operate the railroads, and 1t should not think, own or operate telegraph lines. It does, how ever, seem to be quite practicable 2 the telegraph companies, as 1t does with the railroad companies to carry at specified rates such communications ffpc afa fGr of transmission. l recommend that such legislation be enacted as will enable the Post .Offce Department fairiy to lest Dy ex. pertinent the advantages of such use of the telegraph.
 ELECTION LAWS
 If any intelligent and loyal company of American citizens were required to catalogue the essential humane conditions Of National life, do not doubt that with absolute unanim- fly they would begin with free and honest elections. And lt IS gratifying to know gen orally there is growing and non partisan demaSd for better election laws. But against this sign of hope and progress must be set the depressing and undeniable fact that cleo ton laws and methods are sometimes cum ningly contriycd to secure minority control, while violence completes the shortcomings of fraud.
 In my last annual message suggested that the development of the existing law, proyid- ing Federal supervision of Congressional elections, offered an efIectiye method of re forming these abuses. The need of such law has manifested itself in many parts of the country, and it's wholesome restraints and penalties will be useful in all. The constitu- tIonaIity of such IepisIation has been affirmed by the Supreme Court. Its probable effect iyeness is evidenced by the character of the opposition that Is made to it. It has been denounced as if 1t were a 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 Con gress. It has declared that votes for mem- hers of Congress must be written or printed ballots It has provided for the appoint ment by the Circuit Courts in certain eases, and upon the petition Of a certain number or 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 scrutinize ths registry lists, and to afflN their names to the lists for the purpose of identi fication and the prevention of frauds; to at tend at elections and remain with the boxes till the ballots are counted, to attach to the registry lists and election returns any state ment touching the accuracy and fairness of the registry and election, and to take and transmit to the clerk Of the House of Representatives any evil dence Of fraudulent practices which may be presented to them. The same law provides for the appointment of Deputy United States marshaIs to attend at the polls, support the supervisors in the discharge Of their duties and to arrest persons violating the election laws The provisions of this familiar title of the revised statutes have been put Into exercise by both the great political AE south, by the filing with the court of the petitions required by law.
 lt is not, therefore, question whether we shall have Federal election law for we now have one and have had for nearly twenty years, but whether we shall have an effective law. The present law stops short Of effectiveness, for 1t surrenders to the local authorities all control over the certincation which establishes the prina facie right to seat in the House of Representatives This defect should be cured. Equality of representation and the purity of the electors must be main tained, or every thing that is valuable in our system of Government Is lost. The qualiflca' tions of an elcctor must be sought in the law, not in the opinions, pretudices, or fears of any class, however, powerful The path of the elector to the ballot box must be free from the ambush Of fear and the anticipation of fraud; the count SO true that none shall gainsay it, Such law should be absolutely non partisan and impartial. It should give the advantage to honesty and the control to majorities surely there Is nothing sectional about this creed and fl 1t snail happen that the penalties of laws in tended to enforce these rights fall here and not there, it Is not because the law Is sectional, but because, happily, crime is local and not universal. Nor should it be forgotten that every law, whether relating to elections or to any other subject, whether flon f9%e'ea s oy tae Stsd state pF 9 the Ss the marshal or constable, the posse comitatus, the prison, are all and always charged with unfriendiiness to any section
 
 or class who seek only to restrain violations of law and Of personal right, No community will find laWlcssness profitable. No eOnmu. nity can afford to have it known that the officers who are charged with the pres ervation of the public peace and the restraint of the criminal classes are themselves product of fraud or violence. The magistrate Is then without respect and the law without sanction. The Hoods of laWlessness can not be ieyced and made to flow in ono channel The killing of a United States marshal carrying a writ of arrest for an election offense Is full of prompting and suggestion to men who aue pursued by a city marshal for a. crime against life or property. But t Is said that this legislation will revive race animosities, and some have even sug. gested that when the peaceful methods of fraud are made impossible that they may be supplanted by intimidation and violence. If the proposed law gives to any qualified eleetor by c hairs weight more than his equal influence, or detracts by SO much from any other qualified elect or, it IS fatally impeached. But it the law is equal and the snimositles lt Is to evoke grow out Of the fact that some electors have been accustomed to exercise the fran chise for others as well as for themgelves flfllgF lsts.