The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-12-02

his last report to the Secretary Of the Interior
gests some notifications Of the provisions of the
farm lands. l commend TO your attention the
suggestions Of the Secretary of the Interior on
this subject
The enactment of a national bapl,rupt law still
regard as very desirable. The constitution having
given to Congress jurisdiction of this Subject It
should be exercised and uniform rules provided
for the administration of affairs of insolvent
debtors. The Inconvenience resulting from the
occasional and temporary exercise Of this power
by Congress and from the conflicting states codes
of insolvency which come into force intermedi-
ately should be removed by the enactment of q
simple, inexpensive and permanent national bank
rupt law
also renew my recommendation in favor of
LEGISLATION affordng copyright protection to for
a authors on footing Of reciprocal advantage
Ior our authors abroad.
It may be still possible for this Congress to inaug
urse ~ suitable legislation movement looking to
uIor1ity ana increased safety in the use OF coup
lers ana brakes on freight trains engaged in inter
state commerce. The chief difficulty IN the way is
70 secure an agreement as to the appliance en-
ployed 10 effect evenness and the cost being con-
s1dered. This difficulty will only Weld to iegisa-
ton, which should be based upon full inquiry and
impartial tests. The purpose should be to secure
the cooperation of all well disposed managers and
owners but the fearful fact that every years delay
involves the sacrifice Of two thousand lives and the
naming of twenty thousand young men, should
plead both with Congress and the managers against
any needless delays.
The subject of the conservation and equal distri-
puIon OF the water supply Of the arid regions has
had much attention from Congress but has not yet
DSeh put upon permanent and satisfactory basis
The urgency of the subject does not grow out of any
large present demand for the use Of these lands
Tor agriculture but out Of the danger that the
ter supply and the sites for the necessary catch
basins may fall into the hands of individuals or
private corporations and be used to render subser-
Went the large areas dependent upon such supply
The owner of the water is the owner of the lands
however the titles may run. All unappropriated
national water sources and all necessary reservoir
sites should be held by the government for the
equaized fair rates of the homestead settlers, who
will eventually take up those lands. The United
States should not, in my opinion, undertake the
construction of dams or canals but should limit its
work to such surveys and observations as will de-
termine the water supply both surface and subter-
ranean, the areas capable of irrigation and the
location and storage capacity of reservoirs This
done use Of the water and of the reservoirs nigh
be granted to the respective states territories or
individuals associations, upon the condition
that the necessary works should be constructed
and the water furnished at fair rate and without
discrimination, the rates to be subjected to super
vision by the legislature by boards of water com
missioners duly constituted. The essential thing
to be secured is the common and equal supply.
1t were almost better that these lands should re-
main arid than that those who occupy them should
become the slaves of unrestrined monopolies, con-
trolling the one essential element of land values
and crop results.
The use of the telegraph by the post-office de-
partment as a means for the rapid transmission of
written communications is, / believe, upon proper
quite ueblTdDic. Inc governments uOeS nOJ
own and operate the railroads and it should not,
think, own operate the telegraph lines. 1t does
however, seem to be quite practicable for the gov
eminent to contract with the telegraph companies,
it does with the railroad companies, to carry at
specified rates such communications the senders
may designate for this method of transmission.
recommend that such legislation be enacted as
will enable the postofce department fairly to test
bv experience the advantages of such use Of the
telegraph.
FREE AND HONEST ELECTIONS.
If any intelligent and loyal company of Ameri-
citizens were required to catalogue the essen
tial conditions of national life, do not doubt that
with absolute unanimity they would begin with
"Free and Honest Elections" and it Is gratifying
to know that generally therelis growing need and
partisan demand for better election laws, but
against this sign of hone and progress must be set
the depressing and undeniable fact that election
laws and methods are sometimes cunningly con-
trbuted TO secure minority control, while violence
completes the short coming of fraud.
In my last annual message suggested that the
development of the existing law providing a fed
eral supervision of Congressional elections offered
The need Of such law has manifested itself in
many parts of the country, and its wholesome re-
straints and penalties will be useful in all. The
constitutionality of such legislation has been
affirmed by the supreme court. Its probable effec-
tveness is evinced by the character of the opposi
ton that is made to it, 1t has been denounced, as
If it were new exercise of federal power, and an
invasion of the rights of the states. Nothing
could be further from the truth. Congress has
fixed the time for the election of members of Con-
gress. 1t has been declared that votes for mem
bers of Congress must be by written or printed
ballot 1t has provided for the appointment by
the circuit courts in certain cases and upon the
petition of certain number of citizens of election
supervisors and made it their duty to supervise the
registration of voters conducted by the state Off
GERS; to challenge persons Offering to register to
personally inspect and scrutinize the registry lists
and to afix their names to the lists for the pur-
poses of Identification and the prevention of
frauds; to attend at elections and remain with the
boxes till the votes all cast and counted; to at
tach to the registry lists and election returns any
statement touching the accuracy and fairness of
the registry and election and to take and transmit
to the Clerk of the House Of Representatives any
evidence Of fraudulent practices which may be
presented to them. The same law provides for the
appointment of deputy United States marshals to
attend at the polls, support the supervisors in the
discharge of their duties, and to arrest persons
violating the election laws, and the provisions of
this familiar title.
The revised statutes have been put into exercise
by both of the great political parties in the North
well in the South, by filing with the court of
the petitions required by the law. 1t is not there
fore, question whether we shall have Federal
Election Law for we now have one and have had
for nearly twenty years, but whether shall have
effective law. The present law stops just short
of effectiveness, for it surrenders to the local
thorites all control over the certifcation, which
establishes the primd fdcie right to seat in the
House of Representatives. This defect should be
cured. Equality of representation and the purity
of the elections must be maintained or everything
lost. The qualifications of an election must be
sought in the law not in the opinions, prejudices
or fears of any class, however powerful. The
path of the elector to the ballotbox must be free
from the ambush of fear and the entice-
ments of fraud, the count so true and
open that none shall gainsay it. Such
a law should be absolutely non-partisan and
impartial. 1t should give the advantage to hon
esty and the control to maiorites Surely there is
nothing sectional about this creed, and If it shall
happen that the penalties of laws intended to en-
far hasa iuht fol md ia ba-
cause the law is sectional, but because happily
crime is local and not universal. Nor should it be
forgotten that every law whether relating TO cleo
tions or to any other subj ct, whether enacted by
the state or the government, has force behind it.
The courts, the marshal or constable, the posse
coHitdtas the prison, are all and always behind
the law. One cannot be justly charged with un-
friendness to any section or class who seeks only
to restrain violations of law and of personal right
No community will find lawlessness profitable.
No community can afford to have 1t known that
officers who are charged with the preserva-
ton of the public peace and the restraint
of the criminal class are themselves the pro
duct OF fraud or violence; Inc magistrate Is
The flood of lawlessness cannot be leyelled and
made to run in one channel. The killing of a
United States marshal, carrying writ OF arrest for
election offense, is full of prompting and sug-
gestion to men who are pursued by city marshal
for crime against life or property But 1t is said
that this legislation will revive race luminosity and
some have even suggested that when the peace
full methods of fraud made impossible they
NAV be supplemented by intimidation and VIC
lence If the proposed law gives to any quail
fled eleetor, by hairs weight, more than
his equal influence or detracts by so much
from any other qualified elector, it is fully i'm
peached. But if the law is equal and the animos-
tiles 1t is to evoke grow out of the fact some cleo
tors have been accustomed to exercise the fran
chise for others as we'll as for themselves, then
these animosties ought not to be confessed
without shame and cannot be given any
weight in discussion without dishonor. No
choice is left to me but to enforce with vigor
all laws intended to secure the citizen in his
stitutional rights, and to recommend that the in
adequacies of such laws be promptly remedied. If
to promote with zeal and ready interest every
project for the development of its material inter
ests, its rivers, harbors, mines and factories,
and the intelligence, peace and security under
the law Of its communities and Its homes,
is not accepted as sufficient evidence of
friendliness to any state section / can
not add connivance at election practices, that
not only disturb local results, but electors of the
states and sections of their most priceless political
rights. The preparation of the general appropria
ton bills should be conducted with the greatest
care and there should be the closest scrutiny of
expenditures. Appropriations should be adequate
to the needs of the public service but they should
be absolutely free from prodigality.
l venture again to remind you that the brief
time remaining for the consideration of the i'm
portant legislation now awaiting your attention
offers no margin for waste If the present duty is
discharged with diligence, fidelity and courage
the work of the 5lst Congress may be confidently
submitted to the consderate judgment Of the
people.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, Dec. i, 1890.