River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1890-12-04


Francisco in the steamers, by raIi van.
couver estimated annual income OF $4,000.
while, as l have stated we are paying out for
the support Of the steamship line that brings
this mail to US only s46.000 leaving annual
surplus resulting from this service OF SSe.0OO
The trade of the United States with Australia
which is in a considerable part carried by
these steamers. and the whole OF fich
is practically dependent upon the mail som
municatiOn which they maintain, is lar aly 10
our favor. Our total exports OF mere andlse
to Australian ports during the fiscal ye. end
ing June 30, 1890 were sli 66.4s4, while he
total imports Of merchandise from these po4 y
were only 81. 1850 II We are not willing t.
see this important steamship line withdrawn,
or continued with Vancouver substituted for
San Francisco as the American terminal Con-
gress should put II in the power OF the Post
master, General TO make liberal increase in
the amount now paid for the transportation Of
this important mail
BETTER ELECTION LAWS.
II any intelligent and loyal company Of
American citizens required TO catalogue
the essential human conditions OF life, do
not doubt that with absolute unanimity .
would begin with free and honest elections
And il is gratifying TO know that generally
for better election laws. But against this
sign of hope and progress must be set the de-
pressing and undeniable fact that election
laws and methods are sometimes cunningly
contriyed TO secure minority control while
violence completes the shortcomings OF fraud
PASS THE ELECTION LAW.
In my last annual message 1 suggested that
the development of the existing law provid-
ing a Federal supervision OF Co ngresslonal
elections offered an effective method Of re-
forming these abuses. The need of such law
has manifested itself in many parts OF the
country. and Us wholesome restraints an
penalties will he useful IN all. The constitu-
tonality OF such Legislation has been az
firmed by the Supreme Court Its probable
effectiveness is evidenced by the character OF
the opposition that is made TO it. IL has been
denounced as IL IL were new exercise OF Fed
eral power and 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. II has de-
clared that votes for members OF Congress
must be, by writer nIde,,aa or Cor printed ted
appointment by the circuit courts in GER
tain cases, and upon the petition OF
certain number Of citizens Of election super
visors and made IL their duty TO supervise
the registration OF voters conducted by the
State officers; to challenge persons Offering to
inze the regs try lists, and to affix their
names to the lists for the purpose or 1dentih-
cation and the prevention. OF frauds; TO
attend at elections and remain with the
| boxes till the votes are al cast and
counted; to attach to the registry
/ list and election returns any statement touch
| ing the accuracy and fairness of the registry
/ and election, and to take and transmit to the
4 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 10 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
| tine Revised Statutes have been put 10 exercise
| by both the pol teal parties. and in the North
as well as in the South, by the filing with the
| court of the petitions required by law
| j. IS not, therefore, question whether we
| shall have a 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 just short OF ef-
1 fectiveness. for il surrenders to the local
| authorities all control over the certihcation
I which establishes the prima facie right 10
seat in the House OF Representatives This
defect should be cured. Equality OF repre-
| sentation and the parity of the electors must
| be maintained or every thing that is valuable
| in our system OF government is lost The quail
! ifications of an electOr must be sought IN the
law. not in the opinions, prejndices or fears OF
| any class, however powerful. The path OF the
eector To the ballot box must be free from
the ambush of fear and the enticements OF
| fraud; the count so true and open that none
1 shall gainsay it. Such a law SHOULD be abso-
| lutely non-partisan and impartial. II should
| give the advantage TO honesty and the con.
| troll to majorities. Surely there Is nothing
| sectional about this creed, and II 1t shall
happen that the penalties of laws intended 10
| enforce these rights Iall here and not there.
/ il is not because the law Is sectional, bus
because happily, crime IS local ana NOS
universal. Nor should it be forgotten
| that every law, whether relating TO elections
| or to any other subject, whether enacted by
| the State or by the Nation, has force behind it.
The courts, the marshal or constable, the
| posse eomitatus, the prison, are all and always
/ behind the law.
one can not justly be charged with unfriend.
| Illness TO any section OF class WIO seeks only
To restrain violation OF law and Of personalrigEt
No community will find lawless profitable.
No community can afford TO have IL
| known that the officers who are charged with
| the preservation Of the public peace und the
/ restraint of the criminal classes are themselves
the product Of fraud or violence Tbs
| magistrate is then without respect and the
| law without sanction. The floods Of lawless-
| ness can not be leveed and made TO run in one
channel The killing OF United States Mar
sral carrying writ OF arrest for an election
offense is full OF prompting and suggestion "a
men who are pursued by city marshal for
crime against life and property, but II IS sald
that this legislation will revive race animosi.
ties, and some have even suggested
that when the peaceable methods OF
fraud are made impossible they may
be supplemented by intimidation and
violence. II the proposed law gives TO any
qualified elector by hairs weight. more than
his equal influence, or detracts by SO much
from any other qualified elector IL IS fatally i'm
peached But il The law is equal and the ami
mosities IL is TO evoke grow out OF the TACT that
some electors have been accustomed TO eXer-
else the franchise for others as well as Tor
themselves then these animosities ought not
to be confessed without shame and can not be
given any weight in the discussion without dis.
honor No choice is left to me but to enforce
with vigor all laws Intended TO secure to me
citizen his constitutional rights and TO recon-
mend tn at the inadequacies OF such laws be
promptly remedied
II to promote with zeal and ready interest
every project for the development OF its mate
rial interests, its rivers, harbors, mines ans
factories and the intelligence and peace and
/ security unuer tue law VI itS ahN
its homes is not accepted as sufl cient evidence
of friendliness to any State or section, can not
add connivance at election practices that not
only disturb local results but rob the electors
OF other States and sections of their most
priceless political rights.
APPROPRIATION BILLS.
The preparation OF the general appropriation
bills should be conducted with the greatest
care and closest scrutiny of expenditures. Ap'
proprations should be adequate to the needs
OF the pubic service, but they should be aoso-
lutely free from prodigality
| venture again to remind you that the brief
time remaining for the consideration of the i'm.
portant legislation now awaiting your atten-
tion offers no margin for waste. II the present
duty is discharged with diligence. fidelity and
courage the work of the Fifty first Congress
NAV be confidently submitted to the consider
ate judgment Of the people.
BENJAMIN HARRISON,
EXECUTIVE MANSION, December /, 1890.