The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-12-02

OF reservoirs. IhlS done, the use OF the
water and of the reservoir sites might be
granted to the respective states or terri
tories, or to individuals or associations
upon the condition that the necessary
works should be constructed and the water
furnished at fair rates without diScrimlna-
ton, enacted by the legislatures or by
boards OF water commissioners duly con-
stituted. The essential thing to be secured
Is the common and equal use at fair
rates of the accumulated water supply. 1t
were almost better that these lands should
remain arid than that those who occupy
them should become the slaves of unre-
strained monopolies controlling the essen
tial element of landval and crop results.
POSTAL TELEGRAPH.
The use of the telegraph by the postofice
department as means for the rapid trans
mission of written communications is, be-
neve, upon proper terms, quite desirable.
! The government does not own or operate
the railroads and it should not, l think, own
or operate the telegraph lines. 1t does,
| however, seem to be quite practicable for
the government TO contract with the tele-
graph as itdoes with the railroads to carry
at specified rates such communications as
| the sender may designate. For this method
| of transmission recommend that such leg
islation be enacted as will enable the post
office department fairly to test by expert
meGt the advantages of such use of the
telegraph.
FEDERAL ELECTION LAWS.
If any intelligent and loyal company of
American citizens were required to cata-
logue the essential humsn conditions of ma
tional life, do not doubt that with abso
lutte unamity, these would begin with
"free and honest elections and it is
gratifying to know that generally there is
a growing ana non-partisan demand for
better election laws, but against this sign
OF hoped progress, must be set the depress-
ing and undepiable fact that election laws
aud methods are sometimes eunningly con-
trived to insure the minoriuy's control,
while violence completes the shortcomings
of fraud. In my last annual message, |
suggested that the amendment OF the eX-
listing law, providing federal supervision
of Congressional elections, offered an eff
fective method of reforming these abuses.
The need of such a law has
manifested itself in many parts of the coun-
try and its wholesome restraints and pen
alties will be useful in all. the constitu-
tionality of such legislation has been af-
hrmed by the supreme court. is probable
effectiveness is evidenced by the character
OF the opposition that is made to it. 1t has
been denounced as if it were a new exer-
else Of federal power and an invasion of
the rights of the states. Nothing could be
ready fixed the time for the election of
members of Congress. 1t has declared that
the vote for members OF Congress must be
by written or printed ballot 1t has pro-
vided for the appointment by the
circuit courts in certain cases
and upon the petition of "a
! a certain number of citizens of election
supervisors and made it their duty to su-
, pervise the registration of voters con-
Quoted by the state officers; to challenge
, persons offering to register; to personally
inspect and scrutiniZe the registry lists,
, and to affix their names to the lists for the
: purpose OF identification and the proven
: ton of frauds; to attend at elections and
remain with the boxes until the votes are
al cast and counted; to attach to the regis
try lists and election returns any state
, ment touching the accuracy and fairness OF
OF the registry and elections: to take and
transmit to the clerk of the House
of Representatives and evidence of fraud
ulent practices which may be presented to
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 per
| sons violating the election laws. The pro
visions of this familiar title Of the revised
. statues have been put into exercise by both
of the great political parties and in the
t north as well as in the south by the filing
/ with the court of the petitions required by
? law. 1t is not therefore, question
whether we should have federal election
t law, for we now have one and have had one
1 for nearly twenty years, but whether We
[ shall have an effective law. The presen
law stops Just short of effectiveness for i
= surrenders to the local authorities all con
g troll over the certifcation which establishe:
2 the prind fdcic right to a seat in the HOUSE
Of Representatives. This defect should be
, nura6 EOualitv of Tanrps an Rs rior nd N.
parity of the electors must be maintained
or everything that is valuable in our sys.
TEN OF government Is lost. The qualitica
tons OF an elector must be sought in the
3 law, not in the opinions, prejudice or fear:
of any class, however powerful. The path
of the elector to the ballot box must bt
free from the ambush of fear and the en-
ticement Of fraud; the count so true anC
S open that none shall gainsay it. Such
: law should be absolutely non-partisan anG
/ impartial. Ii should give the advantage tc
/ honesty and the control to maiorities
I Surely there is nothing sectional about thi:
0 creed, and if 1t shall happen that the pen
alties of laws intended to enforce these
rights fall here and not there it is no
because the law is sectional, bu
! because happily crime is local and no
universal Nor should it be forgotten
that every law, whether relating to cleo
tons or to any other subject whether en-
n acted by the state or by the nation, ha
force behind it; the courts, the marshal O
q constable. the posse comitatus, the prison
are all and always behind the law. On
cannot be justly charged with unfrIendli
4 ness to any section or class who seeks onl,
TO restrain violations OF law and of persona
right No community will find lawlessnes
4 profitable; no community can afford I
Q have it known that the officers who ar
charged with the preservation of the publ
I peace and the restraint of the crimins
, classes are themselves the product of frau
, OF violence. The magistrate is then with
: out respect and the law without sanction
p The floods of lawlessness can be levied an
y made TO run in one channel. The killing @
a United States marshal carrying writ O
arrest for an election offense is full o
promptings and otfense to men who ar
1t pursued by city marshal for Grim
e against life or property. BUTT is said tina
e some have even suggested tina
II when the peaceful methods O
: fraud are made impossible, they ma
t. be supplanted by intimidation ant
: violence. If the proposed law gives an
n qualified elector more than his equal influ
2. ence or detracts by so much from any the
?. qualified elector it is fatally impeacned. bu
a if the law is equal and the animosities it i
Al TO evoke grow out of the fact that som
l. electors have been accustomed to exercs
st the franchise for others as we'll as TO
n themselves, then the animosities ought NO
" to be confessed without shame, and cannc
be given any weight in the discussion witt
out dishonor. No choice is left to me bu
8 to enforce with vigor all laws intended
s secure to the citizen his constitutions
a rights, and TO recommend that the mad,
D. quateness of such laws be promptly RENE
ID died. If to promote with zeal and ready il
IN terest every project for the development {
" its material interests, its rivers, harbor
TO mines and factories, and the intelligenc,
e. peace and security under tho law of /,