Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1890-12-06
PROMPT LEGISLATION URGED.

products and for many of their manufactured
5gFDductS.
PROMPT LEGISLATION URGED.
Yrof,osed international Bank and the Re
lief of the Supreme Court.
/ had occasion in my last to transmit to Con,
gsess II report adopted by the International
American Conference upon the subject OF the In
corporation of an international American ank,
With view to facilitating money exchanges be-
awecn the states represented i'll that conference
such all institution would greatly promote the
sradC We are seeking TO develop ! renew the
recommendation thata careful and Wcl-guarded
charter be granted. do not think the powers
granted should include those ordinarily eXer-
eised by trust, guaranty and safe deposit com
panicS, or that more branches i'll the United
States should be authorized than are strictly
necessary to accomplish the object primarily in
view, namely. convenient foreign exchanges. 1t
is quite important that prompt action Shouldbe
sakcn in this matter. in order that any appro-
priatioDS for better communication with these
countries, and any agreements that may be
snfde for reciprocal trade. may not be hlndered
ny the Inconvenience OF making exchanges
through European money centcrs, or burdened
Thy the tribute which is an incident OF that
method of business.
has. fter many years of discussion, reached a
position where final action is easily attalnable,
and 1T is hoped that any differences of opinion
may be so harmoniZed as to show the essential
features of this very important measure. In
&biS connection / earnestly renew my recon-
xnendation that the salaries of the judges of
Omitted States district courts be so rcadluSted
$hat none of them shall receive less than $4,000
per annum
The subject of the unadiusted Spanish and
Mexcan land grants, and the urgent necessity
Cor providing some commission or tribunal for
4he trial of questions of the title growing out of
Rhem, we're twice brought by me to the atten-
sion of Congress at the last session. Bills have
hcen reported from the proper committees III
both Houses upon the subject and very earn
estly hope that this Congress Will put an end to
the delay which has attended the settlement of
the disputes as to the title between the settlers
aHd the claimants under these grants. These
disputes retard the prosperity and disturb the
peaCC of large ana important communities.
The governor of New Mexico, in his last report
40 the secretary of the interior, suggests some
notifications of the provisions of the pending
bills relating to the small holdings of farm
lands commend to your attention the sug-
scstionS Of the secretary of the interior upon
thiS subject.
The enactment of Il national bankrupt law
sill regard very desirable. The constitu-
tiOn having given to Congress jurisdiction of
ths subject it should be exercised, and uniform
rules provided for the administration of the af-
fairs of inSolVent debtors. The Inconvenience
scSuting from the occasional and temporary
exercise of this power by Congress, and for.
ahe conflicting state codes of insolvency which
come into force intcrnedatcly, should be re-
mOvCd by the enactment of a simple, lneXpen-
Siyc. and permanent national bankrupt law.
also renew my recommendation Ill favor OF
legislation at1ording just copyright protection
Us foreign authors a footing of reciprocal ad
vantage for our authors abroad.
Il may still be possible for this Congress toin-
auguratc, by Suitable legislation, a movement
looking 10 uniformity and increased safety in
{hc use of couplers and brakes upon freight
trains engaged i'll Interstate commerce. The
chief difficulty in the way is to secure agree
ancnt SIS to the best appliances, simplicity, eff
teCtivCncss aud cost being considered This
difficulty Will only yield to legislation, which
should he based upon full inquiry and impair
siai 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 1000 lives and
abe manning OF 10000 young men should plead
both with Congress and the managers against
ANY needless delay.
Thesubiect of the conservation and equal dis
trihuton of the water supply Of the arid regions
Aas had much attentlon from Congress- but has
not rs yet been put upon permanent and salts
factory basis. The urgency OF the subject does
not grow out of any large present demand for
she use of these lands for Agriculture but out of
the danger that the water supply and the sites for
the necessary catch basins maytall into the hands
of individuals or private corporations and be
used to render Subservient the large areas de-
9endent 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
erument for the equal use at fair rates, of the
homestead settlers who will eventually take up
thcse lands. The United States should not, in
ANY opinion. undertake the construction of dams
canals. but should limit its work to such sur
YcyS and observations as will determine the wa
lGr supply, both surface and Subterranean, the
areas capable of irrigation, and the use loca-
ton and storage capacity of reservoirs. This
done, the use OF inc water ana t the reservoir
sites might be granted to the respective states
territories, to individuals or associations upon
The condition that the necessary works should be
constructed and the water furnished at fair
rates, without discrimination, the rates to be
subject to supervision by the Legislatures or by
boards of water commissioners duly cOnsti-
3uted The essential thing to be secured is the
common and equal use at fair rates of the accu-
smulated water supply. 1t were almost better
Ihat these lands should remain arid than that
.hose who occupy them should become the
slaves of unrestrained monopolieS, controlling
1he one essential element of land values and
crop results.
The use of the telegraph by the Post-of1ice
department means for the rapid transmits
sion of written communications is, believe
apou proper terms, quite desirable The gov
Grumeut does not own or operate the railroads
aud it should not, think, OWE or operate the
telegraph lines 1t does. however, seem to be
quite practicable for the government to con-
iraCt with the telegraph companies, us it does
with the railroad companies, to carry at speci-
acd rates such communications as the senderS
May designate for this method of transmission.
preCOmmCnd that such legislation be enacted as
will enable the Post office Department fairly to
sest by experiment the advantages of such use
at the telegraph.
DEMANDS FOR AN 81 FICTION IAW