Fergus County argus., 1890-12-11

\
! shifting from this service of Sl9,UU. Ib,
| trade of the United States with Australia
which is IN a considerable part carried by
these steamers, and the whole of which il
practically dependent upon the mail com
| munication which they maintain, ia larQel,
in our favor. Our total exports of mer-
chandise to Australian ports during the fis-
cal year ending June 30. 1850. were Sll, ,266.
| 49,, while the total imports of merchandise
from these ports were only Si,2U.G1G
Ii we are not willing To see this
| important steamship line withdrawn
| for San Francisco as the American terrni-
nal, congress should put it in the power of
the postmaster general to make liberal
| increase in the amount now paid for the
| transportation of this important mail.
The South Atlantic and Gulf ports Occu
py a very favored position towards the new
and important commerce which the reci-
prOcity clause Of the tariff act and the
postal shipping bill are designed to pro-
mote. Steamship lines from these ports to
some port of the South sea will almost GER
tainiy effect n connection between the rail
road systems Of the country long before
any continuous systems of railroads can be
put in operation. The verv large apprOpri-
alton made at the last sessiOn for the har-
Dor Of Galveston was justified, as it seemed
to be, by those considerations. The great
northwest will feel the advantage Of trunk
lines to the south as well as to the east, and
of the new markets opened for the supply
of food products and for many of their
manufactured product. ! had occasion III
nv last message to transmit to congress a
reply adopted by the international Ameri-
can conference upon the subject of the in
corporation of an international American
bank, with "a view of facilitating money ex-
chaI.ges between the states represented in
that conference. such an institution would
greatly promote the trade We are seeking to
that careful and well guarded charter be-
granted. do not think the powers granted
should include those ordinarily exercised
by trust, guarantee and safe deposit COM
panies, or that other branches in the United
states should be authorized than are strict
ly necessary to accomplish the object pri-
mariiy i'll view. namely. convenient for
eign exchange. IL is quite important that
prompt action should be taken III this mat
ter in order that any appropi iation
for better communication with those
countries and any agreement that MAY be
made for reciprocal trade may not 10 him
dered for the convenience of making ex-
changes Throughout European money Gen.
tres, or burdened by tie tribute which is an
incident of that method of business.
The bill for the relief of the supreme,
court, has after many years Of discussion
reached position when final action is ease
lily attainable and it is hoped that any diff
ference of opinion may be so compromised
to save the essential features of this very
important measure.
In this connection earnestly renew my
recommendation that the salaries of judges
of the United States courts DE SO read djusted
that none of them shall receive less than
5000 per annum.
The subject of adjusted Spanish and
Mexican land grants and the urgent neces-
sity of providing some commission or tribu-
nal to test questions of title growing out
of them, were brought by me to the atten-
tion Of congress at the last sessions. Bills
have been reported from the proper COM
missions aud both houses on the
subject and l very earnestly hope
to the delay which has attended the
settlement of disputes as to the title of
settlers and claimants under these grants.
These disputes retard prosperity and dis
turb the peace of large and important COM
munities. The governor of New Mexico, i'll
his last report to the secretary Of the in
terror, suggests some notifications of the
provision of the pending bill relating to
small holdings of farm lands. | commend
to your attention the suggestion of the
retary of the interior upon this subject.
The enactment Of a national bankrupt
law | still regard az very desirable. The
constitution having given to congress iuris-
diction of this subject, 1t should be exer-
cised, and uniform rules provided for the
administration of the affairs of insolvent
debtors. The Inconvenience resulting
from the occasional and temporary exercise
of this power by congress, ana from the
conflicting state codes ON insolvency, which
come into force intermediately. should be
removed by the enactment of "A simple, in-
expensive and permanent national bank
rupt law.
also renew my recommendation in favor
of legislation affording just copyright pro-
lection for foreign authors on a footing of
reciprocal advantage for authors abroad.
1t may still be possible for this congress
to inaugurate by suitable legislation,
movement looking to uniformity and in
creased safety in the u.s. Of couples and
brakes upon freight trains engaged III inter
state commerce. The chief difficulty in
the way IL to secure an agreement as to tina
best appliances, simplicity, effectiveness
and cost being considered. This difficulty
will only yield to legislation which should
be based on full inquiry and impartial
tests. The purpose should be to secure the
CO operation of all well disposed managers
and owners. but the fearful fact that every
years delay involves the sacrifice of 900
lives and the manning of 1D,UU young men
should plead both with congress and man
ayers against any needless delay.
The subject of the conservation and
equal distribution of the water supply Of
arid regions has had much attention from
congress. but has not us vet been pat upon
"a permanent and satisfactory basis. The
urgency uf the subject does not grow out
of any large present demand for the use of
the lands for agriculture, but out of the
danger that the water supply and the site for
the necessary catch basins may fall into the
hands of individual or private corporations
and be used to render subservient large
areas dependent on such supply. The own
er of water IL the owner of the lands. how
ever the titles may run. All proposed wa
ter sources and all necessary reservoirs
should be held by the government for the
equal use at fair rates Of the homestead set
tiers who will eventually take up these lands.
The United States should not. in my opin-
ion, undertake the construction of dams or
canals, but should limit all work
to such surveys and observations as will
a. termine the water supply, both surface
and subterranean. the areas capable of irri-
CATION. and the use of the storage capacity
of reservoirs. This 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 far
nished at fair rates without discrimination.
the rates to be subjected TO provisions by
the legislature or by boards of water COM
missioners duly constituted. The essential
thing to he secured il the common and
equal use at fair rates of the accumulated
water supply. IL were almost better that
these lands should remain arid that those
who occupy them should become the
slaves of unrestrained monopolists, con
trolling the essential element of land
values and crop results.
The use of the telegraph by the postoilice
department as means for the rapid trans
mission of written communications il.
believe, upon proper terms. quite desirable.
The government does not own or operate
the railroads and it should not, think own
or operate the Telegraph lines. Ii does.
however. seem to tie quite practicable for
the government to contract with the tele-