Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-12-02

lions Of the pending bills relating to the
holding of farm lands. l commend TO
| your attention the suggestions of the sec
rotary of the interior upon this subject.
BANKRUPT LAW.
The enactment OF national bankrupt
| law is regarded desirable. The cousti-
tuition having given to congress jurisdic-
ton Of this subject, II should be exer-
clsed, and uniform rules provided for
the administration of the affairs of in
solvent debtors. The Inconvenience re-
sulting from the occasional aud temnor-
airy exercise OF this power by congress,
and from the conflicting state codes of
insolvency which come into force inter-
mediaiely, should be removed by the en-
actment of simple, inexpensive aud
permanent national bankrupt law.
COPYRIGHT LAW.
l also renew my recommendations in
favor of legislation affordins q just copy
right and protection to foreign authors
on footing of reciprocal advantage for
our authors abroad.
UNIFORM COUPLFRs.
II may still be impossible for this
congress to inaueurate BY suitable leg
islation movement looking TO uniform
ity and increased safety in the use of
engaged in interstate commerce. The
chief difficulty in the way is to secure
an agreement as TO the best appliance,
simplicity, effectiveness aud cost being
considered. This difficulty will only
yield to legislation 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 thousandi lives and the
manning of 20 900 young men should
plead, both with congress and the man
ayers. against any needless delay.
WATER SUPPLY.
The subject of the conservative and
equal distribution of the water supply OF
the arid regious has had much attention
from congress, but has not as yet been
put upon permanent and satisfactory
basis. The urgency of the subject does
not grow out of any large present de-
mand for the use of these lands for 8gri-
culture, but out Of the danger that the
water supply aud the sites for the neces-
snry catch basins may fall into the hands
of individuals or private corporations,
aud be used to render subservieni the
large areas dependent upon such supply.
The owner of the water is the owner of
the lands, however the titles may run.
All unarpropriated natural water
sources, and all necessary reservoir sites
should be held by the government tor
equal use at fair rates, of the homestead
settlers, who will eventually take up
these lands, The United States should
not. in my opinion, undertake the con-
struc ion Of dams or canals. but should
80, rnrlr 70 nd oil,
sprvntions as will determine the water
supply, both surface and subterrauean,
the areas capable OF irrigation, and the
use, location and storage capacity of
reservoirs. This done, the use of the
water and sale OF the reservoir sites
might be granted to the respective
states and territories, or to iudirid-
uals or associations, upon the con-
tion that the necessary work 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 COM |
missioners duly constituted. The essen |
tial thing to be secured Is the common |
and equal use at fair rates of the accu- |
INFLATED water supply. 1t were almost |
better that these lands should remain |
arid than that those who occupy them |
should become the slaves OF unrestrnined |
monOpolIes, controlling the one and es-
sential element of land values and crop
results.
THE TELEGRAPH.
The use OF the telegraph by the post
Office department as means for the
rapid Transmission of written communi-
cations is, believe, upon proper terms,
quite desirable. The government does
not own or operate the railroads. and it
should not, think, own Ut operate any
lines. II does, however, seem I
to be quite practicable for the govern
ment to contract with the telegraph COM
panies, as II does with the railroad COM
panies, to carry at specified rates such
as the senders may des-
gnate for this method of Transmission.
recommend that such legislation be
enacted as will enable the postoffice de-
partment fairly to test, by experiment,
the advantages Of such use of the tele-
yraDh.
FEDERAL ELECTIONS.
4 Plea for the Force Bill Made BY tha