The Brookhaven leader., 1890-12-11
oyer,ures Tor enlarged commercial ss
LIE INrERNArIoNAL. .AMER1cAN nANK.

Ihad occasion, in May last, to trassoais .
| Congress report adopted by the lntorna
tional American Conference upon thp subtee
of the incorporation of an internatiohs
American bank, with a view to fachttattni
| money exchange between the states repre-
sented in that conference. Such an institu-
| tion would greatly promote the trade W. are
| seeking to develop. l renew the reconnDen-
datiOn that "A careful and well guarded ohar-
| ter be granted.
RELIEF FOR THE SUPREME COURT.
The bill for the relief of tho Supreme Court
| has, after many years of discussion, reached
| a position when final action is easily attain
able, and IL is hoped that any differences OF
| opinion may be so harmOnzed as to save the
| essential features of this very important
new my recommendation that the salaries OF
| the Judges of the United States District
| courts be so readIusted that none OF them
| shall receive less than s. 900 per annum.
A NATIONAL BANKRUPT LAW.
The enactment of a National bankrupt law
| ] still regard as very desirable. The Constitu-
| tiOn having given to Congress jurisdiction OF
this subject, it should be exercised and uni:
| form rules provided for the administration of
| insolvent debtors. The Inconvenience re-
| sulting from the occasional and temporary
exercise 3t TINS power Dy congress; ana IRON
| which come into force intermedi lately should
| be removed by the enactment of a simple, in
| expensive and permanent National bankrupt
| law
INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT.
also renew my recommendation in favor
| of legislation affording just copyright and
| protection to foreign authorOn footing Of
reciprocal advantage for our authors, abroad.
THE ARID REGIONS.
The subject of the conversion and equal
distribution of the water supply of the arid
| regions has had much attention from Con-
| gress, but has not yet been put upon per-
| manent or satisfactory basis. The urgency
| of the subject does not grow out of any
large present demand @ for h the - use .s Of + these
that the water supply and its sites for
| into the hands of individuals private
| corporations and be used to render subserv-
| lent the large areas dependent upon such
| supply.
| THE POSTAL TELEGRAPH SCHEME.
The use of the telegraph by the Post once
| Department as means for the rapid trans
| mission of written communications is, be-
| lieve, upon proper terms, quite desirable.
| The Government does not own or operate
] the railroads, and it should not, think, own
| or operate telegraph lines. 1t does, how
ever, seem to be quite practicable
| for the Government to contract with
the telegraph companies, as 1t does
| with the railroad companies to carry at
! specified rates such communications
! as the senders may designate for this method
| of transmission. j recommend that such
| legislation be enacted as will enable tho
| pertinent the advantages OF such use Of
| the telegraph.
ELECTION LAWS.
II any intelligent and loyal company OF
American citizens were required to catalogue
the essential humane conditions of National
life, do not doubt that with absolute unanim-
| ity they would begin with free and honest
elections. And it is gratifying to know gen.
orally there is a growing and non partisan
demand for better election laws. But against
this sign of hope and progress must be set
| the depressing and undeniaDle fact that cleo
| tiOn laws and methods are sometimes cum
ningly contrived to secure minority control,
while violence completes the shortcomings
of fraud.
In my last annual message suggested that
the develOprGen ent of the existing law, provid.
ing Fedora! supervision of Congressional
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 it's wholesome restraints and
penalties will be useful in all. The constitu-
| tionalty of such legislation has been affirmed
| by the Supreme Court. Its probable effect
| VcnesS is evidenced by the character of the
| opposition that is made to it, 1t has been
denounced as if it were a new exercise of
| Federal power and an 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 Con-
gress. 1t has declared that votes for mem;
bers of Congress must be written or printed
ballots. 1t has provided for the appoint
ment by the Circuit Courts in certain cases,
and upon the petition of a certain number OF
citizens of election supervi isors, and made il
their duty to supervise the registration OF
voters conducted by the State officers; to
personally inspect and scrutiniZe the
registry lists, and to afix their names
TO inc lists lOr the purpose OF luenIl-
ication and the prevention of frauds; to at
tend at elections and remain with the boxes
till the ballots are counted; to attach to the
registry lists and election returns any state
ment touching the accuracy and fairness of
the registry and election, and to
take and transmit to the clerk OF
dence of fraudulent practices which may
be presented to them. The same law
provides for the appointment of Deputy
United states marshalS to attend at the polls,
support the supervisors in the discharge or
their duties and to arrest persons violating
the election laws. The provisions of this
familiar title of the revised statutes have been
put into exercise by both the great political
parties, and in the North as well as in the
South, by the filing with the court OF the
petitions required by law.
The present law stops Just a little
short of effectiveness, for it surrenders to
the local authorities all control over the
certifcation which establishes the Rrima
facie right to seat in the HOUSE
be cured. Equality of representation
and the purity of the electors must be main
tanned, or every thing that is valuable in our
tions of an elector must be sought in the
law, not in the opinions, prejudices, or fears
of any class, ho%eyer powerful; ba,df Lae
box must be free from the ambush of fear and
the anticipation of fraud; the count so true
that none shall gainsay it. Such a law should
be absolutely non partisan and impartial.
1t should give the advantage to honesty and
the control to maiorities. Surely there is
shall happen that the penalties of laws in.
tended to enforce these rights fall here and |
not there it is not because the law is sectional,
but because, happily, crime is local and not |
universal. Nor should il be forgotten that |
every law, whether relating to elections |
or to any other subject, whether |
enacted by the State or by the Ma
ton, has force behind it. The courts, |
the marshal or constable, the posse
comitatus, the prison, are all and always |
behind the law. One can not be justly |
charged with unfriendliness to any section |
or class who seek only to restrain violations
of law and of personalright. No community |
will find lawlessness profitable No commu-
nifty can afford to have it known that the |
officers who are charged with the pres
ervation of the public peace and
the restraint of the criminal classes |
are themselves product of fraud or
respect and the law without sanction. The
floods of lawlessness can not be leveed and |
made to flow in one channel. The killing OF
United States marshal carrying writ of
prompting and suggestion to men who |
are pursued by city marshal for /
crime against life or property. |
But it is said that this legislation will revive |
gested that when the peaceful methods of |
fraud are made impossible that they may be |
snpplanted by intimidation and violence. II |
the proposed law gives to any qualined |
elector by hairs weight more than |
much from any other qualified elect. !
or, it is fatally impeached. But i
if the law is equal and the animosities It Is to |
evoke grow out of the fact that some electors |
have been accustomed to exercise the fran
chise for others as well as for themselves, |
then these animosities ought not to be |
confessed without shame and can not |
be given any weight in the discussion
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