Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-12-02

ton Of dams or canals, but
should limit its works 10
such SURVEYS and observations
as will determine the water supply,
both surface and Subterannean, the
areas capable of irrigation and the
+ location and storage capacity OF reSer-
voirS. This done the use OF the water
and of the reservoir sites might be
granted To the respective States or Ter
+ ritOrieS. or 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 10 be subject
To supervision by the legislatures or by
boards of water commissioners duly
constituted. The essential thing TO be
secured is the common and equal use
at fair rates of the accumulated
water supply. II was almost
better that these lands should re-
main arid than that those who
occupy them should become the slaves
+ of unreStrained monopolieS. controlling
/ the one essential element of land values
and crop results.
POSTAL TELEGRAPH SCHEME.
The use of the telegraph by the Post
Office Department, as means for the
rapid transmission OF written cOmmuui-
cations, is, / believe. upon proper terms,
quite desirable. The Government does
+ not own or operate the railroads. and IT
should not. I think, own or operate the
telegraph lines. ItdocS, however, seem
10 be practicable for the Government to
contract with the telegraph companies
10 carry, at specified rates, such commu-
uicationS rs the ScnderS may designate
for this method of transmission. l
recommend that such legislation be en-
acted as will enable the Post
office Department fairly to
test. bv experiment, the advan
tageS Of such use of the telegraph.
FEDERAL ELECTION LAWS.
II any intelligent and loyal company of
American citizens were required TO cata-
losue the essential human condition of
national life. do not doubt that with
absolute uuanimity they would begin
with free aud honest elections, and II
is gratifying 10 know that generally
there IS growing and nOn-partiSan de
mand for better election laws. But
against this sign of hope and progress
must be set the depressing and undeni-
I able fact that election laws and meth
/ DDS are sometimes cunningly cOntrived
10 secure minority control, while VIC
lcnce completes the shortcomings of
fraud.
/ In my last annual message | Sug-
gested that the development OF the eN-
istlng law providing a federal SuperviS-
ion of Congressional elections offered
an effective method of reforming these
abuses. The need of such aw has
manifested itself in many parts of the
country and the wholesome restraints
and penalties will be- useful in all. The
cOnStitutiOnalitv of such legislation has
been affirmed by the Supreme Court.
Its probable effectiveness is evidenced
by the character OF the opposition that
is made 70 il. II has been de-
nOunced as If il were a new exercise
of federal power and au 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 Congress. Ii has declar-
ed that votes for members OF Congress
must be- by written or printed ballot: 1t
has provided for the appointment by
the circuit courts in certain cases, and
upon the petition Of a certain number
of citizens. Of election supervisors, and
made il their duty TO supervise the reg
iStratiOn of voters conducted by the
State officers: 10 challenge persons offer
ing 20 register; 20 personally inspect
and Scrutinizc the registry lists.
and 10 aiIiX their names to
the lists for the purpose of Identified
tion and the prevention of frauds, To at
tend elections and remain with the
boxes till the votes are all cast and
counted. 70 attach 70 the registry lists
and election returns any statement
touching the accuracy and fairness OF
the registry and election, and to take
and transmit to the House OF RepreSen-
tativeS any evidence of fraudulent prac-
tees which may be presented TO them.
The same law provides for theappoint-
ment of Deputy United States MarShalS
TO attend at the polls, support the super
viSorS in the discharge of their
duties. and 10 arrest persons
violating the election laws. The
provisions of the familiar title,
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 the law. 1t
is not. therefore. question whether we
shall have a Federal election law, for we
now have one and have had for nearly
/ twenty wears, but whether we shall have
an effective law. The present law stops
+ lust short of effectiveness, for it Surren-
derS TO the local authorities all control
over the certitication which establishes
the primd fOciC right TO seat in
the House of Representatives. This
defect should be cured. Equality of
representation ard the purity Of
the electors must be maintained, or
everything that is valuable in our >yS-
tenn of government is lost. The quail
iicatiOnS OF an elcctor must be sought in
the law. not in the opinions, prejudiceS,
or fears of any class, however powerful.
The path of the electOr TO the ballot
/ box must be free from the ambush of
I fear and the cnticementS of fraud; the
count so true and open that none shall
gainSay IL. Such law should be abSO-
lutely non-partiSan and impartial. 1t
should give the advantage to honesty
and the control TO majoritieS. Surely
there is nothing sectional about this
creed, and if il shall happen that the
penalties OF laws intended 10 enforce
these rights fall here and not
there. ii is not because the
law IS sectional, but because
happily. crime is local and not univer-
sal. For should it be forgotten that
every law, whether relating to cleo
tionS or TO any other subject, whether
enacted by the State or by the nation,
has force behind it. The courts, the
,,,,rsbal ar constable. the posse conf