Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1890-12-04
seem e 2 me most important now brioay cal
10 DeveIop AmerIcan steamnhip Lines.

]
your htDention.
To Develop American Steamship Lines.
desire TO repeat with added urgency the
recommendations contained In my last annual
message in relation 70 the Developments Of
American steamship lines. The reciprocity
tied. and its benefits retarded aud dimin-
ished, III provision is not contemporaneously
n1 made TO encourage the establlshment OF hrst-
ports and the ports of such nations
may meet our overtures for enlarged
commercial exchanges. The steamship car
ryins The mails statedly and frequently,
and offering to passengers comfortable,
safe, and speedy transit is the hrst con-
OF the buyer, but not all that is ordered
or bought. 1t gives TO the sailing vessels such
cargoes as are not urgent or Perishable, and, IN
junct OF commerce. There Is now both In this
country and In the nations of Central and South
America .tsts Of expectation and confidence
value to your prompt action upon this question.
water for Arid Regions.
The subject of the conservation and equal
the SSssT sIgpy t2d g the arid re-
but has not as yet been put upon permanent
and satisfactory basis The urgency of the sub
ject- does not grow out OF any large present
agriculture, g. but out Of the he danger that
the water supply and the sites for
the necessary catch basins may fall into the
and be used 20 render subservient the large
areas dependent upon such supply. The
owner OF tho wator Is the owner of the
lands, however the titles may run. All
unappropriated natural water sources and
oil necessary reservoir sites should be held
by the Government for the equal use, at
eventually take up these lands. The United
States should not, in my opinion, undertake the
limit its work TO such surveys and observations
as will determine the water supply, both
surface and subterranean, the areas capable
of irrigation, and the use, location OF,
and storage capacity of reservoirs. This done,
the OF the water and of the reservoir
sites might be granted to tho respective States
or Territories or to individuals or associations,
upon the condition that the necessary works
should be constructed and the water fur
nished Mt fair rates, without discrimination,
the rates to be subject to supervision by
the Legislatures or by boards OF water COM
missioners duly constituted. The essential
thing to be secured is the common and equal
use at fair rates OF the accumulated water sup
Should remain arid than that those who occupy
them should become the slaves Of unrestrained
monopolies, controlling the essential element OF
land values and crop results.
Better Election Laws.
II any intelligent and loyal company of
American citizens were required TO catalogue
the essential human conditions of life, 1 do
not doubt that with absolute unanimity il
would begin with free and honest elections"
And 1t Is gratifying to know that generally
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 undeniable fact that election laws and
methods are sometimes cunningly contrived to
secure minority control while violence com
pletes the shortcomings OF fraud.
Pass the Election Law.
In my last annual message suggested that
the development OF the existing law providing
a Federal supervision of Congressional cleo
tions offered an effective method of reforming
these abuses. The need of such a law has
Ia, ~ ~ fhQ
and it's wholesome restraints and penal
ties will be useful in all. The constitution
ahty OF such legislation has been affirmed
by the Supreme Court. It's probable effect
iveness is evidenced by tho character OF
the opposition that is made to 1t. 1t has been
Federal power and an invasion OF the rights
of the States. Nothing could bo further from
the truth. Congress has already fixed the
time for the election of members Of Congress.
1t has declared that votes for members OF
Congress must be by written or printed ballots
IL has provided for the appointment by the Cir
cult Courts In certain cases, and upon tn petit
tion Of a certain number of citizens, of election
supervisors. and made IL their duty TO supervise
the registration OF voters conducted by the
State officers TO challenge persons offering
to register; to personally inspect and scrut-
inize the registry lists, and TO afIix their
names to the lists for the purpose of identihca-
tion and the prevention OF frauds to attend at
elections and remain with the boxes till the
votes are all cast and counted to attach to the
registry list and election returns any statement
touching the accuracy and fairness OF the regis
try list and election; and to take and transmit
to the Clerk of the House of Representatives any
evidence of the 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 OF their duties
and to arrest persons violating the election
law. The provisions OF this familiar tito In
the Revised Statutes have been put to exc rctse
by both the political parties, and in tho North
as well as in the South by the aling with the
court of the petitions required by law.
IL is not, therefore, question whether we
have one and have had TOR ncafIy u~gnvy years,
but whether we shall have an effectiye law
The present law stops just short OF effective
ness for it surrenders to the local authorities
ali control over tho certifcation which
establishes the primn facie right TO
cent in the House of Representatives. This
defect should be cured Equality OF repre-
sentation and the parity OF the electors must
he maintained, or everything that Is Valuable
ia our system of government is lost. The quail
ihcations OF an elector must be sought IN the
law, not in the opinions, prejudices, or Tears o.
elector to the ballot-box must be free from tne
ambush of fear and the enticements OF fraud
the count so true and orgn that none shall
gainsav 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 nothing
sectional about this creed, and IL it shall hap
pen that the penalties of laws intended 20 en-
force these rights fall here and not there
AZ is not because the law is sectional but be-
cause, happily, crime is local and not
universal Nor should it be forgotten
that every law, whether relaIlng 10 eieCeiOhs Or
to any other subject whether enacted by the
state or by the nation, has forco behind 1t. The
courts the marshal or constable, the posse
comitatus, the prison, are all and always be-
hind the law. 49,
liness TO any section or class who seeks only TO
restrain violation of law and of personal right.
No community will And lawlessness prontaDle.
No community can afford TO have ~ known tnas
the officers who are charged with the preserva-
tion of the public peace aud the restraint OF the
| criminal classes are themselves the product OF
| fraud or violence. The magistrate ts then with
| out respect aud the law without sanction; Inc
| 10 run I'm one channel. The killing OF United
| States Marshal carrying a writ OF arrest Tor an
election offenso is full Of prompting and sugges-
tion to men who are pursued oy City Marsnal nm
| It fs said that this legislation will revive
race animosites, and some have even sug.
gested that when the peaceful methods OF
| plemented by intimidation and violence. IL the
| proposed law gives TO any qualihed elector.
| by n hairs weight more Than ms
| equal influence, or detracts by so much
from any other 1uaah1insd elector, :. .,,S y
] the animosities It Is to evoke grow out OF the
| fact that some electors have bcen accustomed
10 exercise the franchise for others as well 80
| for themselves, then these auimosiues ougns
| not TO be confessed without shame and
| cannot be given any weight in the discussion
| without dfshonor. No choice Is left TO me but
to enforce with vfgor all laws intended to secure
| to the citizen his constitutional rients. ana 20
| recommend that the inadequacies OF sucn laws
~ 10 pronote with zeal and ready interest
| every project for the Development OF its MAJ
terial interests It's rivers, harDors mlnss M s sn9
| security under the law OF its communities
| and its homes, Is not accepted as sufficient
evidence Of friendliness to any state OF section,