The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1890-12-12
Legislation Recommended.

Legislation Recommended.
/ had occasion in May last to transmit to
Congress a report adopted by the Interna-
tional American conference upon the subject
of incorporation of an International Amer
lean bank, with a view to facilitating money
exchanges between the States represented in
that conference. Such an institution would
greatly promote the trade we are seeking to
develop. renew the recommendation that
( careful and well guarded charter be
granted. do not think the powers granted
should include those ordinarily exercised by
4 trust, guaranty, and safe deposit companies,
! or that more branches in the United States
should be authorized than are strictly
, necessary to accomplish the object primar-
/ lily in view, namely convenient foreign ex-
I changes. 1t is quite important that prompt
action should be taken in this matter in or
der that any appropriations for better COM
| munications with these countries and any
/ agreement that may be made for reciprocal
I trade may not be hndered by the inconven-
| fence of making exchanges through Euro
pean money centers or burdened by the trib-
ute 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
| a position when final action Is easily attain
able, and 1t is hoped that any differences OF
opinion may be so harmonized as to have
the special features of this very Important
| Measure.
| In this connection earnestly renew my
! recommendation that the salaries of the
| Judges of the United States District Courts be
| SO readjusted that none of them shall receive
| a salary less than s. 900 per annum.
| The subject of the unadjusted Spanish and
| Mexican land grants and the urgent neces-
| sity of providing some commission or tri-
| bunal for the trial of questions of title grow
| ing out of them were twice brought by me to
the attention of Congress the last session.
Bills have been reported from the proper
committees in both houses upon the subject
and very earnestly hope that this Congress
will put an end to the delay which has at
tended the settlement of disputes as
to title between settlers and claim
ants under these grants. These dis
putes retard the prosperity and disturb
the peace of a large and important
community. The Governor of New Mexico
in his last report TO the Secretary of the In
terror suggested some modification of the
pending bills relating to the small holdings
of farm lands. commend to your attention
the suggestions of the Secretary of the Inte-
rior upon this subject.
The enactment of National bankrupt law
still regard as very desirable. The Consti-
tuition having given to Congress jurisdiction
of this subject it should be exercised and uni
form rules provided for the administration
of the affairs of insolvent debtors The in
conveniences resulting from the occasional
and temporary exercise of this power by
Congress, and from the conflicting State
codes of insolvency which come into force
intermediately, should be removed by the
enactment of a simple, inexpensive and per-
manent National bankrupt law.
also renew my recommendation In favor
of legislation affording just copyright and
protection to foreign authors on a footing of
reciprocal advantage for our authors abroad.
1t may still be impossible for this Congress
to inaugurate by suitable legislation a
movement looking to uniformity and in
creased safety in use of couplers and
brakes upon freight trains engaged in Inter-
State commerce. The chief difficulty is to
secure agreement as to the best appliances,
simplicity, effectiveness and cost being con-
sidered. This difficulty will only yield to
legislation which should be based upon full
inquiry and impartial trial. The purpose
should be to secure the cooperation of all
disposed managers but the fearful fact that
every years delay involves the sacrifice of g.
900 lives and the running of 1000 young men
should plead both with Congress and the
managers against needless delay.
The subject of the conservation and equal
distribution of the water supply of the arid
regions has had attention from Congress but
has not as yet been upon a permanent and
satisfactory basis. The urgency of the sub
ject does not grow out of any large present
demand for the use of the land for agricult-
ural purposes or of the danger that the water
supply and the sites for the necessary catch
basins may fall into the hands of in
dividuals or private corporations and
be used to render subservient
the large areas dependant upon such supply.
The owner of the water is the owner of the
lands however the titles may run. Unappro-
priated natural water sources and all neces-
sary reservoir sites should be held by the
Government for the 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 construc-
ton of dams or canals, but should limit work
to such surveys and observations as will de-
termine the water supply, both surface
and subterranean, the land capable
of irrigation and the use, location and stor-
age capacity of reservoirs. This done, the
use of the water and of the reservoirs might
be granted to the respective States and Ter
ritories, or to individuals or associations
upon the condition that the necessary works
should be constructed and the water fur
nished at fair rates without discrimination,
the rates to be subject to supervision by
the Legislatures or by boards OF
water commissioners duly constituted.
The essential thing to be secured is the COM
mon and equal use at fair rate of the ac-
cumulated water supply. 1t were almost
better that these lands should remain arid
than those who occupy them should become
the slaves OF inc unTeSITdlneu HlODOpOlltS
controlling the essential element OF land
values and crop results.
The use of the telegraph by the Post office
Department as means OF transmission OF
written communications is, 1 believe, upon
proper terms, quite desirable. The Govern
ment does not own or operate the railroads
and it should not, think, own or operate
any telegraph lines. 1t does, however, seem
to be quite practicable for the Government to
contract with the telegraph companies, as
it does with the railroads, to carry at speci-
fed rates such communications as the send
ers may designate for his method. Irecom-
mend that such legislation be enacted as
1t will enable the Post Office Departments
fairly to test by experiment the advantages
OF such use of the telegraph.
IN CONCLUSION.
venture again to remind you that the
brief time remaining for the consideration of
the important legislation row awaiting your
attention offers no margin for waste.
If the present duty is discharged with dill
gence, fidelity and courage, the work of the
Fifty-first Congress may be confidentially
submitted to the considerable Judgment of the
people. BENJAMIN HARRISON.
Executive Mansion, District of Columbia,
December ], 1880.
His Queer Smile.-'What a peculiar