The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1890-12-06

II the law il equal aud the unimosities It
svokes grow ont of the fact that some
electors have been accustomed to oGer-
Else the franchise for others us well as for
themselves. then these a"niInositles ought
not tn Ina confessed without shame and can
not be given any weight In the discussion
without dishOnOT. No choice is lett to ine
but to enforce with yigor all laws Intended
to secure to the citizen his constitutional
rights and to recommend that tho lnhdeq nh-
oias of such laws he promptly reInedied. IL
to promote With zeal and ready in
terest every project Tor the develop
meut of its mnteriul interests, Its
rivers, harbors, mines and factories aud the
IntelIIuencc. pence and security under tho
law OF Its communities and homes IL not ao-
copied rs sufficient evidences OF friendliness ,
to any State or section. | can not add con
uiyapce at election practices that not only
disturb local results, but rob the electors OF
other States aud sections of their most price
less political results.
Legislation Recommended.
/ had OCCASION In May last to transmit to
Congress a report adopted by the Interim
tional American conference upon the subject
of incorporation of an international Amer
loan bank, with II 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
a careful and well guarded charter be
granted. do not think the powers granted
should include those ordinarily exercised by
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 primur-
lily in view, namely convenient foreign eI-
changes. II 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
trade NAV not be hindcrcd by the inconven-
ience of making exchanges through Euro
pean money %ccnters 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
q position when final action is easily attain
able and It is hoped that any differences OF
opinion may be so hnrmonlzed rs to have
, the special features Of this very Important
IN easure.
In this connection l 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
o salary less than 5000 per Rnnum
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
tho attention of Congress the last session.
Bills have been reported from the proper
committees In both houses upon the subject
and l very earnestly hope tliut this Congress-
will put an end to the delay which has at
tended the settlement OF disputes aa
to title between settlers and claim
ants under these grants. These dis.
Putes retard the prosperity und disturb
the peace of a lurge 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. to your attention
the suggestions of the Secretary of the Int.
rior upon this subject.
The enactment of u National bankrupt Law
! still regard as very desirable. The COnsti
tuition having given to Congress jurisdiction
of this subject 1t should be exercised and uni
form rules provided for the administrators
of the affairs of insolvciIt debtors. The in
oonveniences resulting from the occasiOnn
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 Il 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 y footing oil
reciprocal advantage for our authors abroad
1t may still be impossible for this Congress-
to inRugurate by suitable Legislation .
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 ~ 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 fuct that
every years delay involves the sacrifice of z.
00 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 IA yet been upon II permanent und
satisfactory basis. The urgency of the sub
iect does moi grow out Of any large present
demand for the use of the land for agricult
ural purposes or of the danger that the water
I supply and the sites Tor the necessary cutcl
basins may fall into the hands of in
dividuals or privnt" corporations ant
be used to render Subscrvicnr
the large areas dependant upon such supply
, The owner Of the water is the owner OF til,
!, lands however the titles may run. Unuppro
/ priutcd natural water sources and all nrccS
saTy reservoir sites should he reid by til,
Government for the use, ut fair rates, of tn,
homestead settlers. who Will eventually TAX,
up these lands. The United states should
, not In my opinion, undertake the construc
a., ton of dams or canals, but should limit wOrl
4, to such surveys and observations as will de
=. termine the water. supply, both surfac
anu buDlcIIulitbn, IL anu cupuDl
=. of irrigation and the use. location and stor
: age capacity of reservoirs. This done, tn
. use of the wuter and II of the reservoirs NIGH
' be granted to the respective states and Ter
A ritories, or to individuals or association
upon the condition that the necessary work
should be constructed and the water fur
nished at fair rates without discriminate
= the rates to be subject to supervision b
the Legislatures or by boards G
. water commissioners duly constituted
The essential thing to be secured is the CON
mon and equal use ut fair rate of the nc
y cumulated water supply. 1t were almos
c better that these lands should remain arr
" than those who occupy them should becom
the slaves of the unrestrained monopolie
4 controlling the essential element of Ian
20 values and crop results.
y The use of the telegraph by the Post offiC
u Department as a means of transmission {
, written communications is, 1 believe, upo
proper terms, quite desirable. The Govern
ment does not own or operate the railroad
H and 1t should not, l think. own or operat
any telegraph lines. 1t does. however. seel
to be quite practicable for the Government I
contract with the telegraph companies, q
II does with the railroads, to carry ut spec
= ned rates such communications as the senC
- ers may designate for his method. recon
sc mend that such legislation be enacted
d It will enable the Post office DepartmeI
." fairly to test by experiment the advantage
=. of such use of the telegraph.
~ IN CONCLUSION.
IA j venture again to remind you that IL
III brief time remaining for the consideration
he the important legislation now awaiting yoi
,e attention offers no margin for waste.
II the present duty Is discharged with dill
Or gence, fidelity and courage, the work of Il
Fifty first Congress may be confidential
ne submitted to the considerate judgment OF Il
es people. BENJAMIN HARRISON.
Dn Executive Mansion, District of Coiumbi
of December /. 1890.