Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-12-01

the new markets opened for their surplus food
products and for many of their manufactured
products
INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN RANK.
had occasion in May last to transmit to
Congress report adopted by the international
American Conference upon the subject Of the
incorporation Of an international American
bank, with view to facilitating money ex-
| changes 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
| weL-guarded charter be granted. I 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
primarily in view, namely, convenient foreign
exchanges 1t is quite important that prompt
| action should be taken in this matter, in order
that any appropriations for better communi-
cation with these countries, and any agreements
| that may be made for reciprocal trade, may
not be hindered by the Inconvenience of
| making exchanges through European money
.enters, or burdened by the tribute 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 where final action is easily attainable
and It is hoped that any differences of opinion
may be SO harmOntzed as to save the essential
| features Of this very important measure. In
| eAiS CoHucCGOu earnestly renew my recon-
mendation that the salaries of the judges of the
United States district courts be SO REQUESTED
that none OF them shall receive less than 1000
per annum.
| SPANISH AND MEXICAN LAND GRANTS.
| The subject of the unadjusted Spanish and
Mexican land grants and the urgent necessity
for providing some commission or tribunal for
the trial of questions of title growing out of
! them were twice brought BY me to the atten-
GanOraaa ha Lost no.,
been reported from the proper committees in
| both Houses upon the subject and very ear
nestly hope that this Congress will put an end
| to the delay which has attended the settlement
Of the disputes as to title between the settlers
and the claimants under these grants These
disputes retard the prosperity and disturb the
peace OF large and important communities
The governor Of New Mexico in his last re-
port to the Secretary Of the Interior, suggests
some notifications of the provisions OF the
pending bills relating to the small holdings of
farm lands. commend to your attention the
suggestions OF the Secretary of tho Interior upon
this subject.
NATIONAL BANKRUPT LAW
The enactment Of national bankrupt law
still regard as very desirable. The Constitution
having given to Congress Jurisdiction Of this
subject, it should be exercised, and uniform
| rules provided for the administration of the
| affairs OF insolvent debtors. The inconvenience
exercise Of this power by Congress, and from
the conflicting state codes OF Insolvency which
come into force intermediary, should be re-
moved by the enactment of simple, mex
penslve and permanent national bankrupt law.
also renew my Recommendation in favor of
legislation affording just copyright protection
to foreign authors. on footing Of reciprocal
advantage for our authors abroad
TO PREVENT RAILWAY DISASTERS.
1t may still be possible for this Congress to
inaugurate, by suitable legislation movement
looking to uniformity and increased safety in
the use of couplers and brakes upon freight
trains engaged in interstate commerce. The
chief difficulty in the way is to secure agree
ment as to the best appliances, simplicity,
difficulty will only yield to legislation, which
should be based upon full inquiry and impartial
tests. The purpose should be to secure the
cooperation Of all well-dispOsed managers and
owners, but the fearful fact that every years
delay involves the sacrifice of two thousand
lives and the manning of twenty thousand
young men should plead both with Congress
and the managers against any needless delay.
IRRIGATION.
The subject Of the conservation and equal
distribution of the water supply Of the arid
regions has had much attention from Congress,
but has not as yet been put upon permanent
and satisfactory basis The urgency of the
denand for the use Of these lands for agricul-
trre, but out Of the danger thai the water sup
ply and the sites for the necessary catch basins
may fall into the hands Of individuals or private
corporations and be used to render subservient
the large areas dependen. upon such suppl.
The owner OF the water is the owner Of the
lands, however the titles may run. All unap-
propriated natural water sources and all neces-
sary reservoir sites should be held by the gov
eminent for the equal use, at fair rates, of the
hnmnRfpah vvhn xriI1 x,,oIlx &ol,.
mp these lands The United States should
not, in my opinion, undertake the con-
struction Of dams or canals, but should
limit its work to such, surveys and observations
as will determine the water supply, both sur
face and subterranean, the areas capable of
irrigation and the location and storage capacity
OF reservoirs. This done the Use Of the water
and OF the reservoir sites might be granted to
the respective states or territories or to indi-
viduals or associations upon the condition that
the necessary works should be constructed and
the water furnished at fair rates. without dis
elimination, the rates to be subject to SUPER
vision by the legislaturei 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 sup
ply. 1t were almost better that these lands
should remain arid than tina: those who OCCUPY
them should become the slaves of unrestrained
mOnOpolies controlling the one essential ele-
ment of land values and crop results.
POSTAL TELEGRAPHY.
The use Of the telegraph by the Post Office
Department as a means for the rapid transmits
sion of written communications is, I believe.
upon proper terms quite desirable. The Gov
eminent docs no. own or operate the railroads,
and it should not, think, own or Operate the
telegraph lines. 1t does, however, seem to be
quite practicable for the Government to con-
tract with the telegraph companies, rs it does
with the railroad companies, to carry at speci-
fed rates such communications rs the senders
may designate for this method of transmission
1 recommend that such legislation be enacted
as will enable the Post Office Department fairly
to test by experiment the advantages of such a
use Of the telegraph.
FREE AND HONEST ELECTIONS
II any intelligent and loyal company of
American citizens were required to catalogue
the essential human 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 that
generally there ID q 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 cunnngly
cOntrived to secure minority control while
violence completes the shortcomings of fraud
In my last annual message suggested that
the development Of the existing law providing
a Federal supervision Of Congressional cleo
tons offered an affective method of reforming
| these abuses. The need of such law has man.
ifested itself in many parts of the country, and
its wholesome restraint and penalties will be
useful in all. The constitutionality Of such
legislation has been affirmed by the Supreme