The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-12-10

| While the average nrSt payments upon
cases allowed during the year ending june
50, 1891 was $239 SO. being u reduction IN
the average first payment during these
four months of $l01 IS.
The estimate for pension expenditure
for the fiscal year ending June 80. 1898, Is
sl44 1854, 900, which, after careful exam
lnatlon of the subject, the commissioner
is of the opinion Will be sufficient While
these disbursements to the disabled SOL
diers of the great civil war are large, they
do not realize tue exaggerated estimates
of those who oppose this benefcent legis-
laton. The secretary of the interior shows
| with great fulness the care that is taken
to exclude fraudulent claims and also the
gratifying fact thai the persons TO whom
rendered not slight but substantial war
services.
THE PACIFIC RAILWAYS.
The report of the commissioner of rail
! roads shows that the debt of the Pacific
railroads to the United States was, on Dec.
81. 1899, SIP. 5l26l3 A large part of this
debt Is now fast approaching maturity,
with no adequate provision for its pay
ment. Some policy for dealing with this
debt, with view to its ultimate coilec-
ton, should be at once adopted. 1t is very
difiicult-well nigh impossible-for so
| large body rs the congress to conduct
the necessary negotiations and investiga-
tons. L therefore recommend that pro-
vision be made for the appointment of a
commission to agree upon and report a
plan for dealing with this debt.
THE CENSUS.
The work of the census bureau is now
| far advanced, and the great bulk of the
enormous labor involved completed. 1t
will be more strictly established exhibit
and less encountered by essays than its
! Immediate predecessor. The methods
pursued have been fair, careful and inteli-
| gent, and have secured the approval of the
| statlsticians who have followed them with
scientific and nonpartisan interest. The
| appropriations necessary for the early
completion and publication of the author
/ lied volumes should be given in time to
secure the work against delays, which in
crease the cost and at the same time di-
| minish the value of the work.
IRRIGATION.
The report of the secretary exhibits,
with interesting fullness, the condition of
the territories. They have shared with
| the states the great increase in farm pro-
ducts and are bringing yearly large areas
into cultivation by extending their irri-
eating canals. This work is being done
by individuals or local corporations. and
without that system which full Drelimi-
nary survey of the water supply and of
| the irrigable lands would enable them to
| adopt
The futrue of the territories of New
Mexico, Arizona and Utah, in their mate
rial growth and in the increase, indie
pendence and happiness of their people is
very largely dependent upon wise and
timely legislation, either by congress or
their own legislatures, regulating the dis
tributfon of the water supply furnished
by their streams. If this matter is much
longer neglected private corporations will
have unrestricted control of one of the
elements of life, and the patantees of the
arid lands will be tenants at will of the
water companies. The United States
should part with its ownership of the
water sources and the sites for reservoirs,
whether to the states and territories, or
to individuals or corporations, only upon
conditions that will insure to the settlers
their proper water supply, on equal and
reasonable terms. In the territories this
whole subject is under the full control of
congress, and in the states it Is practically
so as long as the government holds the
title to the reservoirs and water sources
and can grant them upon such conditions
as it chooses to impose.
The imprudent granting of franchises of
enormous value, without recOmpenSe to
the state or municipality from which they
proceed, and without proper protection OF
the public interests. is the most noticeable
and fragrant evil of modern legislation.
This fault should not be committed in
dealing with a subject that will before
many years affect SO vitality thousands of
our people.
THE MORMONS.
The legislation of congress for the re-
preston of pOlygamy has, after years of
resistance on the part of the Mormons, at
last brought them to the conclusion that
resistance is Improbable and unavailing.
The power of congress on this subject
should not be surrendered until we have
satisfactory evidence that the people of
the state to be created would exercise the
exclusive power of the state over this sub
iect in the same way. The question is not
whether those people now obey the law
of congress against polygamy, but, rather.
would they make, enforce and maintain
such laws themselves if absolutely free to
! regulate the subjectt We cannot afford
to experiment with this subject, for when
a state is once constituted the act is final,
and any mistake is irretrievable No
compact in the enabling act could, in my
opinion, be binding or effective.
ALASKA.
I recommend that provision be made
for the organ'z ton OF simple form of
town government in Alaska with power
to regulate such matters as are usually in
the states under municipal control These
local civil organizai ions wall give better
protection in such matters than the present
skeleton territorial organization. Proper
restrictions as TO the power to levy taxes
and to create debts should be imposed.
THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
If the establishment of the department
of agriculture was regarded by anyone as
mere concession to the unenlightened de-
mand of a worthy class of peopie that i'm
aott " .l1n
by the great results already attained. Its
home influence has been very great in dis
seminating agricultural and horticultural
information; in stimulating and directing
further diversiication of crops; III de-
tecting and Graduating diseases of dOmes-
tic animals, and, more than all, iii the
close and informal contact which it has es-
tablished and maintains with the farmers
and stock raisers of the whole country.
Every request for information has had
prompt attention and every suggestion has
merited consideration. The scientific corps
of the department. is of high order and is
pushing its Investigations with method
aud enthusiasm.
INSPECTION REGULATIONS
The inspection by this department of
cattle and pork products intended for ship
ment abroad has been the basis of tue sue
cess which has attended our efforts To
secure the removal of the restrictions
maintained by the European governments.
| For ten years protests and petitions upon
this subject from the packers and stock
raiseIs Of the United States have been
directed against those restrictions, which
so seriously limited our markets aud cur
tailed the profits o. the farm. IL Is a
source of general congratulation that sue
cess has at last been attained; for tue
! effects of an enlarged foreign market for
these meats will be felt, not only by the
/ fam h,,+ in nrr nuhlic finances and in