The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1891-12-18

sites and water sources, and can grant
them upon such conditions as 1t choosesto
impose. The improyident granting Of
franchises OF enormous value, without
recompense to the state or municipalities
which they proceed, and without proper
protection of the public interests, is the
most noticeable and crying evil Of present
legislation. This fault should not Be COM
mitted in dealing with a subject that will
before many years affect so vitality thou
congress for
The Repression of Polygamy
has after years of resistance on the part Of
the Mormons, at least brought them to
the conclusion that resistance is unproft-
able and unavailing The power of con-
gress over this subject should not be sur
rendered until we have satisfactory evil
dence that the people of the state to be
created, would exercise the exclusive
power of the state over this subject in the
same way.
AGRICULTURE.
If the establishment of the department.
q mere cessation to the unenlightened de-
niand of a worthy class of people, that
impression has been most effectnally re-
moved by the great results already at
tanned. Its home influence has been very
great in disseminating agricultural and
iol piSllGutdl lulUILlldGiOIs III SUlIQulaGlQR
and directing q further diversification Of
crops: in detecting and Graduating dis
eases of domestic animals, aud more than
all. disclosing information and informal
contact which it has established and
maintains with the farmers and stock
ralsers of the whole country. The scien-
tlfic corps of the department is of e. high
order and is pushing its Investigations
with method and enthusiasm. The in
spection by this department of cattle
and pork products intended for shipment
abroad, has been the basis of the success
which has attended our efforts to secure
the removal OF the restrictions main
tanned by the European governments.
The grain crop of this year was the
largest in our history, 50 per cent. greater
than that of last year, and yet the market
that has opened and the larger demand
resulting from short crops in Europe have
sustained prices to such an extent that
the enormous surplus of meats and bread
stuffs will be marketed at good prices,
bringing relief and prosperity to an in
dustTy that was much depressed. The
value OF the grain crop of the United
this year $5y3, 10000 more than last of
meats Sl50, GO0, GOO more, and of all prod
ucts of the farm S1G0, 100000 more.
Civil Service.
The report of the civil service commits
sion should receive the careful attention
of the opponents, as well as the friends of
this reform. The commission invites a
personal inspection by senator's and rep
sentatives of its records md methods, and
every fair critic will feel that such an ex-
animation should precede a judgment of
condemnation, either of the system or it's
administration. 1t is not claimed that
either is perfect, but l believe that the
law is being executed with impartiality,
and that the system is incomparably bet
ter and fairer than that of appointments
upon favor. recommend that the appro-
priations for the civil service commission
be made adequate to the increased work Of
the next fiscal year.
Protection for Railway Employees.
have twice before urgently called the
attention OF congress to the necessity of
legislation for the protection of the lives
of railroad employees, but nothing has yet
been done. During the year ending June
So 1880, S69 brakemen were killed and
1,s4l MANNED while engaged in coupling
cars. The total number of railroad EN-
ployes killed during the year was 2,451,
and the number injured %, $50. A law re-
curing OF every railroad engaged in inter
state commerce the equipment each year
OF a given per cent of its freight cars with
automatic couplers and air brakes, and
ecHp!ers to be used, would very soon and
very greatly reduce the present fearful
death rate among railroad employees.
Presidential Electors.
The method Of appointment by the
states Of electors for president and vice
president has recently attracted renewed
Interest by reason OF a departure by the
state Of Michigan from the methods
which had become uniform in all the
states. The recent Michigan legislation
provides for choosing what are popularity
known rs the congressional electors for
! y,--etl1-A l-
the two senatorial electors by districts
created for that purpose. This kegislai
ton WAS, of course, accompanied bHa new
congressional a~ppOrtioDment, and the
two st;ttutes bring the electoral yotS I'm.
der the influence of the ''gerrymander.'
IheLe gerrymanders for congressional
purposes are in most cases buttreSsed My
4 gelrynander of the legislative districts,
thus making it impossible for a majoritna
OF the legal voters of the state to correct
the apportionment and equa!ize the con-
gressional districts. A minority rule is
sion can overthrow. Is it not possible
now 70 adjourn that interminable and in
conclusive debate while we take, by con-
sent, one step in the direction of reform
by
Eliminating the ~Gerrymander,
which has been denounced by all parties,
as an influence in the election of president
and members of congress. All the states
have, acting freely and separately, de-
termlned that the choice of electors by a
general ticket is the wisest and safest
method. and it would seem there could be
no objection to a constitutional amend
ment making that method permanent.
l believe it would be possible to copsti-
tute a commission, non-partisan in its
membership Il composed of patriotic,
wise and impartial men to whon., a CON
slderailon OF the question of the evils con-
nected with our election system and
methods might be committed with a good
prospect of securing unanimity in some
plan for removing or mitigating those
evils. The constitution would permit the
selection of the commission to be vested in
the supreme court if that method would
give the best guaranty of impartiality.
10 the consideration of these very grave
questions l invite not only the attention
of congress, but that of all patriotic citi-
that u people have ceased to regard a
free ballot and equal representation as the
price of their allegiance to laws and to
civil magistrates.
In Conclusion.
l have been greatly rejoiced to notice
many evidences Of the increased unifca-
ton of our people and of a revived national
spirit. The vista that opens to us is wider
and more glorious than ever before. Graf
premacy as we contemplate the pop
%ulation, wealth and moral
strength of our country. A
trust, lnomentous in its influence upon
u people and upon the world is for a
brief time committed to us and we must
not be faithless to its first conditiou-tEe
defense of the free and the equal influence
of the people in the choice of public Off
GERS and i'll the control of public affairs.
BENJAMIN HARRISON.
About Presidential Candidates.