The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-12-10
cases diminlShes, the annual aggregate OF first
payments is largely reduced.
Payment of Pensions.

were lssued-27,S9 under the general law AM
average first payment during the four month
was Sl31 So. White the average first payment
upon cases allowed during the year ending Jun,
average first payments during thrse tour mont lii!
OF S107 4S. The estimate for pension expendi
Is s144. 95s. 900. which, by a careful examina
ZION OF the subject, The Commissioner is of Thu
opinion will be suftcien'. While these dsburse
war are large, they do not realize the exaggera
ted estimates OF those who oppose this benefcenl
legislation The Secretary of The Interior shows
WIN great fullness, tie care that Is taken to eX
| clude fraudulent claims, and also the gratifying
| Tact that the persons 10 whom those pension;
| are going are men who rendered not Slight but
substantial war service.
Reports of other Bureaus.
The work of the Censns Bureau is far ad.
vanced, and the great bulk OF the enormous Labor
| involved completed II will be more strictly a
statistical exhibit and less encountered by ESSAYS
| imam It's immediate predecessors. The methods
pursued nave been Ialr, careful and Intelligent,
and have secured the approval of the statisticians
| who have followed them with scientific and
non-partisan Interest. The appropriations neces-
| safy 10 the early completion and publication of
| the authorized volumes should be given in time
! TO secure against delays, which increase the cost
| and at the same time diminish The value OF tho
Woi Ks. The report of the Commissioner OF Rail-
roads shows that The total debt of the sub idized
railroads 10 the United States was on December
81. 1880. S112,6l2 ,613 O6. large part of the
debt is now fast approaching maturity. with no
adequate provision for Its payment. Some policy
lor dealing with this debt, with view 10 its ul-
timate collection, should be at once adopted. 1t
is very dlhlcut-well-nigh impossiblt-fOr so
large body as Congress to conduct the nec-
essary negotiations and Investigations. l. theret
lore, recommend that proviso be made for the
appointment OF a commission to agree upon and
report plan for dealing with this debt.
Condition of the Territories.
The report OF the Secretary exhibits with iu-
teies Ing fullness the condition of the Terrific
ries. They have shared with the States the great
Increase In farm PRODUCTS, and are bringing
N hv Inn
their lrrlgatlns canals. This work is being done
by individuals or local corporations. and with
out that system which full preliminary survey
OF the water supply and OF the irrlgable lands
would enable them To adopt The future OF the
Territories OF New Mexico, Arizona and Utah in
Their material growth and in the increase, indie
peDdence and happiness Of their people, Is very
largely dependent upon wise and timely legsl la
lion, either by Congress or their own Legisla-
lures regulating the distribution OF the water
supply furnished by their streams. II this mat
LEI Is much longer neglected private corpora
the elements OF life, and the patentees Of the arid
lands will b. tenants at-wl of the water CON-
panles. The United States should part with its
ownership of the water sources and the sites for
reservoirs, whether 10 the States and Terri
tories. or to individuals or corporations, only
upon conditions that VIII insure to the settlers
their proper water supply upon equal and rea-
sonabie terms. In the Territories this Who'll.
subject is under the fun control OF Congress- and
In the States 1t Is practically, long the
Government holds the title TO the reservoir sites
and water courses, aud can grant them upon
such conditions as 1t chooses to impose. The
improvement granting OF franchises OF enormous
value, Without recOmpense, by the state
municipality from which they proceed, and with.
ou proper protection OF The public interest is
The most noticeable and crying evil OF pre- sent
legislation. This fault should not be committed
In dealing with subject that will before many
years elect 80 vitality thousands OF our people.
Utah and Alaska.
The legislation of Congress for the repression
of poly gamy has, after years OF resistance on the
part OF The Mormons, at last brought them 10
liar 10 ,fir hi
and unayalng. The power of Congress over this
subject should not be surrendered until we have
sat- evidence that The people Of the
state 10 he created would exercise the exclusive
power OF The State over this subject in the same
way. The question Is not wheth r these people
now obey the law of Congress against polygamy
but rather, would they make, enforce ana main
tain such laws themselves II absolutely free TO
regulate the subject. We cannot AFFORD TO ex-
pertinent with This subject, for when State is
once constituted The act i, final, and any mistake
Is irretrieyable. No compact in the Enabling
ACT could, In my opinion, be binding or effective
recommend that provision be made for the
organization OF simple form OF town govern
ment in Alaska. with power TO regulate such
matters as are usually, in the statutes. under
municipal control. The local organization will
give better protection 10 such matters than The
present shelton Territorial organization. Proper
restrictions as TO The power to levy taxes and to
create dcbtS should be imposed.
Department of Agriculture.
II the establishment OF the Department Of
Agriculture was regarded by any one as mere
concession TO the uDenllgniened demand OF
worthy class OF peopl that impression has been
most efectually removed by The great results
already attained. It's influence has been very
great in disseminating agricultural and nortieul-
tural Information; in stimulating aud directing a
further diyersifcation of crops; in detecting aud
Graduating diseases of domestic animals, and,
more than dill, disc Osing information and the in-
formal contact which II has established and
maintained with The farmers and stOck-raiSers
OF the whole country. Every request for inior-
nation has had prompt attention, and every sug-
gestion neriIed consideration. The scientific
al q Af a luf. gaY and
is pushing It's Investigations with method and
enthusiasm. The INSPECTION by this depart
for shipment abroad has been The basis
OF the success which has attended our eff
forts 10 secure the removal of the restrc-
iioEs maintained by the European Govern
mentS. For ten years petitions upon this
subject ttom The packers and stock.raisers OF
the United states have been directed against
these restrictions. which so seriously limited our
markets aud curtalled tile profits OF the farm
Ii Is cause OF general congraiulatlon that such
has at last been attained, for the effects of
enlarged foreign mars ct for these meats Will be
fell, not only by the farmer but in our public
finances and in every branch of trade. II is par
!iculaIy fortunate that the increased demand
for food products resulting from the removal of
the restrictions upon our meats and from The
reciprocal trade arrangements TO Witch have
referred should have come at time when the
agricultural surplus is SO large. Without the
help thus derived lower prices would have pre-
vailed. The Secretary Of Agriculture estimates
that the restrictions UPON the Importation of our
pork product into Europe lost us market for
S-ViOOOsOOO Vi tutse pEouuclS
The CouDtry's Harvests.
The grain crop of this year was the largest In
our history, 80 per cent greater than that OF last
year, and yet the markets that have been opened
crops In Europe have sus; aimed prices to such an
extent That The enormous surplus of meats and
breadstuifs VIII be marketed at good prices
bringing relief and prosperity TO an industry
that was much depressed. The value OF the
grain crop Of the United States Is estimated by
the Secretary TO be this year $500, 600, 900 more
than last year, OF meats 5 200, 900 more, and
OF all products of the farm 100000. 600 more.
1t is not inappropriate, think, however, to sug-
gest here that our satisfaction in The contempla-
ton Of this marvellous addition to the national
wealth Is unciouded by any suspicion OF The cur
rency by which il Is measured and in which the
farmer Is paid Tor the product OF his farm.
Civil Service Commission.
The report of the Ciyil Service Commission
should receive the careful attention OF the oppo-
nentS as well as the friends Of this reform. The
commission invites a personal inspection by
Senators and Representatives of lis records and
methods, and every fair critic Will feel that such
an examination should precede u judgment of
condemnation, either Of the system or lis ad-
mtnistIaton. Ii Is not claimed that either is
perfect, but 1t is believed the law Is being exc
cuted with imparttality, and that the system is
incomparably better aud farer than that OF APP
pomtments upon favor. have during the year
extended the classified service TO include super
intendents, teachers, matrons and physicians in
the Indian service This branch OF the service
Is largely related 10 educational and philan-
lhropcal work, and will obviously be the better
for tue change. The heads of the several eXecu-
i've departments nave been directed to the
establishment OF a record, as a basis Of the COM
paratve rating of clerks within a classified
service, with a view to promoting methods
therein. 1 am confident that such a record
fairly planted and open 10 the inspection OF those
interested, will powerfully stimulate the work OF
the departments and will be accepted by all as
placing the troublesome matter OF promotions
upon just basis. l recommend that the appro-
prlatons for the Civil S,rvce Commission be
made adequate TO the Increased work of the new
fiscal year.
Life-Saving Legislation.
have twice before called the attention of Con.
gress to the necessity OF LEGISLATION for the pro-
lection of the lives of railroad employees but
nothing has yet been done During the year
ending June 80, $780, 500 brakemen were
killed, and 7S41 manned, while engaged iu
coupling cars. The total number Of railroad en-
ployes killed during the year was 2451, and the
number injured 22,59o. THIS is cruel and
largely needless sacrifice. The Government Is
spending nearly S1,0o0.0oo annually to save
the lives Of shipwrecs cd seamen. Every steam
vessel Is rigsGly Inspected aud required to adopt
tile most approved safety appliances. All this Is
good, but how shall we excuse the lack of inter-