Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-12-09

withdrawing the rnpidlty with which
the work IL being pushed. The mistake
which has been made by many In their
estimates OF the cost OF pensions IL In
not taxing an account OF the dimln.
ished value Of frst payments under the
recent legislation.
Thesu psymenls, under the laws,
have been for many very large, M the
pensions, When allowed, date from the
lime Of the filing OF the claim, and most
n these had been pending for Year,.
The fret payments under the law or
June. 1890, are relatively small, and m
the per cent. Of these cases Increases,
and that Of the old cases diminishes, the
annual aggregate Of first payments IL
largely reduced.
The Commissioner. under date Of
Nov. 10, furnishes me with the State.
men, that during the last four months,
1870 certificates were issued-2T, 500
under the ,geneyal law and s5,2s9 I'M
der the act Of June "a, 1890. The av-
erage first payment during the four
months WAS 81 III SO, while the average
first payments upon cases allowed dur
Ing the year ending June 80th,
1891. was $40, a33, being n reduction
In the average iirst payments during
these four months Of slO7.40. The C..
Innate for pension expenditures for the
fiscal year ending June 80, 1892, IL
slsi,05s,OO0, which by q careful ex.
animation of the subject, the commits
nloner IN OF the opinion, Will be suiii-
Client. While these disbursements to
the disabled soldiers ~ the recent civil
war ARE large, they do not realize the
exaggerated estimates OF those who
opposed this beneficent legislation.
The Secretary OF the Interior shows
with great fullness the caro- that IA taken
10 exclude fraudulent claims and also
the gratifying fact that the persons TO
whom thosc pensions ara going, are
men who rendered not slight but sub.
sisn,ial w service.
REpOBr oP COMMISSIONER OF RAIL
HOADs.
The report OF the Commissioner OF
Railroads shows that the total debt Of
tho subsldizcd railroads 10 the United
States was ON December 81, ls0O,tll2,-
5l2,8l8,00. A large part Of the deot Ia
now fact approaching maturity with
no adequate provision for It's pay
msnt. Some policy for dealing with
this debt with View TO its ultimate
collection should he Ut once adopted.
III very diilicult, well nigh i'm.
possible, for ~ large body
ma the Congress 10 conduct the
necessary negotiations and inv,stiga-
lions therefore recommend that a
provision te made for the appointment
81 commission To agree upon and re-
port pan for dealing with this debt.
THE oRSsUs BUREAU.
The work OF the census bureau IL
far advanced and the great bulk Of the
enormous labor involved, completed.
IL viii Je more strictly n statistical ex.
hibit and less encountered by essays
than i,e immediate predecessors. The
methods pursued have been fair, care
ful ana Intelligent and have secured
the approval II the ttatlsticlans
who have followed them with
scientific and non PARTISAN
interest.
The appropriations necessary TO the
early completion and publication Of the
authorized volumes should he given In
time TO secure against delays, which
increase the cost and Mt the same time
diminish the value Of the works.
TnE TERmToRiEs.
The report Of the secretary exhibits,
with interesting fullness, the condition
Of the Territories. They have shared |
with the States the great Increase Ia |
farm products and arc bringing yearly |
large areas into cultivation by extend. !
ing their irrigation canals. This work !
IL being done by Individuals or local |
corporations, and without that |
system which full preliminary
survey Of the water supply aud OF |
the irrigated lands would enable them |
TO adopt, the future Of the terri.
tories Of New Mexico, Arizona
aud Utah will 10 retarded IN |
their material growth. The increase,
independence and happiness Of their
people IL very largely dependent upon
Wholesome aud timely Legislation |
either 10y Congress or their own lrglsla.
tures, regulating the water supply fur
nisheu by their streams. IL this mat
ter II much longer neglected, private
corporations will have unrestrlrtcd
control OF one of the clemcntssbf life,
ana Tia. pnl6ntces OF the arid lands will
DO tenants 1T will of the water COM
paulcs.
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 individ-
uals or corporations, only uIon equal
and reasonable terms. In the terri.
tories this whole subject N under the
full control Of Congress and In the
States " Is practically no, az long as
the government holds the title 10 the
reservoir sites and water courses and
can grant them upon such conditions
ms II chooses TO Impose. The grant
ing OF franchises Of enormous
value without recompense 10 the
State or municipal city to which they
proceed aud without proper protection
" the public interests, N the most
noticeable aud crying evil OF the
present legislation. This fault should
be corrected In dealing with subject
that will before many years effect 70
vitality thousands Of our people.
REpRsssI on oF roLyGAMY.
The legislation OF Congress for re.
preston Of polygamy has after years
Of resistance on the part u tho Nor
mons, ut last brought them to the
conclusion that resistance h
Improbable aud unavAiling. The
power Of Congress over this
subject should not he sur.
rendered, until we have satisfac.
tory evidence that the people VI the
State 10 be created would exercise the
exclusive power OF the State over this
subject In thu same way.
The question IL not whether these
people now. obey the laws Of Congress
against polygamy, hut rather, would
a H. q. a