Los Angeles herald., 1891-12-10

emit legislation. This fault should not
be committed in dealing with subject
that will before many years affect so
vitally thousands of our people.
The legislation OF congress- Tor the
repression OF polygamy has, after years
of resistance on the part ofthe Mormons,
at last brought them to the conclusion
that resistance is Improbable and un-
availing. The power of congress over
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 subject in the same
wey. The question is not whether these
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 subject. We cannot afford
to experiment with this subject, for
when state is once constituted the act
is final, and any mistake irretrievable.
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 government in Alaska, with power
to regulate such matters as are usually
in the statutes under municipal control.
The local organizations will 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.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
II the establishment of the depart
ment of agriculture is regarded by any
as q mere concession to the unenlight-
ened demand of a worthy class of people
that impression has been most effectu-
ally removed by the great results already
attained. Its influence has been very
great in disseminating agricultural and
ing and directing further diversification
of crops; in detecting and eradicating
diseases of domestic animals, and more
than all in the information and
informal contact which it has es-
tablished and maintains with the
farmers and stock raisers of the
whole country. Every request for in
formation has had prompt attention,
and every suggestion has merited con-
sideration. The scientific corps of the
department is of high order, and is
pushing its investigation with method
and enthusiasm.
The inspection 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 re-
strictions maintained by the European
governments. For ten years petitions
upon this subject from packers and
stock -raisers of the United States have
been directed against these restrictions.
which 80 seriously limited our markets
and our profits on the farm. 1t is a
cause of con8ratulation that the object
has a. last been obtained in the enlarge
ment of the foreign market for these
meats, which will be felt, not only by
the farmer, but in our public finances,
and in every branch of trade.
It is particularly fortunate that the
increased demand for food products re-
sulting from the removal of the restric-
tions upon our meats and from the
reciprocal trade arrangements to which
I have referred should have come at q
time when the agricultural surplus is so
large. Without the help thus derived
lower prices would have prevailed. The
secretary of agriculture estimates that
the restrictions upon the importation OF
our pork product into Europe lost us
maIkcI ioT P1V,VoV,VVo Va ehooo PAo~uS'o
annually.
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 breadstuffs will be
marketed at good prices, bringing relief
and prosperity to an industry that was
much oppressed.
The value of the grain crop of the
United States is estimated by the secre-
tary to be this year $500, 600, 600 more
than last year; OF meats, $3.50, ,000, 900
more, and Of all products of the farm,
100000, 900 more.
1t is not inappropriate, think, how
ever, to suggest here that our satisfac-
ton in the contemplation of this mar
velous addition to the national wealth is
unclouded by any suspicion of the cur
rency by which it is measured and in
which the farmer is paid for the product
Of his fields.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
The report of the civil service COM
mission should receive the careful atten-
ton of opponents as well as the friends
of this reform. The commission invites
a personal inspection by senators and
representatives of its records and
methods, and every fair critic will feel
that such an examination should pre-
cede judgment of condemnation, either
of the system or its administration. 1t
is not claimed that either is perfect,
but it is believed that the law is
being executed with impartiality and
that the system is incomparably better
and fairer than that of appointments by
3 favor. 1 have during the year extended
the classified service to include superin-
tendents, teachers, matrons and physi-
clans in the Indian service. This branch
OF the service is largely related to edu-
cational and philanthropical work, and
will obviously be better for the change.
The heads of the several executive
departments have been directed to the
establishment of an efficiency record as
basis for the comparative rating of
clerks within classified service, with a
view to promotion therein. | am conf
dent that such record, fairly planned,
open to the inspection of those interest
ed, will powerfully stimulate the work
of the departments, and will be accepted
by all as placing the troublesome matter
OF promotions upon just basis. | rec
ommend that the appropriations for the
civil service commission be made ade-
A