The record-union., 1891-12-10

that the people Of the State 10 tic created
would exercise the exclusive poN0" OF the
State over this subject in the same Wdv- The
question is not whether these people now
obey the law OF Congress against poiy ygamy.
but rather would they make, enfO &c and
maintain sucn laws themselves. If ABSOLUTELY
free TO regulate the subject? We cannot
AFFORD TO experiment with this subject, tor
when State is once constituted the Act is
final, ana any mistake irretrievable. No
contract in the enabling Act could, in my
OPINION, be binding or elective.
ALASKA TERRITORY.
/ recommend that provision be made FOR the
organization OF a simple form OF town gov
ernment IL Alaska. with power to regulate
under municipal control. The local organiZ;l-
tlOnS Will give better protection in such mat
ters than the present skeleton Territorial or
ganlZatlou. Proper restrictions as TO the
power to levy taxes and TO create debts
should be imposed.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICCLTUPE.
If the establishment OF the Department of
Agriculture was regarded by anyone as n
mere concession to the unenlightened Ge-
mand OF q worthy class OF people, that i'm
preston has been most eflectually removed
1y the great results already attained. It's in
Huence has been very great in disseminating
agricultural and horticultural information,
IN stimulating and directing 81 further diversi-
ncatlon CT crops, in detecting and CraGicat ing
diseases or domestic animals and. more than
all GlSCloSeS information and informal con-
tact which it has established and maintains
with the farmers and Stoek-raiScrs OF the
Whole country. Every request tor informa-
uon has had prompt attention, and every
suggestion merited consideration. The scien-
tllc corps OF the department is of Il high or
DER and is pushing its investigations with
method and enthusiasm.
The inspection by this department of cattle
of pork and products intended for shipment
abroad has been the basis of the success which
mas attended our efforts to secure the removal
OF the restrictions maintained By the Eu-
ropean Governments. Eor ten years IetitiOnS
upon this subject from the packers ana stock
r3tlSefS OF the united States have been directed
against these resu lotions, which so seriously
limited our markets and cUrtailed the proItS
OF the farm. II is a cause of general cOngrat-
ulatiOn that such has at last been attained
for the effects OF an enlarged foreign marked
Tor these meats will be f Il moi only by the
farmer, hut IN our publc finances and in
every branch of trade. 1t IS particularly fortu-
nate that t1e increased demand tor food prod
uctS resulting from the removal of the re-
strctlons upon our meats and from the re-
clpfocal trade arrangements 10 which 1 have
referred ,Shouid nave come at a time when the
agricultural surplus is so large. Without the
help thus derived lower prices would have
prevailed.
the restl1 ,tions upon the importation OF our
pork products into Europe lost us a market
I0r S2O.OOO.OOO of these products annually.
Inc grain crop OF this year was the largest in
our history, 30 per ctnG. greater than that OF
las year, yet the market that mas opened and
the larger demand resulting from short crops
extent that the enormous surplus of meats
ana breadStUTis. viii be marketed at good
prices, bringing relief and PFC S Jerity 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 So00,0O0,OO0 more than last year, of
ducts OF the farm S70O,000,OO0 more. II is
not inappropriate, IthinS, however to sug-
gest here that our satisfaction in the cOnteIn-
plation of tfiS marvellous addition 10 the ma
tlOnAl Weli1n nnrInfFfian nv OF - cre refxS
OF the currency by which it is measured and
IN which the farmer is paid for the product OF
his farm.
THE CIVIL. SERVICE.
The report of the Civil Service Commission
should receive the careful attention of the op-
ponen as well as the friends OF the reform
Inc Inc COMMISSION invites q personal inspection
by the Senator's and Representatives of its
records and methods and every lair critic will
agree that such an examination should pre-
cede q judgement of condemnation either of
the system or its administration. It is not
claimed that either is perfect but il is be-
Heved the law is being executed with 'mpar-
uallty, and the system is incomparably better
and fairer than that of appointments on IA
VCr.
l have during the year extended the class1-
ned service, to include SUperintendentS, teacn-
ers, mafrCnS and physicians IN the Indian
service. This branch of the service is largely
related to educational and pniantErOpic
work, and Will obviously be the better for the
change. The heads OF the several departments
have been directed to the establishment of it,
Once record as a basis of comparison. the
a ing OF clerks within q classified service
with view TO promoting the methods there
in, am confident that such a record fairly
Hunted, open to the inspection OF those inter
e ted, viii powerfully stimulate the work of
the departments and will be accented bv All
as placing the troublesome matter of promo
uons upon q just basis.
| recommend that the appropriations for
the Civil Service Commission be made ade-
quate to the increased work of the next fiscal
year.
PROTECTION OF RAILROAD EMPLOYEES LIVES
have twice tefore called attention of Con-
gress TO the necessity OF legislation for the pro-
tectiCn OF the lives of raj road employees but
nothing has yet been done. During the wear
ending June 80, 1890, 364 brakemen We're
killed and 7,S4l manned While engaged in
coupling cars. The total number OF railroad
employs killed during the year was 2,451
aud injured % so. This is a cruel and
largely needless sacrifice. The Govern.
nent is spending nearly one million dollars q
year to save the lives or shipWrecAed Seanen.
Every steam vessel is inspected and required
to adopt the most approved safety appliances.
All this is good, but shall we excuse the lack
of interest and effort in bef all OF this army OF
brave youn men who in our land of COM
merce are being sacrificed every year by the
continued use OF antiquated and dangerous
appliances \ law recurring of every rail
road engaged in interstate commerce the
equipment each year OF IL given per cent. of its
r light cars VITA automatic couplers, and air
brakes anu cOupietS TO be used, would very
soon ana very greatly reduce the present fear
tul des-tI rate among railroad employees.
METHOD OF CHOOSING THE PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTORS.
The method OF choosing Presidential Elect
orS has recently attracted renewed interest bV
II ason of depai tule by the State OF Michi-
gan from the nethocS which haC bee me uni
form IN all tEe States. Prior to So. various
methods had been used by the different States
and even by the same State. In some the
choice was made by the Legislature. In Others
the electors We're chosen by districts but more
Gt w ~ a tN ~,
Il general ticket. The NOV ement towards the
adoption OF the last named method al an
car V beginning and went steadily forward
among. the States, until in 1882, there re-
manned but u single state. South Carolina
that had not adopted il. That State, until the
civil war, continued to choose its electors by
vote of the Legislature, but after the war
changed its method and conlorned to the
practice of the other States. For nearly sixty
years all the States save one have chosen their
electors By a popular vote upon q general
ticket, and for nearly thirty years this method
was universal.
After a full test of other methods, without
important division or disSension IN any State
and without any purpose OF party advantage
as we must believe. but solely upon the con
Sideratlons that uniformity was desirable
ana tnat a general election in territorial
divisions not subject to change was most con-
sistent with The popular character of our in
StItutions, best preSerN ej the equality OF the
voters, and etfeCtuaily removed the cnoice OF
President from the banefui influence Of the
'geTymander," the practice OF all the States
was brought into harmony. That this CON
currence should now be broken, is, I think, an
unfortunate and even q threatening episode
and one that may well suggest whether the
States that still give their approval to the old
and prevailing method ought rot TO secure. by
constitutional amendment, a practice which
has had the approval OF all. The recent Mlt.ri-
gan legis. Station provides Tor choosing what are
popularity known as Congres sional Elo ctors
Ior President by Congressional distrcts and
two Senatorial electors by districts created for
the purpose. The leg Station was. of coursa
&C 'omI anied by q new Confessional ac-
port!onment, and the two statutes bring the
eiectoriai vote OF the Stale under the influence
OF the '.gerrymandcr These gerrynande