Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-09

opinion viii be sufficient while sheus a.
bnrsements 90 the disabled soldiers OF the grso1
elNil war are large, they do not realize the ss-
assesnioe estimates Of those Who opposs this
benehcent legislation. The Secretary Of -
Interior shows with great fullness the care -
Is taken 10 exclude fraudulent ciaitax ana sass
TIE gratifying TACT that the persons 10 whom
these - nsions arc Going are men who rendered,
not siAeht but substantial war service.
RAILROAD sDEsrkDxE..
The report Of the Commissioner Of RsilrosAs
shows that the total debt Of the subsidized
railroads to the United States was. on peceu-
Der 81, 1880. sIl2. 5l2. 6lSoe. A large part a
thIs debt is now fast approaching maturity,
with no adequate provision for its payment
Some policy for dealing with this aebt. with
view TO its ultimate collection, should be 20
once adopted. IL is very difhonit well nigh
impossible, for 80 large body the Congress
10 conduct the necessary negotiations and in
vision be made FOR the appointments Of CONF
mission TO agree upon and report plan 10
dealing with this debt.
THE CENSUS BUREAU.
The work Of the Census Bureau 10 now far IN
advance and the great bulk of the enormous
labor involved completed. IL will be more
strictly q statistical exhibit and less encum-
bered by essays than its immediate predeces-
socs. The methods pursued have been fair,
careful, and intelligent. and have secured the
approval OF the statlstlcIAns. who have followed
thea With scientific aud non-partlran inter-
est. The appropriations necessary TO the early
completion and publication of the authorized
volumes should be gwen IN time 90 secure
against delays, which increase the cost and az
the same time diminish the value Of the work
THE TERRITORIES.
The report Of the Secretary exhibits with
interesting fullRess, the condition of the Terri
tories. Iney have shared with the States the
great increase IN farm products and are bring
ms yearly large areas into cultivation by ex-
tending their irrigating canals This work 10
being done by individuals or local corporations
anu Without That system which full preilm-
mary survey Of the water supply and OF the
lrrlSable lands would enable them 60 ADOPT
Inc future OF the Territories of New Mexico.
Arlzoua, aud Utah IA their material growth
and IN the increase, independence, aud happi-
Less OF their people Is very largely dependons
upon Wise and timely Legislation, either by
Congress or their own legislatures regulating
the distribution OF the water supply furnished
by their streams. IL tins ma ter a. much longer
neglected, private corporations wall have Unre-
sirlciec control Of one OF the elements of life
and the patentees OF the arid lands will be
tenants at viii OF the water companies.
The United States should part with its owner
snip OF the water sources and the sites for res
erEoirs, whether TO the States and Territories
conditions that viii insure TO the sotllers their
proper water supply upon equal and reasonable
teTHas- In thc lerrliOrlcs TINS whole subject
Is under lie iuu coatrol of Congress- and in
the states 1t As practically 30 as long as the
NONcrnment holds the title TO the reservoir
siies ald water sources aud can grant theIa
upon such conditions as It chooses 10 impose.
lhe ImproylGont granting OF franchises q
enormous value, without recOmpense TO the
stale or municipality from which they proceed
interests, IL the most noticeable and fiHgraus
evI OF modern legislation This fault should
not be committed IA dealing with q subject
thAt VIII, before many years, affect 90 vitality
thousands Of our people.
UIAH AND roLYGAMr.
The legislation of Congress for the repression
of polygamy has, after years Of resistance ON
the part vi the MOrmons. at last brought them
to the conclusion thatresistance is Improbable
and unavaillng. 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 ihe
exclusive power OF the state over tins subiecs
IN tAe same way. 1he question n not whether
these people now obey the laws vi Congress
against po,y galuy. but rather would they make,
enforce, and maintain such laws themselves a
absolutely Tree TO regulate the subiect We
can NOT AFFORD 10 experiment with thIs subject,
Tor when a state Is once constituted the act 10
hnai aud any mistake lrretrievable. No COM
pact IN the enabling act could, IN my opinion,
be binding or effective.
recommend thar provision be made for the
organization OF d simple form OF town govern.
inent IN Alaska, with power 10 Regulate such
matters as are USUALLY M the Sl.ltes under
municipal control these local civil Organizes
lions wIl give better protection in some mat
tiers than the present skeleton Territorial
organization Proper restrictions To the
power TO levy taAes and to create debt should
DE imposed.
The Department of Agriculture.
III the establishments Of the department Of
Agriculture was regarded by anyone as q mere
concession TO the unenlightened demand OF .
worthy class OF people, that impression has
been most effectually removed by the great re-
suits already attained. Its home influence has
been very great in disseminating agricultural
and horticultural information; in stimulating
and directing a further liberalization of cropsa
IN detecting and Graduating diseases OF donl.s-
tao animals; and, more than ali, an the close
ana informal contact which ii has established
and maintains with the farmers and stock
raisers OF the whole country. Every request
Tor Information has had prompt attention and
every suggestion merlted consideration. The
scientific corps OF the Department is Of high
order and Is pushing its Investigations with
method and enthusiasm.
The inspection by this Department OF cattle
and pork products intended for shipmeuo
abroad las been the basis OF the success which
has attended our efforts 10 secure the removal
OF the restrictions maintained by the Euro
pean governments
tof ten Years protests and petitions upon
this subject from the packers and stock -rsisers
OF the United States have been directed against
these restrictions, which SO seriously limited
our markets and curtaiied the profits of the
fhrn Ii Is source of general ton that
success has at last tor the of
al enlarged foreign market for these meats will
be felt, not only by the farmer. but in our pub
lie finances and in every branch of trade. 10
is particularly fortunate that the increased de-
mand for food products, resulting from the TO
moyal OF the restrictions upon our meats and
from the reciprocal trade arrangements TO
which 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 Agri-
culture estimates that the restrictions upon the
Importation OF our pork products into Europe
iost a market for 30, QUO, 900 worth of theee
products annually.
THE GRAIN cRoP.
The grain crop of this year was the largest in
our history. 80 per cent greater than that Of
last year. and yet the new markets that have
been opened and the larger demand resulting
from short crops In Europe have sustained
prices to such an extent that the enormous sur.
plus Of meats and breadstuffs will be marketed
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