Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1891-12-18
ments during these four months of $107. As.
Pension Estimates.

ments during these four months of $1O7 As.
| Pension Estimates.
The estimates for pension expenditures
for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1898, is
$144, 95S, 900, which, after q careful exam
ination of the subject, the commissioner
Is of the opinion will be sufficient While
these disbursements to the disabled SOL
diers of the great civil war are large, they
do not realize the exaggerated estimates
of those who oppose this bcnefcent legis-
lntion.
The secretary of the interior shows with
great fullness the care that has been taken
to exclude fraudulent claims and also the
gratifying fact that the persons to whom
these pensions are going are men who
rendered, not slight, but substantial war
service.
| Report of the Commissioners of Railroads.
The report of the commissioner of rail-
roads shows that the total debt of the SUBJ
sidised railroads in the United States was
on December 81 1890, 12,512O13.06 A
large part of the debt is now approaching
maturity with no adequate provision for
its payment Some policy for dealing
with this debt, with view to its ultimate
collection, should be at once adopted. 1t
is very difficult, we'll nigh impossible, for
80 large body as congress to conduct
necessary negotiations and Investigations.
therefore recommend that provision be
made for the appointment of a commission
10 agree upon ana report u plHu DEAL
ing with this debt
Census Bureau.
The work of the census bureau is now!
far advanced, the great bulk of the enor-
nous labor involved completed. Ii will
be more strictly a statistical exhibit, and
| less encountered by essays than it's imne
diate predecessors. The methods pursued
have been fair, careful and intelligent and
have secured the approval of the statisti-
clans who have followed them with
a scientific and non-partisan interest.
The appropriations necessary to the early
completion and publication of the author
| lied volumes should be given in time to
secure against delays which increase the
cost and at the same time diminish the
value of the work.
Arid Lands.
The report of the secretary exhibits with
interesting fullness the condition of the
territories. They have shared with the
and yearly bring large areas into cultiva-
ton by extending their irrigating canals.
This work is being done by individuals
or local corporations, and without that
system which full preliminary survey
OF the water supply and of the
adopt. The future of the territory of New
Mexico, Arizona and Utah in their mate
rial growth and in the increase, indepen-
dence and happiness of their people is
very largely dependent upon wise and
timely legislation, either by congress or
their own legislatures, regulating the dis
tributon of the water supply furnished
by their streams. If this matter is much
longer neglected private corporations will
have unrestricted control of one of the
elements of life and the patentees of the
arid lands will be tenants at will
United States should part with its
ownership of the water source
and the sites for reservoirs, whether to
the states and territories, or to individuals
or corporations, only upon conditions that
will insure to the settlers their proper
water supply upon equal and reasonable
terms. In the territories this whole sub
ject is under the full control of congress
and in the states it is practically so as
long as the government holds the title to
can grant them upon such conditions as it
chooses to impose. The improvident
l granting of franchises of enormous
value without recompense to the state or
,, municipality from which they proceed and
without proper protection of the public in
tercSts is the most noticeable and crying
evil of present legislation. This fault
LIQUID not be committed in dealing with Il
subject that will, before many years, effect
so vitality thousands of our people.
iie Cautious With Uoni,.
f The legislation of congress for the re-
, preston OF polygamy has, after years of
resistance on the part of the Mormons at
last brought Them to the conclusion that
resistance is Improbable and unavailing.
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 sub
, icct i'll the same way. 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 TIC
regulate the subject. We cannot afford tic
experiment with this subject, for when !
state is once constituted the act is final
and any mistake irrctricvable. no com
/ pact III the enabling act could, i'll my opin
ion, be binding effective.
!. Lonul Government for ALASKA.
i recommend that provision be made FOL
: the organization of Il simple form of tow1
k government in Alaska with such power IL
o regulate matters as are usually vested il
a the states under municipal control
: These local organizations will give better
!, protection i'll such matters than the pres
2, e.lt sicl ton territorial organization. Pro
D per restrictions as to the power to lev,
e taxes and to create debts should be i'm
o posed.