The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1891-12-19

Spttieh SL0S Az e0O ~
carefully sd,udicate. and allow $4,000 GLAZING
during the present fiscal year. The appropri.
sti9r fsr The paynsn. e psgs:sns for the fiscal
s saPeIns q i, s'is5sia,s. ''i FYs ss n uasapeneG {
quite confident that there will 10 hu en- tins
year for a deficiency appropriation.
the fiscal year ending June 30, 1888, is, SlA,956,
ui, which,. after . careful examination of
ths subject. the soalsIssieuer Is Of opinion
trer+s t. the disabled soldiers Of the great
exaggerated estimates q shsss who oppose this
benettcent legislation. The secretsfy, N tbe
that Is taken to exclude. fraudulent claims, and
also the gratifying fact that the persons to
whom these pensions crr airing are men who
rendered not slight but substantial wcr services.
THE SUBSIDIZED RAILROADS.
The report of the commissioner of railroads
shows that the total debt of the subsidized
railroads to the United States was on Decem-
Der 81, 1890, Sll2,5l2, 6l3.06. A large part of this
1ebt = now fast approaching maturity; with no
policy for dealing With this debt, with a view to
its Ultimate collection. should he at. once
adopted. 1t is very dificult-weli nigh impos-
conduct nesssssty negotiations md inSestisa.
tons.
THE ELEVENTH cgSsUs.
The work of the census bureau is now far IN
advance and the great bulk of the enormous
t~istical exhibit and less encountered by essays
pursued have bsen ffsir, careful and Intelligent
and Ralyie secured the approval Of the statistic
clans vino have followed them with q scientific
and non partisan interest. 1fs appropriations
necessary to the early completion and prbliea-
tiou Of the authorized volume should be given
the cost and it 81 same time diminished the
value Of the work.
THE REPRESSION OF PoLYGAMY.
Tie legislation Q eopgress for the repression
of pOlygamy has, aise- saars Of assistance on the
part Of the Mormons, at least bidrght them to
the conclusion that resistance is unprofitab,s
and unavailing. The power of congress over
th's subject should not be surrendered until We
state to be created would efctri-4 the exclusive
power of the state over this subject III the sams
way. The question is not whether these peoplj
now obey the Law Of congress against poiygamy.
tain such laws themselves II absolutely free to
rcEIlateth subjectf
lows SnvtRSTrsT roR ALASKA.
recommend that provision ~ r'adr for tbs
ment in Alaska with power to regulate such
matters as are usually in the states under
municipal control. These local civil organiza-
tiCns will give better protection in such matters
than the present skeleton territorial organiza-
ton. Proper restrictions as TO the power to
levy taxes and to create debts should be i'm
posed.
The DEPARTMENT or AGRICULTURE.
If the establishment of the departments Of az.
r%iculture is regarded by anyone as a mere con.
cession to the u~nenlightened demand of a worthy
class of people, that impression has been most
effectuallyr removed by the great results already
attained. Its home influence has been very
great in disseminating agricultural and horti-
cultural information: in stimulating and
directing a further Investigation Of crops;
Of domestic animals; and, more
than all, in the close and informal contact which
it has established and maintains with the
farmers and stock rliScrS of the whole country.
The secretary of agriculture estimates that
the restrictions upon the importation of our
pork products into Europe lost us a market for
s0,U0,u1 worth of these products annually.
THE LARGEST GRAIN CRJr IN OUR HISTORY.
The grain crop of this year was the largest in
our history-O per cent. greater than that OF
laStyear-andmarkets have been opened and this
larger demand resulting from short crops in
that tn, enormous surplus of meats and bread
stuffs will he marketed at good prices, bringing
relief and prosperity to an industry
I4af was sr5n m tbs ffys IRiteS st..a me is S value OF the ne
the secretary to he this year SJn.0ON,nD moro
than last; of meats S~l5p.06yOO more, and of all
products Of the farm S1U,OOG,0O more. 1t is
not Inappropriate, | think. here to suggest that
our satisfaction in the contemplation of this
marvellous addition to the national wealth Is up'
clouded by any suspicion of the currency by
WLliFn IL IL mtdSuTtu, ana IN WHICH Ilc IdTutT Is
paid for the product of his fields.
ruP CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION.
Tho report Of The civil service commission
should receive the careful attention of the OPP
pOn"nts as well as the friends of this fefUrni.
The commission invites n personal inspection
by senator's and representatives of its records
or methods; and every fair critic will feel that
such an examination should precede a Judgment
of condemnation, either of the system or its ad-
ministratiop.
EFFICIENCY RECORDS.
The heads Of the several executive depart
ments have been directed to establish at once an
efficiency record as the basis of a comparative
rating of the clerks within the classified service,
with a view to placing promotions therein upon
the basis of merit. | am confident that such a
record, fairly kept. and open to the inspection Of
those interested, will powerfully stimulate the
work of the departments, and VIII he accepted
by all as placing the troublesome matter Of pr1.
motions upon a Just basis.
PROTECTION FOR RAILROAD EMPLOYEES.
have twice before urgently called the atten-
ton OF congress t" the, necessity of legislation
for the protection OF the liyes nf railroad en-
ployes, but nothing has yet been done. During
the year ending June -, lsD, 369 brakemenw ers
killed and 1871 MANNED while engaged in
coupling cars. Thu total number of employees
killed during the year was 2,45l, and the
nuTl'eE injured &s,aSo, This is a cruel
government is spending nearly Sl,0O,0D
annually to save the lives of shipNrecked sea-
men: every steam vessel is rigidly inspected and
required u dtlDII IL ulOsl HlOSl diITONtu Stlt-
ty appliance. All this is good. but how shall we
excuse the lack of interest and effort in behalf
Of this army Of brave young men, who. in our
land commerce. are being sacrificed every year
by the continued use of Anticipated and danger
Gus appliancesf
CONCERNING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS.
The method of appointment by the states Of
electors of president and vice-president has re-
Gently attracted renewed interest by reason Of
4 departure by the state of Michigan from the
method which had become uniform in all the
states. Prior to 1882 various methods had been
used by the different states and even by the
the legislature; in others electors were chosen
by districts, but more generally by the
voters of the whole state upon a general
ticket. The movement towards the adoption OF
the last named method had an early beginning and
went steadily forward among the states, untilin
lS2 there remained but a single state, South
Carolina that had not adopted it. That state,
until the cival war, continued to choose its
electors 10y vote of the legislature. but after the
war changed its method and conformed to the
practice of the other states. For nearly sixty
their electors by 4 popular vote upon a general
ticket, and for nearly thirty years this method
was universal.
A DANGEROUS INNOVATION.
Nothing Just now is more important than to
provide every guaranty for the absolutely fair
and free choice by an equal suffrage within the
respective states Of all the officers of the nation
al government, whether that suffrage is applied
as in the choice of members of the
house of representatives, or indirectly as
in the choice of senator's and elect
ors of president. Respect for public Off
GERS and obedience tolaw will not cease to be the
of our people until our elections
cease to declare the will Of majorities fairly as
certained without fraud, suppression or gerry
mander. If | were called upon to declare where
in our chief national danger lies, | should say
hesitation. in the overthrow of majority
by the suppression or perversion of the
popular suffrage.
step in the direction Of reform by eliminating
the gerrymander which has been defeated by
all parties as an influence in the election of
of president and members of congresss
the states have, acting freely and separate
IL, determined that the choice Of electors
by a general ticket is the wisest and
method, and it would seem that
there could he no objection to a constitutional
amendment. making that method perma-
purely local questions should, pending a presi-
contest, meet, rescind the law for q
choice upon a general ticket, and provide for the
choice Of electors by the legislature, and this
trick should determine the result, it is not too
much to say that the public peace might be Sc
riously and widely endangered
/ have alluded to the "gerrymander" as af-
dent by congressional districts, but the primary
intent and effect OF this form OF political rob-
berry have relation to the selection of members
Of the house Of representatives. The power of
congress is ample to deal with this threatening
and intolerable abuse. The unfeeling test OF
sincerity in election reform will be found in a
willingness to confer as to remedies, and to put
force such measures as will most effectu-
ally preserve the right of the people to free and
anpa1 raDrpsaDtatioO