The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-12-10

larlty. NO department. or branch of
administration is neglected. Naval
vessels. the mail subsidy law, the ton
mage act tho bui ding of new guns, In
dian schools, the distribution of and in
severalty to Indians and q scoro of other
topics are treated at length.
The total number OF pensioners upon
the rolls June 80, 1891, was GIG. 100.
During the last fiscal year $50, 565 peu-
sions were granted. The appropriation
for pensions for the fiscal year of 1890,
was Sl27, esq., 1913, and tho amount OK
pended, Sis, 53O,649.
The Mormons at last seem to realize
that polygamy is dead, and arc obeying
the law, but a doubt is raised as to the
advisability of admitting Utah to State
hood.
the value of the grain crop of the
United States is estimated by the Sec
rotary to be this year five hundred mil
lion dollars more than last; of meats one
hundred and fifty millions more, and of
all products of the farm, seven hundred
millions more. cit is not inappropriate,
think, here to suggest that our salts
faction in the contemplation of this
marvellous addition to the national
wealth is unclouded by any suspicion of
tho currency by which it Is measured
and in which tho farmer is paid for the
product of his fields"
81 have twice before urgently called
the attention of Congress to the neces-
sity of legislation for tho protection OF
tho lives of railroad employees. but
nothing has yet been done. During the
year ending juno 80, 1890, 800 brake
men were killed and 7,S4l manned.
While engaged in coupling cars the
total number Of railroad employees
killed during the year was 2,45l and the
number injured 22,390 This is cruel
and largely a needless sacrifice. The
Government is spending nearly one mil
lion dollars annually to save the lives of
shipwrecked seamen, every steam yes
sci is rigidly inspected and required to
adopt the most approved safety appli-
ances. 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 antiquated and dan
gerous appliances. A law requiring of
every railroad engaged in the inter
state commerce and equipment each
year OF given per cent. of its freight
cars with automatic couplers and air
brakes would compel an agreement
between tho roads as to tho kind of
brakes ana couplerS to be used and
would very soon and very greatly re-
duce the present fearful death rate
among railroad employees"
lengthy discussion is had of the
change i'll the election law of Michigan,
whereby presidential electors are
chosen by congressional districts. This
is made the basis of extended criticism
of 'gerrymandering, and the message
urges the establishment of q non partisan
commission to consider the whole
scheme of the federal elections, where
by the ballot may be protected and tho
utmost fairness instilled into tho cleo
ton system. The message concludes
as follows:
81 have been greatly rejoiced to no.
tice the many evidences of the increased
uniflcation of our people and of re-
vived national spirit. The vista that
now opens to US is wider and more glor-
ious than ever before. Qualification and
amazcmunt struggle for supremacy as
we contemplate the population, wealth
and moral strength of our country. A
trust momentous in it's influence upon
our people and upon the world is for
brief time committed to us, and we
must not be faithless to it's first condi-
tion-the defense of the FREQ and equal
influence of the people in the choice of
public officers and in the control of pub
lie affairs"