Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1892-12-09

! The report OF the commiss' 'oner of pen.
sions. to which extended notice is given
by the secretary of the interior ia his re
port viii attract great attention. Judged
by the aggregate amount Of work done
the last year has been the greatest in the
history of the office. | believe that the
ganization Of the office is efficien, and
that the work has been done with fidelity.
Inc passage OF what is known rs the de-
o1hty act has as WAS foreseen, VERY
largely increased the annual disbnrs-
ments to the disabled veterans of the civil
war The estimate for this fiscal year was
$l44 $50 900 and the amount was appropri-
ated. deficiency amounting to $40. .O5S
hsl must be provided for at this session
The estimates for pensions for the tscal
year ending June 81, 1894, iss1G5. 900 600 The
commissioner of pensions believes that II
the present legislation and methods are
maintained and further additions to the
pensions are not made, the maximum ex-
penditnre for pensions will be reached
June 30. 1874, and will be ut the highes,
point, eisH s00O 900 iser snnuni.
recommended in my last annual mes
sage that II commission be appointed to
deal with the Union Pacific railway ques-
tion and l renew that recommendation
and suggest that the commission be given
full power
Department Of Agriculture.
The report of the secretary of agricul-
i '"i' t'titains not oul most interesting
statement Of the progressive and valu-
| able work done under the administration
/ of Secretary Rusk, but many suggestions
! hOr the enlarged usefulness of this depar,
, .. ent.
/ Quarantine Regulations.
The subject of quarantine REGULATE
| inspection and control was brought sud
denly to my attention by the arrival at
our ports in August last of vessels in
wi ]. ali L.
tions should be uniform in all our ports.
Under the constitution they are plainly
within the exclusive federal jurisdiction
when and so far as congress shall lcgis-
| late In my opinion the whole subject
| should be taken under national control
| and adequate power given to the executive
to protect people against plague inva-
sions.
Further restriction of immigration is
also suggested as a preventive of plague
! Importation.
Worlds Columbian Exposition.
| The report of the Worlds Columbian
| exposition has not been submitted That
OF the board of management OF the gov
ernment exhibit has been received and i
herewith transmitted. The work of con
| struction and of preparation OF the open
ing of the exposition in May next has pro-
gressed most satisfactorily and upon a
scale of liberality and magniticence that
Will worthiiy sustain the honor of the
United States.
Needs Liquor Law.
The District of Columbia Is left, by
decision of the supreme court Of the dis
trict. without any law regulating the liauor
traffic. An old statute Of the Legislature
of this district relating to the licensing of
yarions vocations has hitherto been treated
by the commissioners as giving them
power to grant or refuse licenses to sell
Intoxicating liquors and as subjectng
those who sold without licenses to penal.
ties. In May last the supreme court of
the district held against this view Of the
powers of commissioners. 1t is of urgent
Importance therefore that congress should
supply, either by direct enactment or by
comforting discretionary powers upon the
commissioners, proper limitations and re
straints upon the liquor traffic In the dis.
trict.
Legislation Tor Railroad Employees.
In renewing the recommendation which
! have made In three preceding annual
messages that congress should lrgislate
for the protection of railroad employees
against the dangers incident to the old
and inadequate methods of braking aud
coupling where still In use upon freigh,
business. | do so with the hope that this
congress may take action upon the sub.
ject.
inc AiVii S0TVtC0.
The civil service commission ask for an
appropriation for more clerical assistance,
which think should be given. extended
the classified service March l. 1892, to in
clude physicians superintendents assist
ant superintendents, school teachers, and
teachers in the Indian service, and have
had under consideration the subject of
some further extensions, but have not as
yet fully determined the lines upon which
the extension can most properly and use.
fully be made.
About Election Methods.
have in each three annual messages
which il has been my duty to submit to
congress, called attention to the evils and
dangers connected with our election
methods and practices as they are related
to the choice of officers Of the national
government In my last annual message
lendeayored to invoke serious attention
to the evils of unfair apportionments for
congress. cannot close this |
message without again calling
attention to these grave and
threatening evils. / had hoped that il
quiry by means OF commission into evils |
the existence of which is known to all and
that cut OF this might grow Legislation |
from which all thought OF partisan ad- |
vantage should be eliminated and only |
the higher thought appear Of maintaining
the IreeuOW ana purify OF the ballot and |
the equality Of the elector, without the |
guaranty of which the government c. uld |
never have been formed, and without the |
continuance of which it cannot continue |
to exist in peace and prosperity. 1t is |
time that the mutual charges Ut unfair |
ness and fraud between the |
great parties should cease and
that the sincerity Of those who profess q |
desire for pure and honest election should |
be brought to the test Of their willingness |
to free our legislation and our election
methods from everything that tends to |
impair the public confidence in the an |
result. The necessity for an in |
quiry and for legislation by congress upon |
his subject is emphasized by the fact that
the tendency Of the legislation in |
some states in recent years has |
been in some important particulars
away from and not toward free and |
fair elections and equal apportianments. |
Is it not time that we should come to-
gether upon the high plane Of patriotism
while we deyise methods that shall secure |
the right Of any man qualified by law to |
east free ballot and give to every such
ballot an equal value in choosing our pub
lic officers and in directing the policy OF
such, hut more, where it usurps the func-
tions Of the peace officer and Of the courts,
The frequent lynchings of c0l0red lseople
accused of crime Is without the ex.
cuse which haS sometimes been
urged by nobs for failure to pursue the
appointed methods for the punishment OF
crime that the accused have an undue in
fiuence over court and juries. Such acts
are reproach TO the community where
they occur and SO far rs they can be made
the subject Of federal jurisdiction the
strongest repressiye legislation Is de-
lnanded. 4 public sentiment that will
sustain the oficcrs OF the law In resisting
mobs and projecting accused persons in
their custody should be promoted by
every possible means. The officer who
gives his life in .Ae brave dis
charge af his duty Is worthy at
special honor. No lesson needs to De 60
urgently Impressed upon our people as
this, that no worthy end or cause can be
hy lAwlesaness. This exhibit Of
The work of the executive departments is
submitted to congress and to the public In
the hope that there will be found in il =
due sense Of responsibility and an earnest