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About The Stayton mail. (Stayton, Marion County, Or.) 1895-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 13, 1907)
HESUME OF MESSAGE President’s Communication Is Conservative Document. AIMS TO PLEASE ALL CLASSES 'Would Daisy Tariff Logltlotlon Until Aftor tha Praaldantlal Election— Wonts Curroncy Chang««. N# nat loo g r e a t e r resource# than oura. wa d I think It can ha t r u th f u lly said that tha d M io n a a f no nation posse»« g r e a t s r an • t n v and iad ua trlal a b ili ty In no nation ara tha fu n d a m e n t a l business c on d itio n * aoundar t h i n In oura at th l* vary m o m e n t, and It la foolish, whan such 1* tha raa*. fot people to hoar d m oney Inatead o f k**plr>K It In sound banka; f o r It I* such hoarding that la tha irnin rd lala o « « a * l o n o f m oney s trin g e n c y M oreover, ae a rule, tha business o f our people la conducted with honesty and probity, and thla applies a lik e to f a r m « and factorlaa. to railroads and banka, to all uur la g ltlm a ta c o m m e r c ia l antarprlaaa In tha eff o rt to puiitan the g u ilty It Is both wlaa and prope r to e n d e a v o r eo f a r as possible to m in im is e the distress of those who h a v e been misled by tha gu ilt y Yet It la not possible to r e fr a in because of surb distress f r o m s triv in g to put an end to the m is de eds th at ara the ult imat a cause* o f tho suffering, and. as a me ans to thla and. where possible to punleh those responsible for them. T h e r e m a y ba honest d iffer en ces of opinion as to m a n y G ovs rn rn sntal policies, but surely there can be no aurh different es as to the need o f unflinching per seve ra nce tn tha wa r ag ainst tu< easeful dishonesty. I N T K I I M T A T K F O R M E R ! tC. N o s m a ll part o f the trouble that * • h a v e c om es f r o m c a r r y in g to an e x t re m e th e N a tio n a l v irt u e o f s e l f • reliance, of Inde p e n d e n c * in In itia tiv e and action. It Is w|aa to con ser ve this virtu e and to provide f o r Its fullest e le r r ls e , c o m p a tib le with •*•*- l o g that lib ert y does not become a liberty to w r o n g others t' n fo rt u n a t e ly . this is the bin d of liberty that tha lack of all rffe<ti\. re gu la ti o n In evitab ly breeds T h e founders o f tha Constitution p ro vid ed that the Na t l o n a l * G o v e rn m e n t should hav e com plete a n d sola con tro l o f Intarstate c o m m e r c e T h e r a waa then p ra c tic a lly no Interstate business save such as was conducted by w a te r, and this the Na ti o n al G o ve rn m e n t a» o n ce proceeded to re gula te In th o ro u g h g oin g and e ff e c tiv e fashion Conditions hav e n o * so w h o lly chan ge d that the Inters ta te com «tierce by w a te r Is Insignificant com pa re d w it h the am ount that go e « by land, and a l most a ll hlg business con* * rn * are now en wa ge d In In te rs ta te com m erce A s a result. It ran ha but p a r t ia lly and Im p e rfe c tly c o n t ro l!« » ! r f re gu la te d by the action o f any one o f the sever al states, such action In e v l t a b l y te nding lo he e ith er too drastic or elsa too lax. and In either case In effe ctiv e f o r purpose* o f " Justice. Only the Nation al G o v e r n m e n t can In th o ro u g h g o in g fashion e xe rc is e th e needed control T h l * does noi m e a n that there should be any extension of F e d e r a l au th ority , f o r such au th o ri ty al rs ad y exists under the Constitu tion It am ple st and most far «re achin g f o r m , t u 1 f t does m*iin that there should be an e x t e n sion o f F i A i f f t l A f t l f U j TbU is not .« i v o c a t ln g centrallxatt< n. It Is m e t e ly look f n g fa. ts In the face, and r e a li s in g that c en tr a lis a tio n In business has a lr e a d y corn* and can n ot I*« avoided o r und«»ne. and that tha public at lar ge can only p ro te ct Itself f r o m c ertain e vil e ffe cts o f this business c e n tr a lis a tio n by f r o v t d l n g bat ter m eth o d* f o r the rs er cls e o f control th ro u gh th* au th o rity alr ea d y centr alis ed in the Na tional G o v e r n m e n t by tha Constitution Itself P I KK FOOD LA W . In c id e n ta lly . In the passage o f the pure- f o o d law the action o f the various state fo o d and d a iry com missio ner s s how ed In s tr ik in g fashion how muen good f o r the w h o le people reaulta f ro m the h e a r ty co o pe ra ti o n o f the F e de ra l and state officials In securing a gi v en reform. It la p rim a r ily to the action o f these state com m iss io n er* th at wa o w e the e n a ct m e n t o f thla la w ; f o r the y aroused the peopla. first to demand tha an a ct m en t and e n fo rc e m e n t o f state la w s on the auhjn t. and tr.-n I b l M A t t m i n t o f tha F e d e ra l law, wit h ou t which tha state laws were la r g e ly In eff ec ti ve T h e r a m u lt be the closest CO-opera!Ion b e tw e e n the Na ti o n al nnd stat e g o v ern m e n ts In ad m in is te rin g these laws CURRENCY. In m y meaaaga to Congress a ye ar a g o I a poke aa fo ll o w s on tha currency I especially call your at te ntion to tha c o n dit io n o f our currency laws. T h e Na ti o n al bank act has ab ly served a g re at purpose in a id in g the enormous business dev elo p m e nt o f the country, und within ten ye ar s there has been an Increase in circu lation per c a p i t a f r o m 921 41 to 933 08. Fo r sever al years « v l d e n c e has been ac c um u lati n g th at add! tlon al legislatio n Is needed T h a recurrence o f each crop season emphasises the d ef ec ts o f tha present laws T h e r a must goon be a re vision o f them, because to le a v e them as th e y ar e mean s to Incur liab ility o f business d isa ster Hinca yo u r body ad jo u rn e d there has been a fluc tuatio n In the Interest on call m o n e y f ro m 2 per cent to :n> per cent, and tho flu ctu ation was even g r e a t e r durin g the p re c e d in g six months T h e S ec re ta ry o f the T re a s u ry had to step !n and by w ise n* tlon I>ut a stop to tha most violent period o f os c illation . E ve n worse than such fluctuation Is the a d v an ce in c o m m er cia l ra tes and the un c erta in ty felt In the s u ffl e n cy o f credit « v e n at high ra tes A l l c o m m e r c ia l Interests au ff ar durin g each crop period Excessive ra te * f o r call m oney In N e w Y o rk attract m o n e y f ro m the In terior banks Into the spec ula ti v e f ie ld T h is dep letea the fund that w ou ld o th orw is e be a v a il a b le f o r c om m er cia l uses, and c o m m e r c ia l bor ro wers are forced to pay abn orm al rates, so that eac h Kali at tax. In the shape o f Increased Interest cha rg e s, Is placed on the whole c om mer ce ©f the country Need for Im m ediate Action. I again urge on the Congress the need of Im m e d i a t e at te ntion to this m a tte r We need a g r e a t e r e la s tic ity In our currency; p rovided , of course, th at we re co gn is e the e v e n g r e a t e r need of u safe and secure rur ran cy. T h e r e must a lw a y s be the mAst r ig i d e x a m in a t io n by the N a tio n a l a u th o r ities. P ro vis io n should be m a de f o r an e m e r g e n c y currency. T h e e m e r g e n c y Issue should, o f course, be m a d e with an e ff e c t i v e gu a ra n t y, and upon cond itions c a r e fu lly p r e scribed by the G ove rn m en t. Such e m e r g e n c y Issue must be based on ad e qua te securities a p p ro ve d by the G o ve rn m e n t and must be Issued un der a h e a v y tax. T h is wou ld per m l t currenc y being Issued wh en tho d em a n d f o r It wa s urgent, w h ile securing Its r e t i r e m e n t as the d em a n d f e ll off. It Is wo rt h while In v e s t ig a t in g to d et erm in e w h e th e r o ff ic e rs an d d ire c to rs o f Nu tlo nal banks should e v e r be allo w ed to loan to th em selves T r u s t compa nies should bo subject to the s a m e supervision a « banks; legislatio n to this e f f e c t should be enacted f o r the D is tr ic t o f C olum bia and the T erritorie s. T IIK T A R IF F . T h la cou n tr y la d efin ite ly c o m m it t e d to t h a p r o t e c t iv e syst em and any effo rt to uproot It could not but cause widesp re ad In d u s tr ia l disaster. In oth er words, the p rin c ip le o f the present ta riff law could not with w is d o m be cha nged. Jtut In a country of • u rh phe n o m en a l g r o w t h as ours It Is prob a b ly w e ll th a t e v e r y dozen years or to the t a r i f f la w a should be c a r e f l l y acrutlnlxed so as to see that no excessive or Im proper benefits ar e con fer red thereby, th a t proper re v e n u e Is p ro vid ed and th at our fo r eign tr a d e la encouraged. T h e r e must a lw a y s be as a m in im u m a ta riff which w ill not only a l l o w f o r the colle ctio n o f an a m p le revenue but wh ic h w ill at least ma ke good the d i f f e r e n c e In cost o f production here and a b r o a d ; th a t la, tha differ en ce In th e labor cost here and abroad, f o r the we ll being o f tha w a g e - w o r k e r must a v e r be a car din al poin t a f A m e r ic a n policy. The question should be approached pure ly f r o m a bull* nese sta n d p o in t; both t o . tim e and the mann er of the c h a n ge being such as to arouse the m in im u m o f a g ita tio n and dis tu rb an ce In the business world , and to ylvs t tie least p la y for seifllah and fac tional m o tiv e s The sole consideration should he to see that the sum total of cha nge s r#pr***r»t* the public good. T his m e an « Dial tbs subject «tin not with wis dom be dea lt wit h |n the year preceding a President 1 ts I election« b «r u u * * as a matt er o f fa c t experien ce has conclusively shown that at eucp a tim e It Is Impossible to get me n to tr ea t It f r o m the etandpolnt o f the public goo d in m y Judgment the wise tim e to deal with the m a tte r Is Im m e d ia t e ly a fte r such slsctlon. E N t O M C E M K N T O F T i l l ; IJ b W . A f e w years a g o there was loud c o m plaint that the law could not be Invoked against w e alt h y offe nder*. T h e r e Is no su' h c o m p la in t now T h e cou rse o f the D* partrnent o f Justice durin g the last few ye ars has l»«*n such as to ma ke It evid ent that no man rt nnds s ho v e the law, that no c or p o ra ti o n Is so w e a lt h y that It cannot l e held to account T h e Depa rtment of .lijsttc«’ has heen as prompt to proceed ag ainst tha we alth ie s t m a l e f a c t o r whose cri m e was one of greed and ru nn in g as to proceed ag ainst the a g ita t o r w h o Incites to brutal violence. E v e r y t h i n g that < an be done under the e x is tin g law. and with th© exis ti n g state o f public opinion, wh ic h eo p ro fo un d ly influences tot*, the courts and Juries, b e * been done. Hut the l a w * t h e m selves need s tr e n gth e n in g In m ore than one Im p o rt a n t point . the y should be m a de more definite, s i that no honest man r a r be led u n w it tin g ly t » break them, and eo that the re al w r on gd o er ra n he te a d ll y punished IN JU N C TIO N S . In sta n ce* of abuse In t h « g r a n t in g o f in Junctions in labor disputes cont inue to o c cur and the re sen tmen t In the minds of ♦hose who feel that th eir r i g h t * are being Invaded and their liberty o f ac tio n ami of speech urc w a r r a n t a b ly restraine d con tinu e» li k ew is e to gro w Much «>f the a tta ck or. the use of the process of injunction I* wholly with ou t » m i rant, but I am con strain ed to esp re s* the b elie f ( k i t f o r some o f It there Is w a rra n t T h l * question Is bec omin g more and more one o f ptlrne Im portance, and unless tbe courts will the m s elv es deal wit h It in affec ti v e manner, it Is cert ain u lt im a t e ly to dem a n d «»«»m* f o r m o f leg* la tlve s e l l *n It would be most unfnrtun at# f o r our s o d a l w e lf a r e If we should per m it m any honest and la w - a b id in g crlil- xens to fesl th at they had Just cause fur re g a r d in g our courts wit h hostility. I ear nest ly c o m m en d to the at te n ti o n of the Congress this matt er, so that some wav m a y be d ev ised wh ic h will limit the abuse o f in ju n c ti o n » and protect those rig h ts which f r o m ti m e to tim e it unw a r ra n ts h ly in v a d e . Moreo ver , d isconten t Is often expressed with kthe u*s of the pror.-ss of In ju nctio n by th ” court*, not only In labor disputes, but where » ( a t e la w s are concer ned I r e fr a in from d!t< usslon o f thl* quest ton a* I a m Informed that It w ill soon re ce iv e tbs cons ideration of the Huprsrne Court. Qt K H T IO N N A F F E C T I N G L A B O R . T h e N a tio n a l O o f #n i men t should be s m o d el e m p l o j e r It should d em a n d the h t f h e » t q u a lit y o f serv ic e f ro m each o f It" e m p lo y e s #nd It should care f o r all of th em p ro pe rly In return Congress should adopt le gisla tio n p ro v id in g limited but defi nite c om pen sa tion f o r accide nts to all work men w ith in the scope o f the F e d e ra l power, in cluding e m p lo y e * of n a v y -y a r d s and a r s-n als In oth er words, a model e m ployers' li ab il ity act. f a r - r e a c h in g and th o ro u g hg oin g, should be enacted which should apply to all positions, public and prlxate. o ve r which tbe Na tio n a l Govern fro nt has jur isd iction. T h e num ber o f a c c i dents to w a g e - w o r k e r * . Including those that a-a p re v e n t a b le and those that arc not, has bec ome a p p a lli n g in th*» mecha nical, menu factu rtng. and tr an sp ort a tion ope ra tio ns of t tie day It work s grim hardship to the o rd in a ry w a g * w o r k e r a e d his f a m i l y to have the effe ct o f such an accident fa ll solely upon h im ; and. on the o th e r hand, there are w h o le « la sse s o f at to rn eys w h o exist o n ly by In citin g men wh o ma y or ma y not h a v e been w r on ge d to un der take suits for n eg li gen c e T h e Congress should consider the extension of tb e eigh t -hour law T h e c onstit utio nality of th# present la w has re ce n tly been called Into question, and th * Hup re m« Co ur t ha» dec ided that the exi s ti n g le gislatio n Is un questionably within tha pow tm o f tt** Con gress T h e p iln c lp le o f the e ig h t-h o u r day should as ra pidly and as f a r as pra ctl ra bl« be exten ded to the entire work car ried on by the G o v e r n m e n t ; and the present law should l e amend* d In embr ac e con tra cts on those public work s which the present w o r d ing o f the a c t lias been construed to e x clude. T h e g e n era l Introduction of the e ig h t - h o u r day should be the g o a l tow ar d which we should stead ily tend, and tbe G o v e r n m e n t should set the e x a m p le In this respect. Compulsory In ie w tlg a tlo n of Industrial Disputes. Strikes and lockouts, wit h their atte nda nt loss and suf fering continue to Increase. For the five years end in g Dece m b er 31. 1905. the num ber o f strik es was g r e a t e r than those In an y prev io us ten ye ars and was diSuble tbe n um ber In t h * prece ding five years T hese figures Indicate the Im rc usU ig need of p ro v id in g soma m ach in er y to dea l with this c l * » * o f disturb anc es In the Interest alik e o f the e m plo ye r, the e m p lo y e and the g e n era l public l renew my prev io us re co m m e n d a tio n that th e Congress f a v o r a b ly c o n sider the m a tte r o f c re atin g the m ach in er y f o r com pu lso ry In v es ti ga ti o n o f such In dustrial c on tro ve rs ies as ar e o f sufficient m a g n it u d e and o f sufficient conc ern to the people of the cou n tr y us a w h o le to warr ant I he F e de ra l G o ve rn m e n t In ta k in g action. Ca p it a l and laihor. It Is certain that f o r some tim e to com e there will be a constant Increase absolutely, and perhaps re la t iv e ly , o f those a m o n g our cltlxens wh o d w e ll in c l t l w or to w ns o f some six* nnd who wo rk fo$ w a ge s T h i s means that th e r e will be an e v e r Increasing need to con s id e r the p ro ble m s Inseparable f ro m a g re at Industrial c ivil is a t io n W h e r e an I m mense and c om ple x business, esp ec ially In those branches re la t in g to m a n u fa ctu re and transporatinn. Is tr an sa ct ed by a la r g e n um ber of c ap ita lis ts who e m p lo y a very much la r g e r num ber of wa ge -earn er s, the form er tend more and more to c om bin e Into corpo ra tio ns and the lat ter Into unions The rela tion s of the capita lis t and wage-worker to one an other. and o f each to the ge n era l public, are no l alw a x s easy to ad ju s t, and lo put them and keep the m «m a s a tis fac to ry basis Is one o f the most Im p o rt a n t and one o f the most d e lic a t e tasks b efo re our whole civilisat ion. Much o f the wo rk f o r the accom plis h m en t o f th l* end must be done by the Individuals concer ned themselves , w h e th e r sin g ly or In c om bin atio n ; nnd th e one fu n d a m e n t a l fa c t that must n ev e r be lost track o f la th at the c h a r a c t e r o f the a v e r a g e man. w h e th e r he be a man o f mean s or a man w h o works wit h h i* hands. Is the most Im p o rt a n t fac to r In s o lv in g the problem aright. Hut It Is a l most equ a ll y Im p o rt a n t to re m e m b e r that with ou t good laws It la also Impossible to rench the proper solution*. It Is Idle to hold th at w it h o u t go od laws evils such aa child labor, ns the o v e r - w o r k i n g o f wo me n, as the fa ilu re to pro te ct e m ploye s f r o m loss o f Ilf© o r limb, can be e ff ec ti v e ly re ached, any m ore than the e v il* o f rebates and stock- w a t e r i n g can he re ac hed without good laws. T o f a ll to stop these practices by legislation means to force honest men Into them, be cause o th e rw is e the dishonest w h o surely will ta k e a d v a n t a g e o f the m will h a v e e v e r y th in g th eir own way. I f the stat es w il l c o r rect these evi l« , we ll and g o o d ; but the N a t io n must stand re ad y to aid them. F a rm e rs and W a g e - W o r k e r s . W h e n the D e p a rtm e n t o f A g r ic u lt u r e was fou nde d th ere wns much sneerin g as to Its usefulness. N o d e p a r t m e n t o f the G o v e r n ment, howeve r, has m ore e m p h a tic a lly v i n d i cate d Its usefiilnesa, and none save the Postof flc© D e p a r tm e n t comes so continu ally and in tlm n t e ly in to touch w it h the people. I he tw o cltlxens whose w e l f a r e Is In the a g g r e g a t e most v ita l to the w e l f a r e of the N a ti o n , nnd th e r e fo r e to the w e l f a r e o f all oth er cltlxens, ar c the w a g e - w o r k e r who does m a nu al labor and the ti ll e r o f the soli, the fa r m e r . T h e r e are, o f course, kinds of labor w h e re the w o r k must be pure ly mental, and th e re ar e o th e r kinds o f labor where, under exi s ti n g conditions, v e ry litt le d e m a nd Indeed Is m a d e upon the mind, though I am gla d to say th at the pro po rt io n o f men e n g a g e d In this kind of work Is d im in is h in * Hut In any c o m m u n ity w it h the solid, h e a lt h y qu ali ties which m a ke up a really g r e a t nation tha bulk o f the peop la should do w o r k which calls for the exercise of both body an d mind. P ro gre ss can not p e r m a nen tly exist in l h * ab an donm en t o f p h y si cal labor, but In the d ev e lo p m e n t of p h y s i cal labor, so th at It shall represent more arid »nor* the w o rk o f the trained mind In the tr ained body Our school system Is g r a v e l y d e f e c t iv e In so f a r as It puts a p rem iu m upon mere li te r a r y tr ain in g and tends therefor«* *.o train the boy a w a y fro m the f a r m and the w o rk s h o p N o th in g la more needed than th * best ty pe o f Industrial ruhool. the school f o r m e ch a n ic a l Induatrle* if, the city, the school f o r p ra c tic a lly te a c h in g a g r i c u l ture In the c ou n tr y T h e caJHn? o f the "k ille d ti ll e r o f the soli, the « a i l i n g of the » k i l l e d mechanic, should alike be r e c o g nised as professions, Just as e m p h a tic a ll y us the « alllriK" of la w ye r. d*»rtor, me rc ha nt or dark . T h * schools should re co gn is e this fact and It should equ a lly be re cognised In p op ula r opinbm T h e youn g man who has the f ar sigh te dn ess and cou rag e to recognise It and to ge t o ve r the Idea that It m a k e « n d lf fer en «’* w h e th e r what he earns Is called s ala ry or w a g * « , an«! who refuses to enter the c ro w d ed fle|«l o f the »««-called profes «Ions, and ta k « a to con stru ctive industry in stead. Is te as o n ab ly sure o f an am ple r«-* wa rd In earn in g«. In health. In opportu nity lo m a r r y early, and to establish a home with a f a ir amount of free d o m f r o m worry. It should be one o f our prime o b je c ts to put both the f a r m e r and the me ch anic on a h ig h e r p lan* o f e fficie n cy and re wa rd, sc ns to ln« rease th e ir effectlve neaa In the e c o n om ic world, and th e re fo re the «Signify, the rrm un er aiton. and the p o w e r of their positions In the social world T h e graln -pro d ii« Ing industry of the country, «»ne o f the most Im p o rt a n t In the f o i l e d Htates. deserve# special consider* at!«»n at the hands of the Congress. Our gra in 1« sold alm os t exclu sivel y by gra des T o secure s a tis fa c to ry results Ln our horn« m a rk e ts and t«> fa« Dilute our trad e abroad, thee*- gra«les should a p p r o x im a te the h i g h est d'-gree o f u n if o r m ity ami « erta lnty . T h e p r * e «n t d ivers e m e t h o d « o f Inspection an«! g r a d in g th ro u gh ou t the country un«!*r d i f ferent Jaws and boards, result In c o n f u sion and lack o f un iform ity, d e s tr o yin g t h G confidence whl«'h Is necessary f o r h e a lt h ful trade C o m p la in t* against the present m eth ods hav e continu ed f o r ye ar s and they r*r* g r o w in g In v o lu m e and Intensity, not only In thl# cou n tr y but abroad 1 there* f«»r* suggest to the Congress the a d v is a b il it y of a N a tio n a l system o f inspection and g r a d in g o f gra in enter in g Into I n te r state and fo r e ig n c om m er ce at a remedy f o r the present e vils R E C LA M A TIO N WORK. I r r ig a t io n should be far m ore e xten s iv e ly d*v*l«#p*«I than at present, not o n ly In the stat es of the g re a t plains and the R oc k y Mountains, but In m a n y others, as. for :n- « t u n e . In la r g e p«>rtlona of the youth A t lantic and G u lf Htates. where It should go hand In hand w it h the reclamat io n of swamp land Th* F ede ra l G o ve rn m en t should seriously d ev o te Itself to this task, re a li s in g that ut ilisation «if w a te rw a y s and wa terp ow er , fore stry , irr igati o n and the re* «tarnation of lands th re at en ed wit h overflow, ar e all In te rd ep end ent parts o f the same problem. T h e w o rk o f the R ec la m a ti o n S e r v b e In d e v e lo p in g the la r g e r opp ortuni ties o f the western h a lf of our country for Ir r ig a t io n Is m o r * Im portant than almost any oth er m o v em e n t T h# constant purpose o f the G o ve rn m e n t In connect ion with the R e c la m a tio n Hervlce has been to use tlyi Water resources o f the public lands f o r the u lt im a t e gr eat es t g«»od o f the gre ates t n u m ber; In o th e r words. t«> put upon the land p er m an en t h o m e m a k e r s , to use and d e v elop It f o r the m s elv es and for their c h i l dren and c hil d re n 's children T h e r e has been, o f course, opposition to this w o r k ; opposition fron t som e Interested men who «leslre to exhaust the land f o r th eir own im m e d ia te profit with ou t re g a r d to the w e l fare of the next ge neration, and opposition f r o m honest and w e ll- m e a n in g men wh o did not fully understand the subject or who dl«l not look f a r enough ahead T h is opposition Is. I think d yin g aw ay , and our people are un der standin g th a t It would be ut terly wron g to allo w a few In divid uals to e x haust f o r th eir o w n te m p o r a r y personal pr««flt the re source« which ough t to be d e veloped through use so a* to be conserved f o r the p er m an en t c om m o n a d v a n t a g e of the people as a whole. w ill be either r/holiy n es t.o ye d, dam ag ed that ma ny d * « a d * s h a v e to pass b efo re • rreetlv ? use can be m a de o f th e m again A l l th*'«* facts are ao obvious th a i It is * x t r a - o<d in ary that It should be necessary to r e peat them *H course to r h e ' k the waste o f ti m be r me ans that there must b* on the part o f the public the a r u e p t e n « « o f a te m p o r a r y r e striction In the lavish use of the timber, In o r d * r to prevent the to tal loss o f this use In the future. T h e r e are p le n ty o f men In public and p riv a te life wh o a c t u a lly a d v o - c a te th * con tinu an ce o f the present sys tem o f unchecked and wa st ef ul e x t ra v a g a n c e , using a » an a r g u m e n t the fac t that to check It will o f « o urs * mean in te rfe re n c e with the ease and c o m fo r t of certa in people wh o now get lumber at less coat, than th e y ou gh t to pay. at the expense of the futu re g e n e r a tion* Home o f these p*rs««ns a c tu a ll y d e mand that the present forest re serves be th ro w n open to destruction, because, f o r sooth. the y think that th e re by the pric e of lumber could b* put dow n again f o r t w o or three or m o re years. T h e i r at tit u d e Is p re cisely Ilk * that o f an agitator pro te st ing aga nst the o u t la y o f m o n e y by f a r m e r s on manu re and In ta k in g c ar e o f thair farm s g e n e r a lly M IN E R A L LAN D *. In th# eastern I n lt *d ftlates the mineral fue ls h av e a lr e a d y passed Into the hands o f la rge p riv a te owners, and those o f the Yveat ar e rapidly f o l l o w in g It is obv lo u* that these fuels should be conser ved and n«-t wa sted, and It would be we ll to prote«*t the people against unjust and e x t o rtio n a t e price*, so far as that « a n still be done W h a t has been accom pli sh ed In the g re at oil fields o f the Ind ian T e r r i t o r y by the actio n o f the A d m in is tr a ti o n , off e rs »• «♦ r ik '. n * e x a m p le o f the goo d results o f such a policy In my Judgment the G o v e rn m e n t shou ld h av e the rig h t to k *e p the fee o f the coal, oil and gas fields In Its own poshes-ion and to lease the righ ts to d e v e lo p the m under proper r e g u l a tions; o r els«. If the Congress will not ad««pt this method the coal dep osits should be sold un d-r lim itations, to con ser ve th e m as public Utilities, the r l r h t to mine coxl being separated fro m the title to the soil The re gu la tion s should p erm it coal lands to b*i w o rk *d In sufficient q u a n tit y by th e s ev er al corporations. T h e present lim itati o n s hav e been absurd, excess ive and s erv e no useful purpose gnd oft en re n der It necessary th at there should be e l t h “ r frau d or else a b a n d on m e n t o f the work o f g e t t in g out th© coal TH E PAN A M A CANAL. W o r k on the p m i m i Canal la p ro ree d »n g In a h ig h ly ©a tt *fa «t o ry m a nn er In M ar h last. J«»hn F. Hteven*. cha irm a n of the Commission, and c h ie f engineer, resigned, and the Go m m ls Go n was re o rg an iz ed and constituted aa fo llo w s Lieute n an t- C olo n el G e or ge W Ooethals. Corps of Engineers. United Hta»e# A r m y , c h a ir m a n and c h ie f eng ine e r. M a jo r D D GalDard. «*orps of Engineers. United States A r m y . M a jo r W i l lia m L Hlbert. Corps o f Engineers. United States A r m y ; C iv il E n g in e e r H H. R o u s seau. Un ited States N a v y ; J C- 8 B l a c k burn; Colonel W C. Gorges. Un ited S ta te « Ar m y, and Jack son Smith. Commission ers T his m a n g e o f au th o ri ty and d ir ec ti o n went into e ff e c t on A p ril l, with ou t causing a p e r ceptible check In the progress o f the work. P O t f T A L A I- FA IR **. I c«>mmend lo the favorable consideration o f the Congress» a postal savings bank sys tem. as recommendhd by the Postmazt«-r- General. The primary object la to encourag« among our people economy and thrift, and oy the use of postal savings banks to giv e them *n opportunity to husband their resour^s. particularly th«^«ae who have not the fac il i ties at hand for depositing their money In aavlnrs banks. Viewed, however, from the *xperlence o f the pajrt few weeks. It is e v i dent that the advantages of such an inatl- t it ion are still more far-reaching Timid dep«j*itors have withdrawn their savings for th* time being from National banks, trust companies and saving© banka. individuals have h«*arded their cash and the w«»rklng men their earnings; ail of which money has b«en withheld and kept In hiding or in the safe depoelt box to the detriment o f pros perity. Through the agency of tbe postal saving* banka such money would be re stored to the channels o f trad«, to the mu tual benefit of capital and labor. 1 further commend to the Cqngrsse the con sideration of the Uostm.aHter-GeneraVa recom mendation for th# extension of the parcel© PUBLIC LA N D * poet, especially on the rural routes. There T h e effort o f the G o v e rn m e n t to dea l with are now H8.215 rural routes, serv in g nearly tha public land lias been based upon the 15.000.00» people who do not have the ad '»am© principle as that o f the R ec la m a ti o n vantages of the inhabitants o f cities In ob Service T h * land law s ys tem which was taining their supplies These recommendations have been drawn up to benefit the farmer d es ign ed to meet the needs o f (h e fe rt il e I and w *11-w at «»red regions o f the M iddle and the country shopkeeper; otherwise. W es t has la r g e l y broken d o w n when a p should not favor them, for I believe that it is good policy for our Government to do plied to the d r y e r regions o f the g re at plains, the mount ains and much of the everything p<«**1ble to aid the small town and It is desirable that the Pacific Slope, w h e re a f a r m o f 100 acres Is the country district. in ad eq ua te for self-support. In these country merchant should not be crushed out. OKLAHOM A. regions the s ys tem lent It se lf to fraud, and Oklahoma has become a state, standing on much land passed out o f the hands o f the G o ve rn m e n t with ou t passing Into the hands a full equality with her elder sisters, and her future la assured by her great natural re- o f the home m a k e r T h e D e p a rtm e n t o f the sour«'e©. The duty o f the Xationa4 Govern I n te rio r and the D e p a rtm e n t of Justice ment to guard the personal and property rights Joined In prose cu tin g the o ffe nders ag ainst of the Indians within her border# letnains of the la w ; and th ey hav e ac com plis h ed much, course unchanged. w h ile wh ere the a d m in is tr a ti o n o f the la w A LASK A. has been d e f e c t i v e It has been changed. I reiterate my recommendation© of last year Hut the law s th em selves ar e d efec tive. a» regard.« Alaska. Some form of local self- T h r e e year s a g o a public lands com mission government should be provided, as simple was appointed to scrutinise th e law. and d e and inexpensive a© possible; it i© Impossible feats. an«l re c o m m e n d a rem edy. T h e i r e x for the Congress to devote the neceesai^ time am in a ti o n spe cifically s how ed the existence to all the little details o f necessary Alaskan o f g re at fr au d upon the public domain, and legislation. Road building and railw ay build The Governor of th e ir re c o m m e n d a tio n * f o r cha nge s In the ing should be encouraged. law- were m a de w it h the d es ign o f c o n s e r v Alaska should be given an ample appropriation in g the natural resources o f e v e r y part o f wherewith to organize a force to preserve the Whigky selling to tbe natives the public lands by pu tt in g It to its best public peace. should t«e made a felony. The coal land laws us*. should be changed so a© to meet the peculiar Especial a tte n ti o n was c alle d to the p r e need© of th© territory This should be a t vention o f s et tle m e n t by the passage of tended to at once; for the present laws permit g re at areas o f public land in to the hands or Individuals to locate large areas of the pub i f«*w men. and to th© enorm ous wa ste lic domain for speculative purpose©. anJ nused by unrestricted g r a z i n g upon *h * cause an immense amount of trouble, fraud open ra nge T h e re co m m en d ati o n s o f the and litigation. There should be another Ju As ear l) a© pos Public Lands Commission ar e sound, f o r dicial division established. th ey are esp ec ially In th© Interest o f the sible lighthouses and buoys ©houid be estab actu al h o m e - m a k e r ; and w h e r e the small lished as aid* to navigation, especially in and h o m e - m a k e r can n ot at prese nt utilise the about Prince W illia m Sound, and the survey There i© need of land the y p r o v id e that the G o v e r n m e n t shall of the coast completed. k ee p control o f It so th at It ma y not be liberal appropriation© for llgh tl a g and buoy ing the southern coast and improving the monopo liz ed by a f e w men. T h e Congress aid# to navigation tn Southeastern Alaska has not yet acte d upon these r e c o m m e n d a One of the great industries o f Alaska, as of tions; but th e y ar e so Just and proper, so Puget Sound and the Columbia. Is salmon essential to our National, welf are , that I fishing. Gradually, by reason of lack of fee l confident. If the Co ngr ess w il l ta ke proper laws, this Industry I* being ruined; tim e to consider them, th a t th ey w il l u lt i It should now be taken In charge, and e f fec tively protected, by the United State# m a t e l y be adopted. Government. , KORENTS. The courage and enterpri©© o f th© citizens o f O p tim is m is a good characteris tic , but If carr ie d to an excess It bec omes foolishness. th© far Northwest In their projected A la sk a- V> are prone to »p eak o f the resources of Yu kon-Pacific Exposition, to be held In 1009. Thl© this eountry as in ex hau st ible ; this Is not should receive liberal encouragement. so. T h e m in e ra l we alt h o f the country, the exposition is not sentimental in it© concep coal. Iron. oil. gas. and the like, does not tion. but seeks to exploit the natural re re pr od uce Itself, and th e r e fo r e is certain sources o f Alaska and to promote the com to be exhau sted u lt im a t e ly ; and w a s t e f u l merce, trade and Industry o f the Pacific ness in d e a lin g w it h It to d a y means that States with their neighboring states and with our d es ce n da n t« w il l feel the exhaustion a our insular poa©es«ions and th© neighboring The exposition asks ge n era ti o n or tw o b efore th e y oth erw is e countrl»© of the Pacific. would. But th ere are c ertain oth er form s no loan from the Congress, but seeks appro priations for National exhibits exhibits o f wa ste wh ic h could be e n t ir e ly stopped — of the Western dependencies o f and the General th e waste o f soil »by wa shin g, f o r Instance, Government. Tbe State o f Was hington and w hic h Is a m o n g the most dange ro us o f all the city o f Seattle have shown the cha racter wa stes now In progress In the Un ited States, istic Western enterprise In large donation© Is easily p re ventab le, so t h a t this present for the conduct of this exposition. In which enormous loss o f f e r t ilit y Is e ntir e ly u n other state© are lending generous a©*tstaice. necessary. T h e p re s e rv a ti o n o r repla ce ment A bureau o f mines should be created under o f the for es ts Is «me o f th© most Im portant the control and direction of the Secretary of me ans o f p re v e n t in g this loss. W e hav e th© Interior; the bureau to have power to m a d e a b e g in n in g In forest prese rvation, but collect statistics And make Investigation© in It Is only a b egin n in g A t present lu m b e r all matters pertaining to mining and par in g Is the fo u rth gr eat es t Industry in the ticularly to the accidents and dangers o f tha United Sta tes; nnd >et. so rapid has been the industry. I f this cannot now be done, at ra te o f exh aus tio n of tim b e r In th© United least additional appropriations should be given S t a t e » In the past, and so ra p id ly Is tho the Interior Department to b© uoed for the r e m a in d e r b eing exhausted, th a t the cou n study of mining conditions, for the prevention tr y Is un questionably on the v e r g e o f a of frauduh'nt mining scheme©, for carrying tim b e r fa m t n * wh ic h w il l b * f e lt In e ve ry on the work o f mapping the mining dlMlicta, househ »Id In the land. T h e r e has alr ea d y for studying method© for minimizing the ac \ een a rise In the price o f lumber, but there cidents and danger© in th© Industry; in short, Is certa in to be a more rapid and heavier to aid In all proper wa ys the development o f the mining Industry. rise In the future.. I call your e n e d a l attention to th© un- T h e present annual consumption o f l u m ber Is c e rt a in ly thre«» tim es as gr eat as the *atl©factory condition o f our foreign mail service, which, because o f th© lack o f A m e r i annual g r o w t h ; and If the consumption and Is now largely done g r o w t h c on tlaue unchanged, p ra c ti c a lly all can stt atr.oMp line# through foreign lines, and which, particularly our lu m be r w i l l be exhau ste d In anothe r ©o f a r as South and Central Am erica are ge neration, w h ile long b e f o re the lim it to concerned, la don© In a manner which conatl- c o m p le te exhaustion Is reach ed th© g ro w in g tutea a serious barrier to the extension of scarcity w ill m a k e Itself f e lt In m any b l i g h t our commerce. i n g w ays upon our Na ti o n al w-elfare. About Not o n ly th e r e la not now. but there n e v e r 20 per cent o f our forest t e r r it o r y Is now r e has been, an y o t h e r nation in the w o r ld ao serv ed In N a tio n a l for es ts; but these do not w h o lly tree f r o m tha e vils o f m ilit a r is m as inclu de the most valu a ble t im b e r lands, Is ours. T h e ra n ev e r has been an y o th e r and In any eve nt the pro po rt ion Is too sm all la r ge nation, not even China, wh ic h f o r so to expect th at the reserv es can accom plish long a period has had r e l a t i v e l y to Its n u m m o re than a m it ig a t io n o f the trouble which bers so « m a ll a r e g u la r a r m y a* has oura. la ahead f o r the Nation. F a r more drastic N e v e r at an y t im e In our histo ry has this ac ti o n Is needed. Forest© can b© lum bered Na tio n suffered f ro m m ilit a r is m or been In so as to g iv e to the public th e full use of the re motest d a n g e r o f s uffe ri n g f ro m m i l i th eir m e rc a n til e tim ber w it h o u t th© s l i g h t tarism. N e v e r at any tlm© o f our hist ory est d e t rim e n t to the forest, an y m o te than has tha re gu la r A r m y heen o f a size wh ic h It is a d e t rim e n t to a f a r m to furnish a caused the s lig h te st ap p re ciable ta x upon h ar vest ; so th at there Is no p a ra ll el betw een th© t a x p a y in g clttsena o f tha Nation. A l forest# and mines, which can only be c o m most a lw a y s It has been too s mall In size p le t e ly used by exhaustion. Out forests, if and underpaid. N e v e r In our entlra histo ry used as all our forests h a v e been used In has tha N a ti o n suffered In tha least p a r t ic u tha past and aa most o f th e m ara still used. lar because too much « a r t hat be#n given tn tha Arm y, too much pro min en ce gle an It« too much money spent upon It or herausa is ha* t>#*n too large Hut again and again w© hav e suffered because ©no igh car© has ©** been gi v en to It, because It has been ton srqjiil. her-au»© there has n«>t been sufficient prepar atio n In ad v an ce for possible war. E v e r y foreign w a r In which we h a v e en g a ged has « ost us m a n y times the am ount, which. If wisely expe nded «luring the p re c e d ing years o f peace on the re gula r A r m y , would hav e Insured the w a r endin g In but a fra ction o f tii© tim e and but f o r a fra c ti o n o f the «-«>st that was a c tu a ll y th© case. Aa a Na ti o n we hav e a lw a y s been s ho rt sig hted » In pro vid in g for tbe effi cie n cy o f the A r m y In time o f pea«©. It is nobody's especial ln- t * r * * t to m a k e such provision and no o n « look* ahead to w a r at any period, no m a t ter how remote, a* being a serious possi b il ity ; w h il e an Improper economy, or r a t h er nigga rdliness, can be pra ctic ed at the e x pert** o f the A r m y with the c e rt a in ty th at those p ra c ti c in g It will not be called to ac count th ere for, but th at the pries will ba paid by th© unfo rtu na te persons who h a p pen to be In offic e when a war does ac tu all y come Th« Med ical Corps should bs much la r g e r than the needs o f our re gu la r A r m y in war. Ye t at present It I* s m a ll e r tha n the needs o f the serv ic e dem and a . « n in pea«*#. T h e Hpanixh W a r occurred less than ten years ago The h le f loss we suffered In It was by disease a m o n g th * r e g im e n ts which never left the - ountry A t the m o m e n t the N a tio n seemed deeply Impressed by th l* f a c t ; yet s e e m in g ly It has al rea dy been forgo tt e n , for not the slightest effort has been m a de to prepare a m edical corps o f sufficient size to p re vent the repetition o f the same d is aste r on a mu' h la r g e r s* ale If we should e v e r be e n g age d In a serious conflict. The trouble In the n parl*h W a r w a * not w it h ih e then exis ti n g offic ials of the W a r D e p a r t m e n t ; it wa * with the re pres en tati ve* «.•f the p*ople as a whole who, f o r the pre- ce«1ln^ $5 year», had dec lin ed to m a k e th# necessary provision for the A r m y . Unless amp e provision is now ma de by Congress to put the M ed ical Corps where it should bs put «!i*a^ter In the next wa r Is in ev ita ble, and the responsibility will not lie wD h those then in c ha rg e o f the W a r Depa rt m en t, but w it h those who now d ec lin e to m a k e the n © 'e«s a ry provision. Rut the M ed ical D * r * r t m * n t la not t h « o nly d ep artm e n t f o r w h k h increased p r o vision should be made. T h e rats o f pay f o f the officers should be greatly Inc re ase d; there It no h ig h e r ty pe o f citizen than the A m eric an re gu la r officer, ar.d he should h a v e a fa ir re w a rd f o r his a d m ira b le work. ’7 ^ + rf. »bo uld be a r e la t iv e ly even g r e a t e r Increase In the pay f o r the enlisted men All e-pe cial provision should be ma de f o r e st a b lishing grade s e q u iv a le n t to tho**- o f war* rant officers in the N a v y which should he open to the enlisted men who s er ve suf- f l c i * r t l y long and who do their wo rk well. Ind i* e m e n ts should be offered sufficient to e n t o u ra g e re all y good men to m a k e the A r m y s li f e occupation T h e p ri m e needs o f our present A r m y Is to » « c u r * and retain c om pe tent noncommissioned officer*. T hla d if fic u lt y rests f u n d a m e n t a lly on th# qu es tion of psy I' erhs p s the moat im p o rta n t o f all le g is l a t e n needed f o r th * benefit o f the Arm y 1« a law to e qu aliz e and increase th e pay of « ffi re rs and enlisted m*n o f the Arm y. N a v y . M ari n e Corps, and Revenue-Cutte« servic« Such a bill has been prepared, which It is hoped w il l meet w it h yout f a v o r a b le consideration. T h e nex t most essential measure is to au thorise a number o f e x t r a officers as m e nta lo ned above. To m a ke the A r m y more a t t r a c t iv e to enlisted men. it is absolutely essential to c re a te a s er vic e corps, such as exists In nea rl y e v e ry mod ern a r m y In the world, te do th© skilled ar.d unskilled labor. In sep ar ably connected wit h m ilit a r y admin is tratio n, which is now exacted, with out Just compensa tion, o f e n listed men w h o v o lu n ta r ily en ter ed the A r m v to do ser vic e o f an a lt o g e t h e r d i f feren t kind. T h e r e are a number o f other law’ s necesaary to ao o r g a n iz e the A r m y as to p ro m o te It* effi cie n cy and f a c ilit a t e its ra pid expans ion In ti m e o f w a r; but t h « ab o ve ar e the most im portant. The N a vy. It was hoped T h * H a g u e C o n fe re n ce m ig h t d *a l with (he qu estio n o f the lim it a tio n c f a rm am *nts. Bu t even b efo re it had as s e m bled in to rm a l Inquiries had d ev elo p ed that as re g a r d s n av al ar m am en ts , the o n ly ones in which this eou n tr y had any Interest, i: was hopeless to tr y to dev is e any plan for which th ere wa s the slig htest possibility o f securing as tent o f the nations g a th e r e d at T h e Hag ue. N o plan was even proposed which would h av e had th e assent o f mors than o f e fl rst-clasa p o w e r outside o f the United State*. T h e o nly plan that seemed at all feasible, th at o f li m it in g the sis« o f battleships, met w it h no f a v o r at all. It Is evid ent, the re fore , th a t It is f o l l y for this N a tio n to base an y hope o f securing peace on any In te rn atio n a l a g r e e m e n t as ta the lim it a tio n o f ar m am en ts . Such b ein g the f a c t it wo uld be most unwise f o r ua to stop the up b uild ing o f our N a v y . To build one battlesh ip o f the best and m o s t ad v a n c e d type a y e a r wo uld b a re ly keep pur fle e t up to Its prese nt force. T h is ta not enough. In m y ju d g m e n t, w e should this y e a r p ro vid e f o r fou r battleships. B u t it Is idle to build battles hips unless In additio n to p r o v id in g th e men, an d tho me ans f o r tho roug h tr ainin g, w s p ro vld a the au xiliarie s f o r them, unleaa w e p ro vide docks, th e c o a lin g stations, the c o l l i e r t and supply ships th at th ey need. W e ara e x t r e m e l y deficient In c o a lin g stations and docks on the Pacific, and this d eficiency should not lo n g e r be p erm it te d to exist. P le n t y o f to rp edo boats and des troye rs should be built. B o th on the A t la n t ic and P acific coasts forti fic a ti o ns c f the best ty pe should be p ro vid ed f o r a l l our g re a t e s t h a r bors. Until our battle fleet la much lar ger than at present It ©hould never be split Into dq- tachmvnt© so far apart that they could not In e ve n t of emergency be speed ily united. Our coast line Is on the P a cific ju s t as much as on t h « Atlan tic T h e interest s of California. O re go n and Washington are as emphatically the In terests o f the whole Union as those of Mains and N e w York, of Loui©lana and Texas. The battle fleet should now and then bs moved to the Pacific. ju©t aa at other times It ©hould be kept in the Atlantic. When the l©thmian Canal is built the transit of the battle fleet from one ocean to the other will be com paratively easy. Until it Is built, 1 earnestly hope that the battle fleet will be thus shifted between the two oceans every year or two. The mark©manship on all our ships ha© improved phenomenally during the laat fiv e years. Until within the last tw o o r three years It was not p<*slble to train a battle fleet In squadron maneuvers under ©ervice condition©, and it la only during these last two or three years that the training under th*©e conditions ha» really become e ff ec ti v e Another and most necessary stride In advance is now being taken. The battle fleet Is about starting by the Straits o f Magellan to visit the Pacific CY>ast. Sixteen battlewhlp© are going under the command o f R ea r- Admiral Evans, while f ig h t irmored cruisers and tw o other battle ships will meet him at San Francisco, whither certain torpedo deetroyer* are also going. N o fleet o f such size has ever mads such a voyage, and It will be of very great educational use to all engaged in It. The only way by which to teach officers and men how to handle the fleet so as to meet every possible ©train and emergency In time o f war Is to have them practice under similar con ditions In time of peace. Moreover, the only wa y to find out our actual needs 1© to per form In time of peace whatever maneuvers might be necessary In time of war. Afte r w a r Is d ec lare d it la too late to find out the needs: that means to Invite disaster. This trip to the Pacific will show what some ol our need© are and will enable u© to provide for them. The proper place for an officer to learn his duty Is at sea, and the only way In wh ic h a n a v y can e v e r b© mad© effic ie n t la by practice at ©ea, under all th© conditions whlon would have to b© met If w a r existed. I f all th a t o u gh t to be done can n ot now be done, at least let a b egin n in g ba mads. In m y last th re e annual messages, and In a apeclal message to the last Congress, tha necess ity f o r le gisla tio n th at w il l cause o f ficers o f th e line o f th e N a v y to re ac h th# gra de s o f c ap ta in and r e a r - a d m ir a l at less ad van ce d ages and w h ic h w il l cause th em to h av e m o re sea t r a in in g and experien ce In the h i g h ly responsible duties o f those grades, ao that th ey m a y bec ome th o ro u g h ly skil lf u l In han d li ng battleships, divisions, squadrons and fle e ts in action, has been fu lly explain ed and u r g e n t ly reco mm en ded . Upon this subject the S ec re ta ry o f the Navy has submitted detail e d and definite recom m e nda tions which h a v e re ce iv ed m y ap proval. and which. If ena cted into law , will accom plish w h a t Is I m m e d ia t e ly neces sary and will, as c om pa re d w it h existing law . m a k e a s a v in g o f m o re th an 95.000,00$ durin g th e next seven years. THEODORE ROOSEVELT. The White House, Decs mbs# * lfOT.