Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume], December 08, 1903, Image 10

About Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916

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'.ClO'V.-' MONDAY, December 7, 1903,
law while corruption strikes at the
foundation of a law. Under our form
of government all Authority is vested
in the people and by them delegated
10 those who represent tliem in official
iT.j'^cily. There can bo no offense'
'-ici: vier than that of him iu whom such
stirred trust has been reposed who
His it for Uis own gain and enrich
ment. aDd no less heavy is the offense
.riif the bribe giver. He is worse than
'lie thief, for the thief robs the indl
fidunl. while the corrupt official pluu
lers ir.i entire city or state. He Is as
nicked as the murderer, for the mur
sftrer may only take one life against
the law, while the corrupt official and
lb? niuu who corrupts the official alike
aim at the assassination of the common
wealth itself. Government of the peo
ple, by the people, for the people will
perish from the face of the earth if
bribery is tolerated. The givers and
takers of bribes stand on an evil pre
eminence of Infamy.
Punishment of Public Corruption.
The exposure and punishment of
public corruption is an honor to a na
tion, not a disgrace. The shame lies
toleration, not in correction. No city
or state, still less the nation, can be
Injured by the enforcement of law. As
long as public plunderers when detect
ed can find a haven of refuge in any
foreign land and avoid punishment.
just so long encouragement is given
them to continue their practices. If
we fail to do all that in us lies to
stamp out corruption we cannot es
cape our share of responsibility for the
guilt. The first requisite of successful
•elf government is unflinching enforce
ment of the law and the cutting out of
corruption.
For several years past the rapid de
velopment of Alaska and the establish
ment Of growing American interests in
regions theretofore unsurveyed and
imperfectly known brought into prom
inence the urgent necessity of a prac
tical demarcation of the boundaries be
tween the jurisdictions of the United
States ond Great Britain. Although
the treaty of 1825 between Great Brlt
ainand Russia, the provisions of which
were copied in the treaty of 1807,
whereby Russia conveyed Alaska to
the United States, was positive as to
the control, first by Russia and later
!, by the United States, of a strip of ter
ritory along the continental mainland
from the western shore of Portland
canal to Mount St. Ellas, following
and surrounding*'the indentations of
the coast and including the islands to
the westward, its description of the
landward margin of the strip was in
j? definite, resting on the supposed ex
istence of continuous ridge or range
.. of mountains skirting the coast, as
i' figured in the charts of the early navi
gators. It had at no time been possi
ble for either party in interest to lay
down, under the authority of the trea
ty, a line so obviously exact according
to its provisions as to command the
assent of the other. For nearly three
fourths of a century the absence of
tangible local interests demanding the
exercise of positive jurisdiction on ei
ther side of the border left the question
'dormant. Iu 1878 questions of reve
nue administration on the Stiklne river
led to the establishment of a provision
11 demarcation, crossing the channel
between two high peaks on either side
about Uveuty-four miles above the riv
er mouth. In 1899 similar questions
growing out of the extraordinary de-
1
vejopment of mining interests in the
region about the head of Lynn canal
5
brought about a temporary modus vi
-vendi, by which a convenient separa
tion was made at the watershed di
vides of the White and Chilkoot passes
and to the north of Klukwan, on the
Kleblnl river. These partial and tenta
tive adjustments could not, in the very
nature of things, be satisfactory or
lasting. ,A permanent disposition of
the matter .became imperative.
Alaskan Boundary.
After unavailing attempts to reach
an understanding through a joint high
commission, followed by prolonged ne
gotiations conducted in an amicable
.spirit, a convention between the United
States and Great Britain was signed
.Jan. 24,1903, providing for an examina
tion of the subject by a mixed tribunal
of six members, three on a side, with a
view to its final disposition. Ratifica
tions were exchanged on March 3 last,
whereupon the two governments ap
pointed their respective members. '.Chose
on bebalf of the United States were
Elihn Root, secretary of war Ilenry
,Cabot Lodge, a senator of the United
States, and George Turner, an ex-sena
tor of the United States, while Great
.Britain named the Right Hon. Lord
.Alverstone, lord chief justice of Eng
land Sir Louis Amablo Jette, K. C. M.
•U., retired judge of the supreme court
of Quebec, and A. B. Aylesworth, K.
O., of Toronto. Thief tribunal met in
.London on Sept 3 under the presidency
of Lord Al^erstone. The proceedings
were expeditious and marked by a
friendly and conscientious spirit The
respective cases, counter cases and ar
guments presented the issues clearly
and fully. On the 20th of October a
majority of the tribunal reached and
aighed an agreement on all the ques
tions submitted by the terms of the
.^convention.
By this award the light of the United
.£tate.s to the control of a continuous
•trip or border of tlie mainland shore
skirting all the tidewater inlets and
sinuosities of the coast is confirmed, the
entrance to Portland canal, concerning
winch legitimate doubt appeared, is de
filed as passing by Tongass inlet and
to the northwestward of Wales and
i'earse islands a line Is drawn from
the head of Portland canal to the fifty
sixth degree of north latitude, and the
Interior border line of the strip is fixed
4iy lines connectipg certain mountain
summits lying between Portland cannl
ahd Mount St. Ellas and running along
the crest of the divide separating the
coast slope from the inland watershed
at the only part of the frontier where
|he drainage ridge approaches the
'•Yill TWI^f
coast wttfiin the distance of ten marine
leagues stipulated by the treaty as the
extreme width of the strip around the
heads of Lynn canal-andr.its branches.
While'the line so traced follows the
provisional demarcatlgn of 1878 at the
crossing of the 'stiklrie riyer :md that
of 1S99 at the summits of the White
and Chilkoot passes, it runs much far
ther inland from the Klehini than the
temporary line of the later modus vl
vendi and leaves the entire mining dis
trict of the Porcupine river and Glacier
creek within the jurisdiction of the
United States.
The result was satisfactory in every
way. It is of great material advantage
to our people in the far northwest It
has removed from the field of discus
sion and possible danger a question lia
ble to become more acutely accentuated
with each passing year. Finally it has
furnished a signal proof of the fairness
and good will with which two friendly
nations can approach and determine
issues involving national sovereignty
and by tlielr nature incapable of sub
mission to a third power for adjudica
tion.
The award is self executing on the
vital points. To make it effective as
regards the others it only remains for
the two governments to appoint each
on its own behalf one or more scien
tific experts, who shall with all con
venient speed proceed together to lay
down the boundary line in accordance
with the decision of the majority of
the tribunal. 1 recommend that the
congress make adequate provision for
the appointment, compensation and ex
ponses of the members to serve on this
joint boundary commission on the part
of the United States.
Claims Against Venezuela.
It will be remembered that during
tlie second session of the last congress
Great Britain, Germany and Italy
formed an alliance for the purpose of
blockading the ports of Venezuela and
using such other means of pressure as
would secure a settlement of claims
due, as they alleged, to certain of their
subjects. Their employment of force
for the collection of these claims was
terminated by an agreement brought
about through the offices of the diplo
matic representatives, of the United
States at Caracas and the government
at Washington, thereby ending a situ
ation which was bound to cause in
creasing friction and which jeoparded
the peac of the contiuent. Under tliis
agreement Venezuela agreed
apart a certain percentage of the jcus-
toms receipts of two of her ports liet
applied, tp the payment of whatevei ob
ligations ,might be ascertained* by
mixed commissions appointed for hot
purpose to due from her iiot onl to'
the, three powers already mentioned,
whose proceedings against her had re
sulted in a state of war, but also to tlie
United States, France, Spain, Belgium,
the Netherlands, Sweden and "Norway
and Mexico, who had not employed
force for the collection of the claims
alleged to be due to certain of their
citizens.
A demand was then made by the so
called blockading powers that'the sums
ascertained to be due to their cilizens
by such mixed commissions should be
accorded payment in full before any
thing was paid upon the claims of ^ny
of the so called peace powers. Vane-*
zuela, on the other hand, insisted tpat
all her creditors should be paid upop a'
basis of exact equality.*. .Dviri^sitliejef
forts to adjust this dispute.it was sug
gested by' the powers, in interest tha^ it
should be referred to me for decision/
but I was clearly of the opinion thai a
far wiser course would be to submit'
the question to the permanent court of
arbitration at The Hague. It seemed to
me to offer an admirable opportunity to
advance the practice of the peaceful.
settlement of disputes between nations
and to secure for The Hague tribunal a
memorable increase of its practical im
portance. The nations interested in the
controversy were so numerous and in
many instances so powerful as to make
it evident that beneficent results would
follow from their appearance at the
same time before the bar of that august
tribunal of peace.
Our hopes in that regard have been
realized. Russia and'-Austria are rep
resented in the persons of the learned
nnd distinguished jurists who compose
the tribunal, while Great Britain, Ger
many, France, Spain, Italy, Belgium,
the Netherlands, Sweden/md Norway,
Mexico, tlie United States and Venezu
ela are represented by their respective
agents and counsel. Such an imposing
concourse of nations presenting their
arguments to and invoking the decision
of that high court of international jus
tice and international peace can hardly
fail to secure a like submission of many
future controversies. The nations now
appearing there will find it far easier
to appear there a second time, while no
nation can imagine its just pride will
be lessened,by following the example
now presented. This triumph of the
principle of international arbitration is
a subject of warm congratulation and
offers a happy augury for the peace of
the world.
International Arbitration.
There seems good ground for the be
lief that there has been a real growth
among the civilized nations of a seijli
ment which will permit a gradual sub
stitution of other methods than the
method of war in the settlement of dis
putes. It is not pretended that as yet
we are near a position in which it will
be possible wholly to prevent war or
that a just regard for national interest
and honor will in all -cases permit of
the settlement of international disputes
by arbitration, but by a mixture of pru
dence and firmness with wisdom we
think it is possible to do away with
much of the provocation and excuse
for war and, at least in many cases, to
substitute some other and more rational
method for the settlement of disputes.
The Hague court offers so good an ex
ample of what can be done in the direc
tion of such settlement that it should
be encouraged in every way.
Fisrther steps should be taken. In
President Mckinley's annual message
of Dee. 5, 1898. he made the following
recommendation:
"The experiences of the last year
bring forcibly home to us a sense of
the burdens and the waste of war. We
desire, in common with most civilized
nations, to reduce to the lowest possi
ble point the damage sustained in time
of war by peaceable trade and com
merce. It is true we may suffer in
such cases less than other communities,
but all nations are damaged more or
loss by the state of uneasiness and ap
prehension into which ail outbreak of
hostilities throws the entire commer
cial world, it should be our object,
therefore, to minimize so far as prac
ticable this inevitable loss and dis
turbance. This purpose can probably
best be accomplished by an interna
jtlonal agreement to regard all private
property at sea as exempt from enp
ture or destruction by' tlie forces of
belligerent powers. The United States
government hus for many years ad
vocated this humane and beneficent
principle and is now/in a position to
recommend it to other powers without
the imputation of, seltish motives. I
therefore suggest for your considera
tion that the executive be authorized
to correspond with the governments of
the principal maritime powers with a
view of incorporating into the perma
nent law of civilized nations the prin
ciple of the exemption of all private
property at sea not contraband of war
from capture or destruction by bel
ligerent powers."
I cordially renew this recommenda
tion.
Exemption of Private Property at Sea.
The supreme court, speaking on Dec.
11, 1899, through Peekliam, J„ said:
"It is, we think, historically accurate
to say that this government has al
ways been in. its views among the
most advanced of the governments of
the world in favor of mitigating, as to
all noncombatants. the hardships and
horrors of war. To accomplish 'that
object it has always advocated those
rules which would in most cases do
away with the right to capture the
private property of an enemy on the
high seas." '1
I advocate*'fhis' as a matter of hu
manity' and1'nio'riiJs.' It is anaclirohis
tic wfien private'property Is respected
oil land that it: should not be respected'
gfrnqraUzetl flPQQifls of •private
prop"e'rty(
than i(s the c-i^e \yi.tji p^imiry, pyiper-,
°p, ,land—ibat if, l$opey$y found) at
s^i' is mpcl^.. ljss jijyf^Jian }s ,1,be .cpse
With pyopefty .lojHftl. qij, lapd rp (lfy, to
belong "to any one nation. .Under the
modern system of corporate ownership
the flag of a vessel often differs from
the flag which would mark the nation
ality of the real ownership and money
control of the vessel, and the»cargo
may belong to individuals of yet a. dif
ferent nationality. Much American
capital is now invested in foreign ships,
and among foreign nations it often
happeiis that the capital of one is large
ly invested in the shipping of another.
Furthermore, as a practical matter it
great-annoyance: ir c:
ttiati 'a subfeidiat'y ifStt&V'in, to
tehiWV re&oliite 'foe'.1:fills 'is, now well,
recognized by all 'of .^urVii^Val'Vspera.
Tli4 lighting slton." hot tlie' co'nmqrce
destroyed, is'the'HSffi Whgse l'e'qts
va'dd
renown fd h' rijgftt'onfW history iuid''.es
tablish he^"'piacecaiiloiig the gijeat pow
ers of the"world.
Ion ..
at Vienna',
ent legislatures' of civilized countries
attending. It was provided that the
next meeting should be in 1904 at St.
Louis, subject to our congress extend
ing an invitation. Like The Hague
tribunal, this interparliamentary union
Is one of the forces tending toward
peace among tlie nations of the earth,
and it is entitled to our support. I
trust the invitation can be extended.
Relations With Turkey.
Early in July,'having received intel
ligence, which happily turned out to be
erroneous, of tlie assassination of our
vice consul at Beirut, I dispatched a
small squadron to that port for such
service as might be found necessary
on arrival. Although the attempt On
the life of our vice consul had not been
successful, yet the outrage was symp
tomatie of a state of excitement and
disorder which demanded, immediate
attention. The arrival of the vessels
had the happiest result. A feeling of
security at once took the place of the
former alarm and disquiet. Our offi
cers were cordially welcomed by the
consular body and the leading mer
chants, and ordinary business resumed
Its activity. The government of tlie
sultan gave a considerate hearing to
the representations of our minister the
official who was regarded as responsi
ble for the disturbed condition of af
fairs was removed. Our relations with
the Turkish government remain friend
ly: our claims, founded on inequitable
treatment of some of our schools and
missions, appear to be in process of am
icable adjustment.
Relations With China.
The signing of a new commercial
treaty with China, which took place at
Shanghai on the 8tb of October, is a
cause for satisfaction. This act, the re
sult of long discussion and negotiation,
places our commercial relations with
the great oriental empire on a more
satisfactory footing than they have
ever heretofore enjoyed. It provfries
not only for the ordinary rights and
privileges of diplomatic and consular
officers, but also for. an important ex
tension of our commerce by increased
facility of access to Chinese ports and
for the relief of trade by the removal
of some of the obstacles which have
embarrassed it iu the past. The Chi
nese government engages an Aalv anil
't -A
tetiif
Xi
THE OTTUMWA COURIER.
equitable conditions, which will proba
bly be accepted by the principal com
mercial nations, to abandon the levy of
••liken" aiid other transit dues' through
out the empire and to introduce other
desirable administrative reforms. Lar
ger facilities are to be given to our citi
zens who desire to carry on mining en
terprises iu, China. We have secured
for our missionaries a valuable privi
lege, the recognition of their right to
rent and lease in perpetuity such prop
erty as their religious societies may
need in all parts of the empire. Apd
what was an indispensable condition
for the advance aud development of
our commerce in Manchuria, China, by
treaty with us has opened-to foreign
commerce the cities of Mukden, the
capital of the province, of Manchuria,
and Autung, an important port on the
Yalu river, on the road to Korea. The
full measure of development which our
commerce may rightfully expect can
hardly be looked for until the settle
ment of the present abnormal state of
things in the empire, but the founda
tion for such development has at last
beeu,luid.
I call your attention to the reduced
cost In maintaining the consular service
for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1903.
as shown in the annuo! report of the
auditor for the state and other depart
ments, as compared with the year previ
ous. For the year under cynsideration
the excess of expenditure: over receipts
on account of the consular service
amounted to $2(5,123.12 as against $06,
072.50 for the year ending June 30,
1902, and $141T,040.16 for the year end
ing June 30, 1901. This is the best
showing in this respect for the consular
service for tli? pfest fourteen years, and
the reduction in'the cost of the service
to tl\£ government has been made, in,
spite of the fact that the expenditures
for the year in question were mote than
$20,000 greater than for the previous
a
continental nation. The expedition of
Rural Free'Delivery Service.
The rural ^-ep delivery service has
been steadily extended. The attention
of the congress |s asked to the question
of tlie compensation of the letter car
riers and clerk^ engaged in the postal
service, especially on the new rural
free delivery routes. More routes have
Jljeen installed since the 1st of July
.last than in any like period in the.de
partment's history. While a due re
sard to econpjny must he kepjt ^n tulnd,
In the establishment of new. rpute^ yeti
tlie extension of the rural, frep- dpi (very.
jsjy^tew must['bc,continued fqr_vet^ons
.Ojf sound, public policy. goyfirn-
mental. movement of recent.peat's ,bas
resulted in jgre^ter imniedlafgtr'!?Wflt
to the people of the country districts.
Uo'rttl free delivery, taken id tOpnec
tion With the telephone, the bipytte and
the trolley, accomplishes much toward,
lessening the isolation of farm life and
making it brighter and more attractive.
In the immediate past the lack of just
such facilities' as these has driven
many of the tfaore active and restless
young men and women from the farms
to the cities, for they rebelled at lone
liness and ludi of mental companion
ship. It is unhealthy aud undesirable
for the cities to grow at the expense of
the couutry, and rural free delivery is
,i)0(: onli' a good thing iu itself, but is
&opd-tbecause^ it is one of the 'Gauges
-Which -.check tfa'ife unwholesoind tfcttden
toward tho surban concentration of
our population' at the expense Jftrshe "uuuull"n|,^u P/acnce no longer meet
/country .districts.. It is forWwmtf
roads. The movement for good wads
Lewis and Clank across the continent
followed thereon and marked the
ginning of the nprocess of exploration
and colonization ^which thrust our na
tionul boundaries to the Pacific. Tlie
and Washington, was a fact of im
mense importance in our history, first
giving us our place on the Pacific sea
board and making ready the wuy for
our ascondeney in the commerce of the
greatest of the ppeans. The centennial
of our establishment upon the western
coast by the expedition of Lewis and
("lark is to be celebrated at Portland,
Development of Alaska.
I call your special attention to the
territory of Alaska. The couutry is de
I veloping rapidly,-and it has an assured
future. The mineral wealth is great
aud has as et hardly been tapped. The
fisheries if wisely handled and kept un
der national control will, be a business
as permanent as any other and of the
utmost importance to the people. The
forests if properly guarded will form
another great source of wealth. Por
tions of Alaska arc fitted for farming
and stock raising, although the meth
ods must lie adapted to tlie peculiar
conditions of the country. Alaska is sit
uated In the far north, but so are Nor
way nnd Sweden and Finland, and
Alaska can prosper ahd play its part in
tlie new world just as those nations
have prospered and played their parts in
the old world. Proper land laws should
he enacted and the survey of the public
landsimmediately begun. Coal land laws
should be provided whereby the coal
land entrytnan may make his location
and secure patent under methods kin
dred to those now prescribed for home
stead and mineral entrymen. Salmon
hatcheries exclusively under govern
ment control should be established. The
cable should be extended from Sitka
westward. Wagon roads and trails
should be built and the building of rail
roads promoted In all legitimate ways.
Lighthouses should be built along the
coast Attention should be paid to the
needs of the Alaska Indians. Provision
should be made for an officer, with dep
uties, to study their needs, relieve their
Immediate wants and help them adapt
themselves to the new conditions.
The commission appointed to investi
gate during the season of 1903 the con
dition and needs of the Alaskan salmon
fisheries has finished its work in the
field and is preparing a detailed report
thereon. A preliminary report reciting
tlie measures immediately required for
the protection and preservation of the
salmon industry has already been sub
mitted to the secretary of commerce
and labor for his attention and for the
needed action.
I recommend that an appropriation
be made for building lighthouses in
Hawaii and taking possession of those
already built. The territory should be
reimbursed for whatever amounts it
has already expended for lighthouses.
The governor should be empowered to
suspend or remove any official appoint
ed by him without submitting the mat
ter to the legislature.
The Philippines and Porto Rico.
Of our insular possessions the Phil
ippines and Porto Rico It is gratifying
to say that their steady progress has
been such as to make it unnecessary to
spend much time In discussing them,
yet the congress should ever keep in
mind that a peculiar obligation rests
upon us to further in every way the
welfare of these communities. The
Philippines should be knit closer to us
by tariff arrangements. It would of
course be impossible suddenly to raise
the people of the islands to tho high
pitch of industrial prosperity and of
governmental efficiency to which they
will in the ond by degrees attain, and
the caution and moderation 'shown in
developing them have been among the
main reasons why this development
has hitherto gone on so smoothly. Scru
pulous care has been taken in the
choice of governmental agents and the
entire elimination of partisan politics
from the public service. Tho condition
of the islanders is in material things
far better than ever before, while their
governmental, intellectual and moral
advance has kept pace with their ma
terial advance. No one people ever
benefited another periple more than we
have benefited the'Filipinos by taking
possession af tho islands.
The .cash- receipts of the general land
office for the last fiscal year were $11,
024,743.65,can .Increase of $4,762,816.47
over the precedingvyear.\ Of this sum
approximately/$8i461,493 will go to the
credit of the if und for the reclamation
-of arid land.: making:tlie total of this
fund up to the 301h of June, 1903) :ap
iproiimaiely fie,19l 836.
season-,that we sympathize XWth. -.tnd "8*8 of jtlie remaintng public lands
approve of the,policy of buildihg *ood ?lfff ^iy .frora those
A gratifying disposition has: been
evinced by those having unlawful in
cisures of public land to remove their
fences. Nearly 2,000,000 acres so in
closed have been thrown open on de
mand. In but comparatively few cases
has it been necessary to go into court
to accomplish this purpose. This work
will be vigorously prosecuted until all
unlawful inclosures have been removed.
Public Land Laws Revision Necessary.
Experience has shown that In tho
western states themselves, as well as
in the rest. of: the country, there is
widespread conviction that certain of
the public Jand laws and the resulting
administrative practice'no longer meet
need*
and*
is one fraught,with the greatest benefit !view ,^he"
of the
tiuue to favor in all proper ways -the correspond,!,* increase in home build
Louisiana Purchase exposition, This I ?1\%C ft-tendency to mass in
exposition commemorates the Loulsi-
hold
ana purchase, which was the-first great I Jlmb®r "nd framing lands, and thereby
step in the expansion which made us a It(?
re.tar(1
phas'^
far
thf
Ore., by an exposition in the summer between those holding opposite views
of 1005, and this event should receive
recognition and support from the na
tional government. o-l.
s-w,
'character and
0f
the public
,*W«h Congress had especially
these
tpr the country districts The rapidfy, increasing rate of disposal
,,l..trust thatitlie congress *111 'con-
laws were passed
followefl^by
pfc public lauds, especially
Element. 1 renew and em-
lny
1
.^commendation of last
tara8
bo.
acquisition of the Oregon country, in- ?h?tu'd keheklrlgidiy for the home
eluding the present states of Oregon
are available
,'°r agriculture in its broadest sense
reclaimed under the national irriga
tion law the remaining public lands
buiWer"
TUe atte,ltion of the
congress
Is especially directed to the timber and
stone law, the desert land law and
the commutation clause of the home
stead law, which in their operation have
in many respects conflicted with wise
public land policy.
The discussions in the congress and
elsewhere have made it evident that
there is a wide divergence of opinions
on these subjects and that the op
posing sides have strong and convinced
representatives of weight both within
and without the congress, the differ
onces being not only a8 to matters of
opinion, but as to matters of fact. In
order that definite information may be
ayailable for ihe use of the congress I
have appointed a commission composed
of W. A. Richards, commissioner of the
general land office Gifford Pinchot,
chief of the bureau of forestry of the
department of agriculture, and F. H.
Nuwell, chief bydrograpber of the geo
logical survey, to report at tho earliest
practicable moment upon the condi
tion, operation and effect of the pres
ent land Jaws and on the use. condition,
disposal and settlement of the public
lands.
The commission will report especially
what changes in organization, laws,
regulations and practice affecting the
public lands are needed to effect the
largest practicable disposition of the
public lands to actual settlers who will
build permanent homes upon them
and to secure in permanence the fullest
and most effective use of the resoupces
of the public lands, and it will make
such other reports and recommenda
tions as its study of these questions
may suggest. The commission is to
report immediately upon those poipts
concerning which its judgment is clear
on any point upon which it has doubt
it will take the time necessary to ma)ce
investlgati9n and ree^fe. a final judg
ment
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Th# work of reclamation of the" arid
lands ot the west is progressing stead
ily and satisfactorily under the terms
of the law setting aside the proceeds
from the disposal of public lands. The
corps of engineers known as the recla
mation service, which is conducting the
surveys and examinations, has been
thoroughly organised, especial pains be
ing taken to secure under the civil serv
ice rules a body of skilled, experienced
and efficient men. Surveys and exami
nations are progressing throughout the
arid states aud territories, plans for re
claiming works being prepared and
passed upon by boards of engineers be
fore approval by the secretary of the
interior. In Arizona and Nevada, in lo
calitles where such work is pre-emi
nently needed, construction has already
been begun. In other parts of the arid
west various projects are well advanced
toward the drawing up of contracts,
these being delayed in part by necessi
ties of reaching agreements or under
standing as regards rights of way or
acquisition of real estate. Most of the
works contemplated for construction
are of national importance, involving
interstate questions or the securing of
stable, self supporting communities in
the midst of vast tracts of vacant land.
The nation as a whole is of course the
gainer by the creation of these homes,
adding as they do to the wealth and
stability of the country and furnishing
a home market for the products of the
east and south. The reclamation law,
while perhaps not ideal, appenrs at
present to answer the larger needs for
which it is designed. Further legisla
tion is not recommended until the ne
cessities of chauge are more apparent.
Preservation of Forests.
The study of the opportunities of
reclamation of the vast extent of arid
land shows that whether this reclama
tion is done by individuals, corpora
tions or the state, the sources of wa
ter supply must bo effectively protect
ed and tho reservoirs guarded by the
preservation of the forests at the head
waters of the streams. The engineers
making the preliminary examinations
continually emphasize this need and
urge that the remaining public lands
at the headwaters of the important
streams of the west be reserved to in
sure permanency of water supply for
irrigation. Much progress in forestry
has been made during the past year.
The necessity for perpetuating our for
est resources, whether in public or
-private hands, is recognized now as
never before.
The demand for forest reserve^ has
become insistent in the west because
the west must use the water, wood and
Summer range which only such re
serves cah. supply. Progressive lum
bermen are striving through forestry
to give their business permanence. Oth
er great business interests are awaken
ing to the need of forest preservation
as a business matter. The govern
ment's forest work should receive from
the congress hearty support aud espe
cially support adequate for the protec
tion of the forest reserves against fire.
The forest reserve policy of the gov
ernment hag passed beyond the experi
mental stage and has reached a condi
tion where scientific methods are es
sential to its successful prosecution.
The administrative features of forest
reserves are at present unsatisfactory,
being divided between three bureaus of
two departments. It is therefore rec
ommended thf^t all matters pertaining
to forest reserves, except those involv
ing or pertaining to land titles, be con
solidated in the bureau of forestry of
the department of agriculture.
The cotton growing states have re
cently been invaded by a weevil that
has done much damage and threatens
the entire cotton industry. I suggest
to the congress the prompt enactment
of such remedial legislation as its judg
ment may approve.
In granting patents to foreigners the
proper course for this country to follow
is to give the same advantages to for
eigners here that the countries in which
these foreigners dwell extend In return
to our citizens—that is, to extend the
benefits of our patent laws on Inven
tions and the like where in return the
articles would' be patentable in the ior
eign countries concerned, where an
American could get a corresponding
patent in sucli countries.
Indian Affairs.
The Indian ageuts should not be de
pendent for their appointment or ten
ure of office upon considerations of par
tisan politics. The practice of appoint
ing when possible px-army officers or
bonded superintendents to the vacan
cies that occur is working well. At
tention is invited to the widespread il
literacy due to lack of public schools in
tho Indian Territory, Prompt heed
should be paid to the need of education
for the children in this territory.
In my last amiual message the at
tention of the congress was called to the
necessity of enlarging the safety appli
ance law, and it is gratifying to note
that this law was amended in impor
tant respects. With the increasing rail
way mileage of the country, the greater
number of men employed and the use
of larger and heavier equipment the
urgency for renewed effort to prevent
the loss of life and limb upon the rail
roads of the country, particularly to
employees, is apparent. For the in
spection of water craft and the life sav
ing service upon the water the con
gress has built up an elaborate body
of protective legislation and a thorough
method of inspection and is annually
spending large sums of money. It is
encouraging to observe that the con
gress is alive to the interests of those
who are employed upon our wonder
ful arteries of commerce, the railroads,
who so safely transport millions of pas
sengers and billions of tons of freight.
The federal inspection of safety ap
pliances, for which the congress is now
making appropriations, is a service
analogous to that Which the govern
ment has upheld for generations in re
gard to vessels aud it is believed will
fern' "a,
wmmmm
prove of gnat practical beneilt both to
railroad employee!) and the traveling
public. Aa tlie greater part at com
merce is interstate and exclusively un
der the control of the congress the
needed safety ahd Uniformity rtmst be
secured by national legislation.
No other class of our citiaeiii' de
serves so well of the nation a* {hose
to whom th6 nation owes itii retry being,
the veterans of the civil war. Special
attention is asked to the excellept worii
of tho pension bureau in expediting and
disposing of pension claims, during
the fiscal year ending July 1, 190&, the
bureau settled 251,082 claims, an aver
age of 825 claims for eacli working day
of tho year. The number of settlements
since July 1, ltfOS, has been in excess
of last year's average, approaching
1,000 claims for each working day, an5
it is believed that the work of the bu
reau will be current at Jbe close ot
present fiscal year.
Extension of Civil feeiviee Rule*.
During the year ended June 30 l^st
25.56G persons were appointed through
competitive examinations under the
civil service rules- This was 12,673
more than during the precedjag year
and 40 per cent of those wha passed
tlie examinations. This abnormal
growth was largely occasioned by t&e
extension of classification to the rural
free delivery service and the appoint
ment last year of over 9,00Q rural car
riers. A revision of the civil service
rules took effect on April 15 last which
has greatly improved their operation.
Tlie completion of the reform of the
civil service is recognised by good citi
zens everywhere ap a matter -of the
highest public importance, and the suc
cess of the' merit system largely de
pends upon the effectiveness of the
rules and the machinery provided for
their enforcement A very gratifying
spirit of friendly co-operation exists in
all the departments of the government
in tlie enforcement and uniform ob
servance of both tle letter and spirit
of the civil service act. Executive or
ders of July 3, 1902 March 26, 1908,
aud July 8, 1903, require that appoint
ments of all unclassified laborers, both
in the departments at Washington and
in the field service, shall be niade with
the assistance of tjie United States
civil service commission uflder a sys
tem of registration to test tbe relative
fitness of applicants for appointment
or employment. This system is com
petitive and is open to all citisens of
the United States qualified in respect
to age, physical ability, roprql char
acter, industry and adaptability for
manual labor, except that jn case of
veterans of the civil war the element of
age is omitted. This systepi ,.of ap
pointment is distinct fronp the classified
service %ud does' not classify positions
of-mere laborer under the civil .service
act nnd rules. Regulations in aid
there
of have been put in operation, in sev
eral of the departments and are-being
gradually extended in other Parts of
the service. The results have bean v.ery
satisfactory, as extravagance has been
checked by decreasing the number of
unnecessary positions and by increas
ing the efficiency of the employees re
maining.
District of Columbia Charities.
The congress as the result -of a.-ttjor
Aigh investigation of the ebaritiea and
reformatory institutions In tha Disttict
of Columbia, by a joint rieleot commit
tee of tlie two houses which mcde it*
report in March,, 1898, created Mi-the
act approved June 5, 1900i 4'biMrd' of
charities for the District, of Colombia,
to consist of five residents'Of-the Dis
trict appointed by the president' of the
United States, by and with-''the advice
ond consent of the senatepeacb'f& a
term of three years, to serve-without
compensation. President McKinley ap
pointed five men who had been active
and prominent in the public charities
of Washington, all of whom upon tak
ing office July 1, 1900. resigned from
the different charities with which they
had been connected. The members of
the board have been reappointed in suc
cessive years. The board serves under
the commissioners of thi District of
Columbia. The board gave its llrst
year to a careful and impartial atudy
of the special problems before it and
has continued that study every yfeir
in tho light of tfoe best practice in. pub
lic charities elsewhere. Its recom
mendations in its annual reports t$ tike
congress through the commlssiopera of
the District of Columbia "for th* eco
nomical and efficient administration of
the charities and reformatories of tile
District of Columbia," as fequited )y
tlie act creating it, have been based
upon the principles commended by the
joint select committee of the congress
in its report of March, 1898, and ap
proved .by the best administrators «f
public charities and make for the de
sired systema^iztttion and improve
ment of the affairs under its super
vision. They are worthy of favorable
consideration by the congress.
The Army.
The effect of the laws providing a
general staff for the army and for the
more effective use of the national guard
has been excellent. Great improve
ment has been made in the efficiency
of our army in recent years. Such
schools as those erected at Fort Leaven
worth and Fort Riley and the institu
tion of fall maneuver wprk accomplish
satisfactory results. The good effect
of these maneuvers upon the nattonalj
guard is marked, and ample approprla-,
tion should be made to enable tfce
guardsmen of the several state* toj
share in the benefit The government!
should as soon as possible secure suit-!
able permanent c^mp sites for mUltaryl
maneuvers in the various sections of
the country. The service thereby ren-j
dered not only to the regular aragyj
but to the n&tioual guard of the «ev-'
eral states, will be so great as to rapiy!
mauy times over the relatively N9*|lj
expense. jV
We should not rest satisfied with
has been done, however. The o»ly people
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