The San Francisco call., 1898-12-06


 by the act of July, 1898,
 forestry for a graded force of
 oL-cers in control of
 system the reserves. This sys- Suooassf,J tenn has only been in
 full operation since Au-
 gust. but good results have already been secured in many sec tions. The reports received indicate that the system of the patrol has not only pre- vented destructive fires from gaining headway, but has diminished the num- The special attention of Congress is called to that part of the report of the Secretary of the Interior in relation to the five civilized tribes. IL is noteworthy that the general condition of the Indians shows marked progress But one outbreak of a serious character occurred during the year, and that among the Chippewa In- dians of Minnesota, which, happily, has been suppressed.
 While it has not yet been practicable to June 2s isss for the protecion @ a of of' the people of Indian Territory and for other purposes, it is having salutary effect on the five tribes. The Dawes Commits sion reports that the most gratifying re- suits and greater advance toward the at tainment of the objects of the Govern ment have been secured in the past year than in any previous year. 1 cannot too strongly indorse the recommendation of the commission and the Secretary of the Interior of the necessity for providing for the education of the 0,000 white children resident in the Indian Territory.
 The Department of Agriculture has been active in the past year. Explorers
 have been sent to many Department of the countries of the
 Eastern and Western
 of Hemispheres for seeds ,. and plants that may be Agriculture. useful to the United
 States, and with the further view of opening up markets for our surplus products. The forestry dlvis, ion of the department is giving special attention to the treeleSs regions Of our country and Is introducing species espe- cially adapted to semi-arid regions. For production especially In irrigated regions. are being studied that the losses from this cause may be avoided. The depart ment Is inquiring into the use ana aDuse of water in many sections of the West and collecting information regarding the laws of States the decisions Of the courts gard, so that uniformity may be secured Experiment stations are becoming more effective eachyear. The annual appropria- tion of $T20, 900 by Congress Is suppiement- ed bv 1000 from the States. Nation wide experiments have been made to as- certain the suitableness as to soil and climate for growln"f faofgaes agaE ofe. bas been doubled in the last two years. ana the ability of t-.e United States to produce its own sugar from this source mas peeh The Weather Bureau forecast and ob, seryation stations have been extended around the Caribbean Sea, to give early warning of the approach of hurricanes from the South Seas to our fleets and merchant marine: =. ,.o nial anniversary of the 1ounoing oa oi,e ,,e capital of the Government or the onIted States by authority of an act of Con gress. approved July 16. l19C. in May inc Federal Government were removed to this place. On the 17th of November, fS0O the National Congress met here for the first time, and assumed exclusive con trol of the Federal district and city. This interesting event assumes all the more significance when we recall the circum- stances attending the choosins in or bonne nne of inc father of his country, and the in- terest taken by him in the adoption of plans for it's further development on magnificent scale.
 These original plans have been wrought out with a constant progress ana a sig nal success even beyond anything their framers could have foreseen. The people of this country are justly proud of the distinctive beauty and government of the canital. and of the rare instruments of science and education Wnlcn nere ma their natural home.
 movement lately inaugurated by the citizens to have the anniversary cele-
 brated with fitting cer- Celebration emonies, including per
 haps the establishment
 in 1900 of a handsome perma-
 nent memorial to mark AdVocaIeo. so historical an occa-
 sion and to give 1t more than local recognition, has met with gen. eral favor on the part of the public.
 to the Congress 4gr tbi the and the appointment of committee from it's respective bodies. It might also be ad- visable to authorize the President to ap- point a committee from the country at large which, acting with the Congress sional and District of Columbia Commit tees, can complete the plans for an ap- propriate national celebration.
 The alien contract law is shown by ex- perience to need some amendment: a measure providing better protection for seamen is proposed; the rightful applica- tion of the eight-hour law for the benefit of labor and of the principle of arbitra- tion are suggested for consideration and I commend these suggestions to the care full consideration of Congress.
 The several departmental reports will be laid before you. They. give in great detail the conduct of the affairs of the Govern ment during the past year and discuss many questions upon which Congress may be called upon to act.
 WILLIAM MCKINLEY.