The Washington weekly post., 1900-12-04


Increase over that reported in iSs OF A.
~. or AZ per cent
There has been marked progress in the
educational. agricultural. and railroad de-
velopment Of the islands.
IE the territorial act of April -. 1869.
section or said act rspeais chapter "a Of
the civil laws Of Hawaii whereby the
government was 10 assist in encouraging
and developing the agricultural resources
OF the republic, especially irrigation. The
governor OF Hawaii recommends legIs-
lstion looking TO the development OF such
water supply IA may exist on the pubic
lands. with a view OF promoting land set
uement. The earnest consideration of
the Congress is invited 20 this important
recommendation and others. as embodied
IN the report OF the Secretary OF the In
terror
The Twelfth Census.
The Director Of the Census states that
the work In connection with the twelfth
census is progressing fayorabiy This na-
tional undertaking. ordered by the Con
eress each decade. has finally resulted in
the collection Of an aggregation of sta
tistical facts 10 deiermae the industrial
growth of the country. its manufacturing
mines and forests. the number of its agri-
euliurists, their farms and products. lts
educational ard religious opportunities, as
well as questions pertaining TO sociological
conditions.
The labors of the officials in charge of
the bureau indicate that the law os
March 3, 1899. requiring the completion of
the four important and most-desired sub
Jeets. namely. population, agricultural.
manufacturing. and vital statistics. will
he completed within the prescribed limit.
The field work incident 10 the above in
ouiries is now practically finished. and as
a result the population of the States ana
Territories, including the Hawaiian ISL
ands and Alaska. has been announced
The growth Of population during the last
decade amounts to over 13,000,0 600, a great
er numerical Increase than in any pre-
VlOrS census In the history of the country
Bulletins will be issued as rapidly as
possible giving the population by States
ahd Territories by minor civil divisions
Several announcements OF this kind have
already been Hede. and 1t is hoped that
the list will be completed by January l.
Other bulletins giving the results of the
manufacturing and agricultural inquiries
will be given to the pubic as rapidly as
circumstances will admit
The director, while confident of his abil-
ity to comDlete the different branches of
the undertaking in the allotted time, finds
himself embarrassed by the lack of a
trained force properly equipped for statis-
teal work, thus raising the question
whether IN the interest of economy and a
thorough execution of the census work
there should not be retained in the gov
ernment employ certain number of ex-
perts not only to aid in the preliminary
organization prior to the taking of the
decennial census. but in addition to have
the advantage in the field and Office work
of the bureau of trained assistants to
facilitate the early completion of this
enormous undertaking
/ recommend that the Congress at its
present session apportion representation
among the several States as provided by
the Constitution.
Agriculture.
The Department Of Agriculture has been
extending its work during the past year.
reaching farther for new varieties IF seeds
and plants; cooperating more fully with
the States and Territories in research aIong
useful lines; making progress in meteOrO-
logical work relating TO lines of wireless
telegraphy and forecasts for ocean-going
vessels; continuing inquiry as to animal
diseases; looking into the extent and
character of food adulteration; outlining
plans for the care, preservation, and in
telligent harvesting of our woodlands;
studying soils, that producers may cult
vate with better knowledge of conditions,
and helping to clothe desert places with
grasses suitable to our arid regions our
island possessions are being cOnsidere l.
that their peoples may be helped 10 pro-
duce the tropical products now so eXten-
sively brought into the United States.
Inquiry into methods of improving oEr
roads has been active during the year;
help has been given to many localities,
and scientific investigation of material in
the States and Territories has been inau-
gurated. Irrigation problems in our semi
arid regions are receiving careful and in
creased consideration
An extensive exhibit at Paris of the
products of agriculture has made the peo-
pies of many countries more familiar with
the varied products OF our fields and theiI
comparative excellence.
The collection of statistics regarding
our crops is being improved and sources
of information are being enlarged, to the
end that producers may have the earliest
adViceS regarding crop conditions. There
has never been a time when those foi
whom 1t was established have shown
more appreciation of the services Of the
department.
In my annual message of December S,
1888, / called attention to the necessity f)T
some amendment of the alien eontIaet
law. There still remain important leat-
ures of the rightful application of the
eight-hour law for the benefit of labor
again commend these subjects to the care
ful attention of the Congress.
Civil Service,
That there may be secured the best ser
vice possible in the Philippine Islands
have issued, under date of November 50,
1900. the following order:
The United States Civil Service Commission is
directed render such assistance as may be prac-
teable TO the civil service board created under
the Of the United States Philippine commission
for the establishment and maintenance of an Len
est and efficient civil service in the Philippine
Islands. and for that purpose to conduct examina-
tons for the civil service Of the Philippine Islands,
upon the request of the civil service board 0i said
islands under such regulations as may De agreed
upon by the said board and the said United States
Civil Service Commission
The Civil Service Commission Is greatly
embarrassed in its work for want of an
adequate permanent force for cleri-
cal and other assistance It's needs
are fully set forth in its report | invite
attention 10 the report, and especially
urge upon the Congress that this import-
ant bureau of the public service. which
passes upon the quaiifica tions and char
acter of so large a number of the officers
and employees or the government, should
be supported by all needed appropriations
TO secure promptness and efficiency.
Hail OF Public x Recerds.
/ am very much impressed with the
statement made by the heads OF all the
departments of the urgent necessity of a
hall of public records In every depart
mental building in Washington, so far as
l am informed. the space for official
records is not only exhausted, but the
walls of rooms are lined with shelves, the
middle floor space Of many rooms is filed
with file cases. and garrets and base
ments. which were never intended and are
unified for their accommodation. are
crowded with them. Aside from the in
convenience, there is great danger. not
only from fire, but from the weight of
these records upon timbers not intended
for their support. There should be sep-
arate building. especially designed for
the purpose Of receiving and preserving
the annually accommodating archives of the
several executive departments Such =
hall need not be costly Structure bur
should be so arranged as TO admit of en-