The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1901-12-05
THE MESSAGE. D..
lConlinued & ON page 2. I

should construct and maintain these
reservoirs as 1t docs other public works.
Where their purpose Is 60 regulate the
fow of streams, the water should he
turned freely into the channels in the
dry season to take the same course
under the same laws as the natural
flow.
The reclamation of the unsettled arid
public lands presents different prob
lem Here II is not enough to regulate
the flow of streams. The object of the
government Is to dispose of the land
to settlers who will build homes upon
II. To accomplish this object water
must be brought within their reach.
The pioneer settlers on the arid pub
lie domain chose their homes along
streams from which they could them
selves divert the water to reclaim their
holdings. Such opportunities are prac-
tically gone There remain, however,
vast areas of public land which can be
made available for homestead settle
ment but only by reservoirs and main
line canals impracticable for private
enterprise. These irrigation works
should be built by the national govern
ment. The lands reclaimed by them
should be reserved by the government
for actual settlers, and the cost of con-
structlon should, so far as possible, be
repaid by the land reclaimed. The dis
tributon of the water, the division of
the streams among irrlgators, should
be left to the settlers themselves in
conformity with state laws and with
out interference with those laws or
with vested rights.
The declaration is made that in the
arid states the only right to water
which should be recognized Is that of
use. The president says that the doc
trine of private ownership of water
apart from land cannot prevail without
causing wrong.
InsuIar Problems.
Insular questions are next treated.
In Hawaii our aim must be to develop
the territory on the traditional Amer
lean lines. Porto Rico is declared to be
thriving as never before. The atten-
ton of congress is called to the need Of
legislation concerning the islands pub
lie lands In Cuba it is stated that
much progress has been made toward
putting the Independent government of
the island upon firm footing, and it is
declared that independence will be an
accomplished fact. The president
adds:
Elsewhere l have discussed the ques-
ton of reciprocity. In the case of Gu
ba. however, there are weighty reasons
of morality and of national interest
why the policy should be held to have
peculiar application, and l most ear
pestly ask your attention to the wis
dom. indeed to the vital need, of pro
viding for substantially reduction IL
the tariff duties on Cuban imports into
the United States.
In dealing with the Philippine peo
pie we must show both patience ant
strength, forbearance and steadfast res
olution. Our aim is high. We do no
desire to do for the islanders merely
what has elsewhere been done for trop
ic peoples by even the best foreigI
governments. We hope to do for then
what has never before been done TO
any people of the tropics-to maxi
them fit for self government after th
fashion of the really free nations.
The only fear Is lest in our overanx
iety we give them a degree of indie
pendence for which they are unit
thereby inviting reaction and disaster
AS fast as there Is any reasonable hop
that in a given district the people cal
govern themselves self government
has been given in that district. Ther
is not a locality fitted for self govern
may well be that in certain cases
will have to be withdrawn because tn
inhabitants show themselves unit t
exercise 1t; such instances have alread
occurred. In other words, there Is nc
the slightest chance of our failing t
show a sufficiently humanitarian spiri
The danger comes in the opposite dire(
ton.
Troubles Ahead Yet.
There are still troubles ahead in tn
islands. The insurrection has becom
an affair of local bandtti and maraut
ers, who deserve no higher regar
than the brigands of portions of til
old world. Encouragement, direct
indirect, to these insurrectos stands
the same footing as encouragement
hostile Indians in the days when
still had Indian wars.
The president declares that the tim
has come for additional legislation fC
the Philippines. He says:
IL is necessary that the congreS
should pass laws by which the II
sources of the islands can be develope'
so that franchises for limited terms
years. can be granted to companies d.
ing business in them and every encou
agement be given to the incoming
business Men of every kind. 1t Is
gently necessary to enact suitable Law
dealing with general transportatio
mining, banking, currency, homestead
and the use and ownership of the lant
and timber These laws will give FRI
play to industrial enterprise, and Il
commercial development which W
surely follow will afford to the peop
of the islands the best proofs Of Il