Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1901-12-12

snrpIua in the Treasury.
The collections from duties on imports
and internal taxes continue 10 exceed the
ordinary expenditures of the Government,
thanks mainly TO the reduced Army ex-
penditures. The utmost care should be
taken not 10 reduce the revenues 30 that
there Will be any possibility Of defcit;
but, after providing against any such con-
tingOncy, means should be adopted which
viii bring the revenues more nearly with
In the limit Of our actual needs. In his
report 70 the Congress the Secretary OF the
Treasury considers all these questions at
length, and ask your attention TO the
report and recommendation.
Interstate Commerce Law.
In 1857. a measure was enacted for the
regulation OF interstate railways, com
monty known as the interstate commerce
act. The cardinal provisions OF that act
were that railway rates should be Just and
reasonable, and that all shippers, local
tiles and commodities should be accorded
equal treatment. A commission was ere
ated ard endowed with what were sup
posed to be the necessary powers to exc
cute the provisions OF this act.
The act should be amended. The rail-
way is a public servant. Its rates should
be just TO and open TO all shippers ale.
The Government should see to II that
should provide a speedy. inexpensive and
effective remedy 10 that end.
Department of Agriculture.
The Department OF Agriculture, during
the past Is years, has steadily broadened
its work on economic lines. and has ac-
complished results Of real value In up
building domestic and foreign trade. II
has gone into new fields until II is now in
Ill saf T71
with two OF the Island groups that have
lately come under our Jurisdiction, whose
people must look TO agriculture as live
lihood. 1t is searching the world for
grains, grasses, fruits and vegetables spe-
cialiy fitted for introduction into localities
OF the several states and territories where
they may add materially to our resources
Value of the Forests.
The practical usefulness of the National
forest reserves to the mining, grazing. ir-
rigation and other interests Of the regions
in which the reserves lie has led to wide
spread demand by the people OF the West
for their protection and extension. The
forest reserves will Inevitably be of still
greater use in the future than in the past
Additions should be made to them when
ever practicable, and their usefulness
should be Increased by a thoroughly busi-
ness-like management.
AT present the protection of the forest
reserves rests with the General Land Of
fee, the mapping and description Of their
timber with the United States Geological
Survey. and the preparation OF plans for
their conservative use with the Bureau
OF Forestry. which is also. charged with
the general advancement OF practical for
estry In the United States. These vari-
Gus functions should be united in the Bu-
reau of Forestry. to which they properly
belong.
Certain of the forest reserves should also
he made preserves for the wild forest
creatures. All of the reserves should be
better protected from fires
Reclaiming Arid Lands.
The reclamation of the unsettled arid
public lands presents a different problem.
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 1t, To accomplish
this object water must be brought within
their reach.
Whatever the Nation does for the ex-
tension of irrigation should harmonize
with, and tend to improve. the condition
OF those now living on irrigated land. We
are not ct the starting point of this devel-
opment. Over $200O00,0O0 of private cap
ital has already been expended in the con-
struction of irrigation works, and many
million acres of arid land reclaimed.
Lax and uncertain laws have made
II possible to establish rights to water in
excess of actual uses or necessities, and
many streams have already passed into
private ownership, or a control equivalent
to ownership.
Nations Aid Justified.
The benefits which have followed the
unaided development of the past justify
the Nations aid and cooperation in the
more difficult and important work yet to
be accomplished