Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1902-12-03

udo uttu llANlt interference WIN Sucn
Enclosures in the past, but ample no.
tice has 10Y been given the ~trespass-
| ers, and all the resources at the com.
mand Of the government will here.
after be used to put a stop to such
~trespassing.
In view of the capital Importance of
these matters, | commend them to the
earnest consideration OF the congress,
and IL the congress finds difficulty in
dealing with them from lack of thor.
ough knowledge OF Tie subject, | rec.
ommend that provision be made for
q commission OF experts specially TO
investigate the report upon the com.
plicated questions involved.
Legislation for Alaska.
especially urge upon the congress
the need OF wise legislation for Alas.
ka. IL Is not to our credit as a nation
that Alaska, which has been ours for
thirty.ive years, should still have as
poor a system Of laws as Is the case.
No country has a more y..uable pos.
s~ession-in mineral wea,ia. in fisher.
les, furs, forests, and llso In land
available for certain k.nds Of farm
ing and stockgrowing. Ii is a terri.
tory OF great size and varied resour.
ces, well fitted to support a large
permanent population. Alaska needs
a good land law and such provisions
for homesteads and p~reemptions as
will encourage permanent settlement.
We should shape legislation not to
a view with the exploiting and aban-
doning of the territory. but to the
building up OF homes therein. The
land laws should be liberal In type,
so as to hold out inducements to the
actual settler. whom We most desire
to see take possession of the country.
lne forests OF Alaska should be pro-
tected. and, as a secondary but still
important matter, the game also, and
at the same time il is imperative that
the settlers should be allowed to cut
timber. under proper regulations, for
their own use. Laws should be en-
acted to protect the Alaskan salmon
fisheries against the greed which
would destroy lLem. They should he
preserved as a permanent industry
and food supply. Their management
and control should be turned over to
the commission OF fish and fisheries.
Alaska should have a delegate in the
congress. Ii would be well II a con-
gressional committee coul, visit Alas
ka and investigate its needs on the
ground"
Recommendations as to the man.
ner of dealing with the Indians, no
tice of the valuable aid extended to
farmers throughout the agricultural
apartment and several paragraphs
upon miscellaneous subjects precede
the following:
The Merit System.
Gratifying progress has been made
during the year In the extension oil
the merit system OF making appoint
ments In the government service. IL
should be extended by law to the
District of Columbia. II is much to
be desired that our consular system
be established by law on a basis pro-
viding for appointment and promotion
only in consequence OF proved Mt
ness.
White House Restoration.
Throug a wise provision of the
congress at It's last session the White
..ouse. which has become disfigured
py incongruous additions and changes,
as now been restored to what II was
planned to be by Washington. In
making the RESERVATIONS the utmost
care has been exercised TO come as
near as possible to the early plans
and to supplement these plans by a
careful study of such buildings as
that of the University of Virginia,
which was built by Jefferson. The
White House is the property OF the
nation, and SO far as Is compatible
with living therein II should be kept
as II originally was, for the same rea-
sons that we keep Mount Vernon as
4. originally was. The stately sim
plicity of its architecture Is an ex-
preston of the character OF the period
in which II was built, and is in accord
with the purposes II was designed to
serve. II is a good thing to preserve
such buildings as historic monuments
which keep alive our sense OF con-
tinuity with the nations past.
The reports of the several executive
departments are submitted 10 the con-
gress with this communication.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
White House, December, 1902.