The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1902-12-18

cent years has there Tcen sreaier su1I, than
in that of giving scientific aid TO tht farming
population. thereby showing them how Most "iii.
GENTLY to help themselves. There is no need of
insisting upon its Importance, for the welfare OF
the farmer is fundamentally necessary to tie
welfare of the republic as whole. In addition
to such work quarantine against animal and
vegetable plaques, and warning against them VIII n
here introduced, much efficient help has been rem
dered to the farmer by the Introduction o: new
plants specially fitted for cultivation under the
peculiar conditions existing in different portions
of the country. New cereals have been establish ID
in the semarid west. For instance, tag praI Ii
cabty of producing the best types Of IEi, cToni
wheats in regions OF an annual rainfall - '-iy
ten inches or thcreabout has been conclu lily
demonstrated Through the introduction NV
ricos in Louisiana and Texas the production Of
rice in this country has been ma.ie to about equal
ty Of regrassing overstocked range lands has been
demonstrated; in the north many forage
crops have been intro3uo ed. while in the eat il
has been shown that some of cur choicest fruits
can be stored and shipped in such way as to
find profitable market ahroa!.
l again recommend to the favorable c"nsiirra
ton of the congress the plans Of the Smithsonian
institution for making the museum under its
charge worthy of the nation anI tor preserving
at the national capital not only records Of the
vanishing races Of me-, out of the animals of this
continent which, like the buffalo. will soon be-
come extinct unless specimens from wni IA their
representatives, may be renewed sought in
their native regions and maintained there in
safety.
The District Of Columbia is the only part of
territory in which the national government
exercises local or municipal functions and VIII re
in consequence the government has free hand
in reference to certain types Ct social and
nCmic legislation which must be ESSENTIALLY local
or municipal in their character. The government
should see to it, for instance that the hysielic
OF high character. The evils Of SUM dwellings,
whether in the shape of crowded and consest"d
tenement house districts Of the back alley
type, should never be permitted TO grow Up il,
Washington. The city should hs a model IN ever,
respect for all the cities of the coun ry Tha
nd lanai If
trict should receive consideration at tn" hands Ct
the congress 10 the end that they may er95oly
the results Of the most advanced thought in tn Sc
fields. Moreover, while Washington is not great
Industrial city, there is industriaiism here,
and orr labor legislation, while it would not be
important in itself. might be made model fer
the rest of the nation. We should pass, for in
STANCE wise employers liability act for the Dis
trict Of Columbia, and We need such an act in
navy yards. Railroad companies in the Dis
trict ought to be required by law to block their
frogs.
tecticn Of the lives and limbs of railway en-
p!oyees, which was passed in 1893, went into full
effect on Aug. l, 1901 1t has resulted in avert
ing thousands OF casualties. Experience shows
however the necessity of additional legislation
to perfect this law A bin to provide for this
hoped that some such measure NAV now be en-
acted into law.
There is growing tendency to provide for the
publcatlon OF masses Of documents for which
there is no public demand and for the printing Of
which there is real necessity Large numbers
OF volumes are turned out 10y the government
printing presses for which there is no justification
Nothing should be printed by any OF the depart
ments unless 1t contains somethi Of permanent
value. and the congress could with advantage cut
down very materially all the printing which!
1t has now become customary provide. The
excessive cost of government printing is a strong
argument against the position Of Ties, vho are
inclined on abstract grounds to advocate the gov
ernmcnt's doing any work which with pro-
prlety be left in private hands.
Gratifying progress has been made during the
year in the extension Of the merit system cf max
Ing appoint ments in the government service II
should be extended by law to the District Of Co.
lurnbia. 1t is much TO be desired that our con
sular system be established 10y law on a Ii. +.
providing Tor appointment and promotion only in
consequence Of proved fitness
through wise provision Of :hc congress at its
last session the White House. which had become
dfsfi2ured by incongruous additions ard change
has now been restored to what i: was planned 10
the utmost care has been exercised to come as
near as possible to the early plans and to supple
ment these plans by careful study 81 such
buildings that Of the University %. Yiryini,
which was built by jefferson. The White House
Is the property Of the nation. and so far as is
compatible with living therein il should be kept
as II originally was for the SAM reasons that
We keep Mount Vernon as it originally was. The
stately simplicity Of its architecture is an ex.
preston # the character Of the period in which
II was built and is in accord with the purposes
1t was designed to serve. It is good tbin, TO
preserve such buildings historic ro-,unIen. :
which keep alive our Of continuity with the
nations past
The reports Of the several executive denar,
nents are submitted t. the congress with this
sonmunicatioa. THEODORE ROOSEVELT