The Washington times., 1902-12-02

respect for all the cities OF the country.
The charitable and correctional systems
OF the District should receive cOnsidera-
tion az the hands Of the Congress to the
end that they may embOdy the results
OF tho most advanced thought IN these
fields Moreover. while Washington is
not great industrial city. there is some
lndustrialism here, and our labor legis-
lation. while II would not be important
In itself. might be made a model for the
rest Of the nation. We should pass. for
instance. wise employers liability act
for the District Of Columbia, ard we need
such an act In cur navy yards Railroad
companies In the District ought to be
required By law to block their frogs.
The Safety Appliance Law.
The safety appliance law. for the bet.
| ter protection OF the lives and limbs OF
railway employees. which was passed N
1893. went into full effect on August L
1901 1t has resulted In ayerting thous-
ands OF casualties. Experience shows
however, the necessity Of additional leg
islation TO perfect this law. A bill 70
! provide for this passed the Senate at the
last session. 10 is 10 be hoped that some
such measure may now be enacted into
law
Unnecessary Public Printing.
There Is a growing tendency to pro-
vide for the publication Of masses OF
documents for which there is no public
demand and for the printing OF which
there is no real necessity. Large num-
beTs Of volumes are turned out by the
Government printing presses for which
there is no justification. Nothing should
be printed by any OF the departments
unless Il contains something OF per
manent value. and the Congress could
with advantage cut down very material
iy on all the printing which Il has now
become customary 20 provide. The ex-
cosslye cost Of Government printing is
strong argument against the position
OF those who are inclined on abstract
grounds 10 advocate the Governments
doing any work which can with pro-
priety be left in private hands.
The Merit System.
Gratifying progress has been made
during the year in the extension OF the
merit system OF making appointments
in the Government service. IL should be
extended by law 70 the District Of Co
lumbia. It is much to be desired that
our consular system be established by
law on a basis providing for appoint
ment and promotion only in consequence
Of proved fitness.
White House Changes.
Through a wise provision Of thu Con-
gress at its last session the White
House. which had become dishgured by
incongruous additions and changes. has
now been restored to what It was
planned to be by Washington. In max
ing the reservations the utmost care
has been exercised to come as near q
possible To tho carly plans and to SUD
pIcment these plans by careful study
Of such buildings as that OF the Univer-
slty OF Virginia, which was built by JEFF
fCrson. The White House Is the proper
~ OF the nation. and so far as is COM
paubIC with living therein il should be
kept q &c originally was. for the same
reason that we keep Mount Vernon a. IL
originally was. The stately simplicity
Of It's architecture IS an expression OF
the character Of the period in which il
vas built, and is in accord with the pur-
poses IL was designed 10 serve. IL Is 4
good thing 20 preserve such buildlI IS as
historic monuments which keep alive
cur sense Of continuity with the nation s
past
The reports Of the several executive
departments a~e submitted 10 the Con-
gross with this communication
THEODORE ROOSEVELT,
White House. December 2. 1902.