Mexico Missouri message., 1902-12-04

side only one head of cattle to every tenI
public domain have been fenced in by
persons having no title thereto, in direct
defiance of the law forbddlng the main
tenance or construction of any such un-
lawful inclosure OF public land For va
ference with such Enclosures In the past
but ample notice has, now been given
the trespassers, and all the resources at
the command OF the government will
hereafter be used to put a stop to suchl
trespasslng.
Alaska Legislation Asked For.
I especially urge upon the congress the
need OF wise legislation for Alaska. IL
Alaska, which has been ours for IS years,
should stu have as poor system Of
wealth, in fisheries. furs, forests. and
also in land available for certain kinds
Of farming and stock growing. Il is a
sources. well fitted to support a large
permanent population. Alaska needs. a
homesteads and preemptions as will en-
courage permanent settlement. We
should shape legislation with view not
territory, but to the building up of homes
therein The land laws should be liberal
to the actual settler whom we most de-
sire to see take possession of the coun-
try. The forests of Alaska should be-
protected and, as a secondary but still
important matter the game also, and at
the same time 1t is imperative that the
settlers should be allowed to cut tim
be- under proper regulations, for their.
own use. Laws should be enacted to
protect tn, the Alaskan samon fisheries
them. They should be preserved as a.
permanent industry and food supply
Their management and control should bs
turned over to the commission of fish
and fisheries. Alaska should have a dele
gate in the congress. 1t would be well
II congressional committee could visit
ground.
The Indians.
In dealing with the Indians our aim
should be their ultimate absorption into
the body Of. our people. But in many
cases this absorption must and should
be very slow. In portions of the Indian
on at the same time with progress in
wealth and education, so that there ara
purity Of indian blood who are abso-
lutely indistinguishable in point of social
political and economical ability from
tribes which have yet made no per-
ceptible advance toward such equality.
To try to force such tribes too fast is to
prevent their going forward at all More
over. the tribes live under widely differ
ent conditions, Where a tribe has made
farming soil 1T is possible to allot tho
members lands in severity much as Is
the case with the white settlers. There
are other tribes where such course is noo
desirable. On the arid prairie lands tho
effort should be to induce the Indians to
lead pastoral rather, than agricultural
villages rather than to force them into
isOlatio
The large Incian schools situated remote
from any Indian reservation 60 special
and peculiar work of great Importance.
m9 eTs 6ff0HEh tmese w ark am bs
done on the reservations themselves among
tn, old, and above all among the young.
The first and most important step toward
the absorption Of the Indian is to teach
him to earn his living; yet it is not neces-
ity all Indians must become either tilers
Of the soil or stock raisers. Their industries
show special desire or adaptability for in
dustriai or even commercial pursuits
should be encouraged so far is practicable
to follow out each his own bent.
Scientific Aid to Farmers.
In no department of governmental work
in recent years has there been greater sue
cess than in that Of giving scientific aid to
them how most efficiently to help them
selves. There is no need Of insisting upon
farmer is Fundamentally necessary to the
welfare of the republic as a whole. In adj
dition to such work as quarantine against
ring against them when here introduced,
much efficient help has been rend cred to the
specially fitted for cultivation unGer the
portions Of the country. New cereals have
For instance, the practicabilty of produce
ing the best types OF macaronl wheats in
regions Of an annual rainfall of only ten
ly demonstrated. Through the introduce
ton of new. rces In Louisiana ard Texas
been made to about equal the home de-
mand. In the southwest the possibility Of
rregrasising oyerst9'cked range lanGs has
forage crops have been introduced, while
in the east It has been shown that some Of
shipped in such way as to find profitable
The district Of Columbia is the only part
of our territory in which the national gov
eminent exercises local or municipal func-
tons, arG where in consequence the gov
certain types OF social and economic legs-
lation which must be essentially local or
muntciPai IL their Ghararter The govern
hygienic and sanitary legislation affecting
Washington ,:til Is Of a high character; The
shape of crowded and congested tenement
house, districts or of the back-alley type,
r hep erin S6uS EErow Pse
In every respect for all the cities Of the
country, The charitable and correctional
sderatIon at the hands of the congress to
the end that they may cmbody the results
f Of the Most SdvanGed thought in these
great In ustrial city, there is some indus
trial!sm here. and our labor legislation,
while 1t woulG not be important In itself.
might be made a model for the rest of the
nation. We should pass, for instance, a
wise employer stability act for the Dis
trict of Columbia, and we need such an act
N our naVy-yarGs. Railroad companies in
the district ought to be required by law to
block their frogs.
Protection for Railway Employees.
The safety-appliance law, for the better
protection of the lives and limbs of rail-
way employees, which was passed in 1893
went into full effect on August l. 1901. 1t
mas resulted In avertiEg thousands of
casualties. Experience shows, however, the
necessity of additional legislation to per-
feet this law. bill to provide for this
passed the senate at the last session. 1t Is
to be hoped that some such measure may
now be enacted into law
Gratifying progress has been made dur
ing the year in the extension of the
merit system of making appointments
IN the government service. 1t should be
extended by law to the District of CO.
lumbia. II is much to be desired that
our consular system be established by
law on a basis providing for appointment
and promotion only in CONSEQUENCE of
proved fitness.
The New white House.
Through wise provision of the con-
gress at its last session the white house,
which has become disiigured by incon-
gruous additions and changes, has now
been restored to what II was planned to