Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-12-04

races Of men but of the animals of this
continent which, like the buffalo, viii
soon become extinct unless specimens from
winch their representatives may be re-
neWed are sought in their native regions
and main tanned there in safety.
A MODEL CAPITAL.
The District of Columbia is the only part
of our territory in which the national gov
eminent exercises local or municipal func-
tonS, and where in consequence the gov
eminent has free hand in reference t,
certain types OF social and economic legiS-
Iauon which must be essentially local or
municipal IN their character. The govern
ment should see to ii, for instance. that
the hygienic and sanitary legislation af-
1ectlng Washington is of Il high character.
The evils of Slum dwellings. whether in
the shape of crowded and congeSted tene-
ment-hOuSe districts or of the back-alley
type. should never be permitted to grow
up IN Washington The city, should be a
model IN every respect for all the cities of
the country. The charitable and correc-
tlonal systems of the district should re-
ceive consideration at the hands of the
congress to the end that they NAV embody
the results of the most advanced thought
in these fields. Moreover. while Washing
ton is not great industrial city. there is
some industrialism here: and our labor
legislation, while it would not be import
ant in itself. might be made model for
the rest of the nation. We should pass
for the District of Columbia and we need
such an act in our navyyardS. Railroad
companies IN the district ought to be re-
QuIred by law to block their frogs
The safety-appliance law. for the better
protection of the lives and limbs of rail
way employees. which was passed in 1893
has resulted in .averting thousands of cas-
nalties. 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 #
is to he hoped that some such measure
may now he enacted into law
A COSTLY PRINT SHOP.
There is a growing tendency to provide
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 numbers of volumes are
turned out by the government printing
presses for which there is no Justification.
Nothing should he printed by any of the
of permanent value, and the congress
could with advantage cut down very ma
terially on all the printing which 1t has
now become customary to provide. The
excessive cost of government printing is
a strong argument against the position of
those who are inclined on abstract grounds
to advocate the governments doing any
work which can with propriety be left in
private EHnds.
Gratifying progress has been made dur
ing the year in the extension of the merit
system of making appointments in the gov
eminent service. 1t should he extended by
law to the District of Columbia. 1t is
IuuCl " ne ueSlIGu JlldI our COuSuidI Sl =
TEN be established by law on a basis pro-
viding for appointment and promotion only
in consequence of proved fitness.
Through a wise provision of the congress
at its last session the white house, which
had become disfgured by incongruOus ad
ditions and changes has now been restored
to what it was planned to he by Washing
ton. In making the RESERVATIONS the ut
most care has been exercised to come as
near as possible to the early plans and
to supplement these plans by careful
study of such buildings as that of the Uni
versity 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 it should be kept as it
originally was. for the same reasons that
We keep Mount Vernon as it originally was.
The stately simplicity of its architecture
is an expression of the character of the
period in which it was built. and is in ac
cord with the purposes it was designed to
serve. 1t is 4 good thing to preserve such
buildings as historic monuments which
keep alive our sense of continuity with the
nations past.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.