The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1902-12-03

any lncial r-s-rtation do a special and peculiar
work OF great importance; but, excellent though
these are, an Immense amount OF additional Work
must he done on the reservations themselves
among the old, and. above all. among the young
Indians.
The first and most important step toward the
absorption Of the Indian is to teach him to earn
his living, yet it is not necessarily to be assumed
that in each community all Indians must become
either tillers OF the soil or stock raiserS. Their
industries may properly be diversified, and those
who show special desire or adaptabi.ity for indus
trial or even commercial pursuits should be en-
couraged so far as practicable to follow out each
his own bent.
Every effort should be made to develop the In
dian along the lines Of natural aptitude and to
encourage the existing native Industries peculiar
to certain tribes, such as the various kinds OF
basket weaving, canoe building, smith work and
blanket work. Above all, the Indian boys and
girls should be given confident command of col.
loquial English and should ordinarily be prepared
for a vigorous struggle with the conditions under
which their people live rather than for lmmedl-
ate absorption into some more highly developed
community.
The officials who represent the government in
dealing with the Indians work under hard condl-
lions and also under conditions winch render 1t
easy to do wrong and very difficult to detect
wrong. Consequently they should be amply paid
on the one hand, and on the other hand a par
ticularly high standard Of conduct should be de-
manded from them, and where MISCONDUCT can De
liz SASoAN NS SkAR
In no department Of governmental work in re-
cent years has there been greater success than
in that Of giving scientific aid to the farming
population. thereby showing them how most en-,
GENTLY to help themselves. There" is no need OF
insisting upon its importance, for the welfare OF
the farmer is fundamentally necessary to the
welfare OF the republic as a whole. In addition
to such work as quarantine against animal ana
vegetable plaques, and warning against them when
here introduced, much efficient help has been Ten
dered to the farmer by the introduction OF new
plants specially fitted for cultivation under the
pecu' lar conditions existing in different portions
of the country. New cereals have been established
in the semiarid west. For instance, the practi-
cability Of producing the best types OF nIcaronl
wheats in regions Of an annual rainfall OF only
ten inches {. thereabout has been concluSiyely
demonstrated. Through the introduction Of new
rices in Louisiana and Texas the production OF
rice in this country has been made to about equal
the home demand. In the southwest the possibll-
ity of regraSsing overstocked range lands has been
demonstrates; in the north many new forage
crops have been introduced, while in the east 1t
has been shown that some OF our choicest fruits
can be stored and shipped. in such a way as to
find a profitable market abroad.
! again recommend to the favorable considers
ton of the congress the plans Of the Smithsonian
institution for making the museum under its
charge worthy OF the nation and for preserving
at the national capital not only records OF the
vanishing races of men, but Of the animals OF this
continent which, like the buffalo, will svon be-
come extinct unless specimens from which their
representatives ul2J De IeueHcQ III " ~ AZ
their native regions and maintained thcre In
safety.
The District Of Columbia is the only part Of
our territory in which the national goYernu ent
exercises local or municipal functions and Vhere
in consequence the government has a free hano
in reference to certain types Of social an eco
ehomic legislation which must be essentially local
or municipal in their character. The government
should see to it, for instance, that the lyglenlc
and sanitary legislation affecting WASH. gton is
Of a high character. The evils OF slum dwellings,.
whether in the shape Of crowded and contested
tenement house districts or OF the back alley
Washington. The city should be a model in every
respect for all the cities of the country. The
charitable and correctional systems OF tine )ls.
trict should receive consideration at the hands OF
the congress to the end that they may employ
the results Of the most advanced thought in theae
fields. Moreover, while Washington is not q grear
industrial city, there is some industrialism here,
and our labor legislation, while It would not De
the rest Of the nation. We should pass, for in
stance, a wise employers liability act for the DIS
trict Of Columbia, and We need such an act ID
our navy yards: Railroad companies IN the Dls-
trict ought to be required by law TO olock IneN
frogs.
The safety appliance law, for the better pro-
lection Of the lives and limbs Of railway EN-,
ployees, which was passed in 1893, went into full
effect on Aug. l, 1901. It has resulted in avert
ing thousands Of casualties. Experience shows,
however. the necessity OF additional leglslatlon
to perfect this law. A bill to provide for TINS
passed the senate at the last session. 1t Is to be
hoped that some such measure may now be en-
acted into law.
There is a growing tendency to provide for the
publication OF masses OF documents LOT when
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 JuStlhcation.
Nothing should be printed by any OF the aepartt
ments unless it contains something OF permanent
value, and the congress could with advantage cut
down very materially on all the printing which
it has now become customary TO proVlae. Inc
excessive cost Of government printing Is a strong
argument against the position OF those VINO are
inclined on abstract grounds to advocate the gaY-
ernment's doing any work which can with pro-
priety be left in private hands.
Gratifying progress has been made during the
year in the extension OF the merit system Of max
ing appointments in the government service. It
should be extended by law to the District Of Co
lumbi4. 1t is much to be desired that our con-
,ular system be established by law on a basis
providing for appointment and promotion only IN
Of proved fitness.
Through a wise provision Of the congress at its
last session the White House, which had become
disfgured BY incOngruous additions and changes,
has now been restored to what 1t was planned %
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 supple
buildings as that OF the University OF Virginia,
which was built by Jefferson. The White House
is the property Of the nation, and so lar 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 ex-
preston of the character Of the period in which
it was built and is in accord with the purposes
it was designed to serve. 1t is q good thing to
preserve such buildings as historic monuments
which keep alive our sense Of continuity with the
nations past.
The reports of the several executive depart
nents are submitted to the congress with this
communication. THEODORE ROOSEVELT.