The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1902-12-05

vegetable plaques, and warning against tncr1 When
here introduced, much efficient help has been rem.
plants specially fitted for cultivation under the
peculiar 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 macaroni
wheats in regions Of an annual rainfall of only
ten inches or 1hereabout has been eonclusively
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 possibil-
ity of regrassing overstocked range lands has been
demonstrated; in the north many new forage
crops have been introduced, while In the east it
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.
l again recommend to the favorable considera-
non OF the congress the plans of the Smithsonian
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
come extinct unless specimen from which their
representatives may be renewed are sought in
safety.
The District of Columbia is the only part OF
our territory in which the national government
exercises local or municipal functions and where
in reference to certain types Of social and eco.
nomlc legislation which must be essentially local
or municipal in their character. The government
should see to it, for instance, that the hycienic
and sanitary legislation affecting Washington is
OF a high character. The evils Of slum dwellings,,
whether in the shape of crowded and congested
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 correctional systems of the Dis.
trict should receive consideration at the hands Of
the congress to the end that they may embody
the results OF the most advanced thought in these
industrial city, there is some industrialism here,
and our labor legislation, while it would not be
important in itself. might be made a model for
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 in
our navy yards; Railroad companies in the Dis.
frogs.
The safety appliance law, for the better pro.
lection of the lives and limbs of railway en-
effect on Aug. l, 1901. 1t has resulted in avert
ing thousands Of casualties. Experience shows,
however, the s necessity Of additional legislation
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 for which
there is no public demand and for the printing of
which there is no real necessity. Large numbers
printing presses for which there is no justification.
Nothing should be printed by any of the depart
Hlents unless it contains something OF permanent
value, and the congress could with advantage cut
down very materially on all the printing which
1t has now become customary to provide. The
excessive cost of government printing is a strong
argumen against the position OF those who ara
inclined on abstract grounds to advocate the gov
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 mak.
ing appointments in the government service. 1t
should be extended by law to the District of Co.
lumbia. 1t is much to be desired that our con-
sular 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
d~isfgured by homogeneous additions and changes,
has now been restored to what it was planned to
be by Washington. In making the reservations
the utmost care has been exercised to come as
near as possible to the early plans and 10 supple.
raent these plans by q careful study Of such
buildings az that Of the University Of Virginia,
which was built by Jefferson. The White House
is the property Of the nation, and % far as is
compatible with wing therein 1t should be kept
as 1t original, - as, for the same reasons that
we keep Mount Vernon as 1t originally was. The
stately simplicity Of its architecture is an e-
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.
communication. ROOSEVELT.