Free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1888-1908, 1902-12-06

land capable of supporting at the OUT
acres In the past great tracts, of the
public domain have been FENCED IN Dy
defiance of the law forb.dding the main
tenance or construction OF any Sucn un-
rious 81 reasons o there has been little inter
ference with such Enclosures in the past,
t Put ample notice mas s nov 1S oeem gVs
the command of the government will
hereafter be used to put stop to such
trespassing.
Alaska Legislation Asked For.
1 especially urge upon the congress the
need of wise legislation for Alaska. 10
Alaska. which has been ours for IS years.
should still have as poor system OF
laws as is the case No country has a
more valuable possession-in mineral
wealth, in fisheries, furs forests and
also in land available for certain kinds
of farming and stock growing. 1t is a;
territory of great size and varied re-
permanent population. Alaska needs a.
good land law and such provisions for
courage permanent settlement. We
should shape legislation with a view not
to the exploiting and abandoning. of the
territory, but to the building up of homes
therein. The land laws should be liberaI
in type. so as to hold out inducements
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 st!lI
important matter. the game also, and at
the same time it is Imperative that the
settlers should be allowed to cut tim
own use Laws should be enacted to
against the greed which would destroy
them. They should be preserved as a
Their management and control should be
turned over to the commission of fish
gate in the congress. 1t would be well
If a congressional committee could visit
ground.
The Indians.
In dealing with the Indians our aim
should be their ultimate absorption into
cases this absorption must and should
territory the mixture Of blood has gone
on at the same time with progress in
plenty Of men with varying degrees re 4 os
purity of Indian blood who are abso-
political and economical abiIif ST SG from
their white associates. There are other
ceptibie advance toward such equality
| To try to force such tribes too fast is to
| over the tribes live under widely diner
! ent conditions. Where tribe has made
tanning so It is pos na e an ao Jer the
membeFs lands in ssveraisy SSnuch CO. IS rs IS
are other tribes where such course is not
desirable. On the arid prairie lands the
| lead pastoral rather than agricultural
| lives. and to permit them to settle in
villages rather than to force them into
! The large Incian schools situated remote
from any Indian reservation do a special
! and peculiar work of great Importance.
! But, excellent though these are, an i'm
mense amount of additional work must be
! done on the res ervatioEs themselves among
| the old, and above all among the young'I
The first ard 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 tillerS
of the soil or stock raiserS. Their irdust tries
show special desire or adaptability for in
dustrial or even commercial pursuits
should be encouraged so far a 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
the farming popula ton. thereby showing
selves tIiti 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 adj
dillon to such work as quarantine against
ring against them when here introduced
much efficient help has been rendered to the
farmer by the Introduction of new plants
peculiar eonditions existing in different
portions OF the country. New cereals have
been established in the semi-arid west
For instance, the practicability of prodrc-
ing the pest types OF macarori wheats p
regions of an annual rainfall of only IN
inches or therea bouts has beer conclusive
ly demonstrated. Through the introduc-
ton of new rices in Louisiana ard Texas
the production of rice in this country has
been made 10 about equal the home ce-
mand In the southwest the possibility OF
regrassirg overst ocked range lanes has.
forage crops have been introduced, while
In the east 1t has been shown that some OF
our choicest fruits can be stored and
market abroad
The District of Columbia is the only part
of our territory in which the ational gov
eminent exercises local or municipal func-
tons, anG where in consequence the gov
eminent has free hand in reference to
certain types OF social and economic legis-
municipal in their character. The govern
mert should see to it. for instance. that the
hygienic and. sanitary legislation affecting
Washington is of q high character. The
evils OF slum dwellings. whether in the
house districts or Of the bacK-aliey type,
SR99f peyer Pc BE- peTI err grow up in
in every respect for all the cities of the
country The charitable and correctional
systems of the, district should receive con-.
sideration at the hanGs OF the congress to
the end that they may embody the results
fields. Moreover. White Wa Arlington is not
great Industrial city. there is some indus
while il woulG rot be important in. itself,
might be made a model for. the rest of the
wise employ err s-Iiabiiity act for the Dis
trict OF Columbia. and we nee6 such an act
the district ought to be required BY law to
block their frogs.
Protection for Railway Employee
The safety-applianca 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 J. 1901 1t
has resulted in averting thousands of
casualties. Experience shows, however the
necessity of additional legislation to per-
feet this law. A bill TO provice for this
passed the senate at the last session. 1t is
10 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. It should be
extended by law to the District OF CO.
lumbia. 1t is much to be desired that
our consular system be established by
law on basis providing for appointment
and promotion only in consequence OF
proved fitness.
The New White House.
Through a wise provision of the con-
gress at its last session the white house,
which has become disfgured by incon-
been restored TO what II was planned to
be by Washington. In making the restor-
atoms the utmost care has been exer-
cised 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 University of Virginia, which
was built by Jefferson. The white house
IL the property of the nation and so far
as is compatible with living therein II
should be kept II originally was, for
the same reasons that we keep Mount
Vernon as IL originally was The state