The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1902-12-04

eabii;y Of producing the best types Of hasaTonl
wheats In regions OF en- annual rainfall OF only
tsn inches OF theresbout has been eonclusiVely
demonstrated; Through the introduction & o. new y,
rice In this country has been made to about equal
the home demand II the southwest the POSSIBLE
ity Of regrassing overaocEsd range lanns has Deem
demonstrated; in the north many new forage
crops have been introduced, while in the east it
has been shown that soms 81 our choicest trrlss rs
can Be stored and shipped in such way as 10
And profitable nlsrket abroad.
I again recommend to the favorable consldeTa-
tion Of the congress the plans OF the smithsonian
institution fo1 making the museum under 1ts
charge worthy ci the naicr and for preserving
vanishing races CT r.en bot OF thanimals OF this
continent which, like the buhalo, Svill soon be-
come extinct unless specimens froln Which thelrI
representatives may be renewed are sought IN
their native regions and maintained lnefe In
safety. :
The District OF Columbia is the only part os
our territory in which the national government
exercises local municipal functions and where!
in consequerce the government has a free hand
In reference to certain types OF social ana eco,
nomic legislation which must be essentially local
or municipal in their character. The government
should see to it, for instance. that the hysienic
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. TIE city should be model In every
respect for ell the cities Of the country. Ths
charitable and correctional systems OF the Dis
trtct should receive consideration at the hands OF
the congress to the end that they may eubooyl
the results Of the most advanced thought In these
fields Moreover, while Washington Is not great
industrial city, there is some tndus,rslism her.
and our labor legislation, while 1t would not b6
Important in itself, might be made a model Tor
tha rest Of the nation. We should pass, for in'
stance, wise employers liability act for the Dis
ct Of Columbia ana we sas IN 40 the
trct ought to be required by law to block their
frogs.
The safety appliance law, for the better pro
p!oyees which was passad in 1893, went into full
effect on Aug. l, 1901. 1t has resulted In avert
Ing thousands Of casualties Experience shows,
however the necessity q h ID nrnrds iep tS,
passed the senate at the last session. 1t Is to b.
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
OF volumes are turned out by the government
printing presses for which there is publication
Nothing should be printed by any OF the depart.
ments unless it contains something OF permanent
value, and the congress could with advantage CUT
down very materially on all the printing which
excessive cost OF government printing is strong
argument against the position OF those who are
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 been1Snade during the
year in the extension Of the merit system OF max.
ing appointments in the government service. ~
should be extended by law to the District OF Co.
lumbia 1t is much to be desired that our con-
su!ar system be established by law on basis
providing 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
dsfgured by incongruous additions and changes,
has now been restored to what it was planned to
be by Washington. In making the restoratous
the utmost care Ras been exercised to come -
near as possible to the early plans and to suppls-
ment these plans by careful study OF SUCH
buildings as that Of the University OF Virginia,
which was built by JEFFERSON. The White Houes:
is the property Of the nation. and SO far as =
compatible with living therein it should be kept,
as it originally was, for the same reasons thas
We keep Mount Vernon as It originally was The
stately simplicity Of its architecture is an sxi
preston OF the character OF the period In whieh
It was built and is in accord with the purposes
it was designed to serve. 1t is good thing TO
preserve such buildings as historic monuments
which keep alive our sense OF continuity Win tae
nations past. A.. ,.
The reports Of the several executive, depart.
raents are submitted to the congress with this
Communication THEODORE ROOSEVELT. :