The Oskaloosa herald., 1903-12-10

! Throughout the empire, and to TntroGuc
other desirable administrative reforms
Rural Free Delivery.
The rural free-delivery service has beel
congress Is asked TO the question OF TIL
compensation OF the letter carriers an.
clerks engaged in the postal service, es
pectally on the new rural free-deliver,
routes. More routes have been installed
since the first Of July last than In an,
IKE period In the departments history
While due regard to economy must b,
kept In mind in the establishment OF new
routes, vet the extension OF the rura
free-delivery system must be continued
Ior reasons Of sound public policy. M
governmental movement of recent years
mas resulted In greater immediate benefii
70 the people Of the country districts
rural free delivery. taken in connection
trolley, accomplishes much toward les.
SEEMING the isolation OF farm life and
making It brighter and more attractive,
international Expositions.
trust that the congress will continue
IS IS, Layor IN az proper ways the Louisiana
memorates the Louisiana purchase, which
was the hrst great step in the expansion
winch made US continental nation. The
/ expedition or Lewis and Clark across the
continent followed thereon, and marked
ene Deglnnlng OF the process OF exploration
ana colonization which thrust our national
Doundaries to the Pacific. The acquisition
u the oregon country, including the pres
ent states OF Oregon and washington. was
TACT OF immense importance in our his
Loay, nrst giving us our place on the Pa
CHIC seaboard, and making ready the way
lor our ascendency in the commerce Of the
greatest Of the oceans. The centennial of
By the expedition Of III Lewis ana ciark Il
70 be. celebrated at Portland, Ore, by an
exposition in the summer OF 1905. and this
port from the national government.
Our InsuIar Possessions.
recommend that an appropriation be
made for building lighthouses in Hawaii,
and taking possession Of those already
puilt The territory should be reim-
ready expended for lighthouses. The
governor should be empowered to sus-
pend or remove any official appointed by
him, without submitting the matter to
OF our irsular possessions the Philip
pines and Porto Rico 1t is gratifying to
say. that their steady progress has been
SUCH as to make 1t unnecessary to spend
march time in discussing them. Yet the
congress should ever keep in mind that
q secular obligation rests upon us to
f further in every way the welfare Of
should be knit closer to US by tariff ar
rangements- 1t would, of course, be Inn
possible suddenly to raise the people of
the Islands to the high pitch of Industrial
prosperity and of governmental efficiency
to which they will in the end by degrees
attain; and the caution and moderation
shown in developing them have been
among the main reasons why this deyel-
opment has hitherto gone on so smooth
~. Scrupulous care has been taken In
the choice Of governmental agents. and
the entire elimination of partisan politics
from the public service. The condition
OF the islanders Is in material things far
better than ever before, while their gov
ernmental, intellectual and moral ad-
vance has kept pace with their material
advance. No one people ever benefited
another people more than we have bene-
hted the Fflipinos by taking possession
The Public Lands.
A gratifying disposition has been
eyinced by those having unlawful in
closures of public land to remove their
fences. Nearly 100000 acres so in
closed have been thrown open on demand.
been necessary to 20 into into court n to ac.
complish this purpose, This work will be
vigorously prosecuted until all unlawful
Enclosures have been removed.
Experience has shown that in the west
ern states themselves. as well as In the
rest Of the country, there is widespread
conviction that certain of the public land
laws and the resulting administrative
practice no longer meet the present needs.
The character and uses of the remaining
public lands differ widely from those Of
the Pubic lands a which which congress nad es
passed. The rapidly increasing rate OF
disposal OF the public lands Is not fol-
lowed by corresponding increase in
home building. There is a tendency to
mass in large holdings public lands, es-
pecially timber and grazing lands. and
thereby to retard settlement I renew
last year that so far as they are available
for agriculture in its broadcast sense, and
to whatever extent they may be re-
claimed under the national irrigation law, |
the remaining public lands should be held
rigtdly for the home builder. The atten-
ton of the congress Is especially direct |
ed to the timber and stone law, the
clause of the homestead law. which In
their operation have in many respects |
confiicted with wise public-land policy. |
where have made 1t evident that there is |
a wide divergence of opinions between |
those holding opposite views on these |
have strong and convinced representa-
tives of weight both within and without |
the congress; the differences being not |
only as to matters Of opinion but as to |
may be available for the use
of the congress, I have appointed a COM |
mission composed of w. A. Richards, |
Gifford Pinchot, cleef Of the bureau OF |
forestry of the department of agricul- |
ture. and F. II. Newell, chief hydrogra- |
pher, of the geological survey. to report |
the condition, operation and effect of the !
present land laws and on the USE con-
dition, disposal and settlement of the |
public lands. The commission will report |
especially what changes In organization, |
laws, regulations and practice affecting |
the public lands are needed to effect the |
largest practicable disposition of the pub
Lie lands to actual settlers who will build |
permanent homes upon them, and to Sc
cure in permanence the fullest and most |
effective use of the resources Of the pub |
lie lands: and II will make such other |
reports and recommendations as Its |
study of these questions may suggest |
The commission Is to report immediate |
ly upon those points concerning which |
Its judgment Is clear: on any point upon |
which it has doubt 1t will take the time |
to make investigation and |
reach final judgment.
The Army and Navy.
The effect of the laws providing gen |
eral STAFF for the army and for the more |
effective use of the national guard has
been excellent. Great Improvement has |
been made in the efficiency of our army |
in recent years. Such schools as those |
erected at Fort Leavenworth and Fort |
Riley and the institution of fall maneuver |
work accomplish satisfactory results. |
The good effect OF these maneuvers upon |
the national guard Is marked, and ample 4
appropriation should be made to enable |
the guardsmen of the several states to |
share in the benefit. The government |
should as soon as possible secure suitable |
camp sites for, military man
euvers in the various sections Of the |