The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1903-12-10
throushout the empire, and to INTRODUCES
solner desirable administrative reforms.
s Rural Free Delivery.

The rural free-delivery service has been
steadily extended. The attention of the
compensation Of the letter carriers and
clerks engaged in the postal service, es-
pecially on the new rural free-delivery
routes: More routes have been Installed
since the first of July last than in any
IKE period in the departments history
,Mniie a due regard to economy Msst be
routes. yet the extension of the rural
tree-delivery system must be continued,
Ior reasons OF sound public policy. No
S Ss rssmstad J., movement OF recent wears
70 tne people of the country districts
Rural free delivery. taken in connection
VIII WITH the telephone. the bicycle. and the
seninS the isolation of farm life and
making 1t brighter and more attractive
EHte1nstioRal Exposftfons.
Il trust that the congress will continue
10 favor IN all proper ways the LouisianS
memorates the Louisiana purchase, which
was the first great step in the expansion
%mcn made US continental nation. The
continent followed thereon, and marked
tne beginning of the process of exploration;
ana colonization which thrust our national,
OF the Oregon country, including the pres
eht states OF Oregon and Washington, was
TACT OF immense Importance in our his
tory; first giving US our place on the Pa
etfic seaboard. and making ready the way
Iop our aScendency in the commerce of the
greatest Of the oceans The centennial of
by the expedition Of Lewis and Clark is
to be celebrated at Portland, Ore, by an
exposition In the summer of 1905. and this
event should receive recognition and sup
port from the national government.
Cur Insular Posse.siona.
L recommend that an appropriation. be.
made for building lighthouses in Hawaii
ana taxing possession Of those already
built built: The territory should be reimt
ready expended for lighthouses. The
governor should be empowered to sus-
pend or remove any official appointed by
nim' without submitting the matter to-
OF our insular possessions the Philip
pines and Porto Rico it Is: gratifying to.
say that their steady progress has been
such as to make it unnecessary to, spend
much time in discussing them. Yet the
congress should ever keep in mind that
further in every way the welfare of
these communities. The Philippines
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 devel-
opment has hitherto gone on so smooth
the choice of governmental agents, and
the entire elimina ton Of partisan politics
from the public service. The condition
6 the tSan Is IN @ Jar
ernmental, Intellectual and moral adj
vance has kept pace with their material
d0fber mo one ever
fitted the Filipnos by taking posse ssion
of the islands.
The Public, Lands.
A gratifying disposition has been
evinced 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.
In but comparatively few cases has it
been necessary to go into court to ac-
vigorously prosecuted until all unlawful
Enclosures have been removed.
Experience e, has s Shownothat in the west
rest of the Country, there is is widespread i'd
conviction that certain of the public land
laws and the resulting administrative
practice no longer meet the present needs:
public lands differ widely from those of
the public lands which congress had es-
pecially in view when these ia, laws were
disposal of the public lands Is not fol-
lowed by a corresponding increase IN
pecially timber and grazing lands. and.
thereby to, retard settlement. I renew
and emphasize my recommendation of
for agriculture in its broadcast sense. and:
to whatever extent they may be re-
claimed under the national irrigation law,
rigidiy for the home builder The atten-
ton of the congress is especially direct
ed to the timber and stone law, thu
desert-land law. and the commutad ton
their operation have in many respects
conf1icted with wise public-land policy:
The discussions in the congress and else
a wide divergence of opinions between
those holding opposite views. on these
subjects; and that the opposing sides
tives of weight both within and without
the congress: the differences being not
only as to matters Of opinion but as to-
matters of fact. I'm order that definite
of the congress, I have appointed a COM
mission composed of W. A. Richards,
commissioner of the general land office:
forestry of the department of agricul-
ture. and F. H. 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 bsafl6
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 it 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 it will take the time
necessary to make investigation and
reach a final judgment.
The Army and Navy.
The effect of the laws providing a 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
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
permanent camp sites for military man
euvers in the various sections of the
not only to the regular army. but to the
national guard of the several states. will
be so great as to repay many times over
the relatively small expense. We should
not rest satisfied with what has been
done. however. The only people who are
sonsented with system stem. q f promotion
tented with the triumph of mediocrity
over Sxcellence. On the other hand a
system which encouraged the exercise of