The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-12-08

a I'VE OaN nuu0us D
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
ippines and Porto Rico, it is crafty
ing to say that their steady progress
has been such as to make it unneces-
sary to spend much time in discussing
them. Yet the Congress should ever
keep in mind that peculiar obhga-
tlon rests upon us TO fufther lin every
way the welfare of these communities
The Philippines should be knit closer
to us by tariff arrangements. 1t would
OF course, be impossible 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 develop
ment has hitherto gone on SO smooth
ly. .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 governmental, ;. intellectuRlf and
moral advance has kept pace with, their
material advance. No one people ever
benefited another people more than We
have benefited the Fiipinos by taking
possession Of the islands. ss.
The cash receipts of the General
Land Office for the last fiscal year were
81 924y743.65. an increase of "a, 1852, S16 Al
over the preceding year. OF this sum-
approximately. IS, 461, 1873 will go to the
credit of the fund for the reclamation
OF arid land, making the total of this
fund, up to June &c. 1903, Approximate
ly,. SIG, 191 1876. eita l"74~
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 de-
mand. In but comparatively few cases
has it been necessary to go into court
TO accomplish this purpose. This work
will be vigorously prosecuted until all
unlawful enclosures have been remoV-
ed.
New Public Land Laws.
Experience has shown that in the
Western states themselves, as we'll as
in the rest of the country, there is
widespread conviction that teItaih of
the, public land laws and the resdit-
ing administrative practice no longer
meet the present needs. The CHARGE
ter and uses of, the remaining public
y
public lands Which Congress had es
pecially in view when these laws were
passed. The rapidly increasing rate
of disposal of the public lands is not
followed by a. corresponding increase.
in home building. There is a tendency
to mass in large holdings public lands,
especially timber and grazing lands,
and thereby to retard settlement.
renew and emphasize my recommended
- I.,t@t fo..
are available for agriculture in its
broadest sense, and to whatever extent
they may be reclaimed under the ma
tiOnal irrigation law, the remaining
public lands should be held rigidly for
the home builder The attention of the
Congress is especially directed to the
timber and stone law, the desert land
law and the communication clause of the
homestead law, which in their opera
ton have in many respects confiicted
with wise public land policy. The dis
cusSions in the Congress and elsewhere
have made It evident that there is a
wide divergence A0f opihions between
those holding opposite views in these
subjects; and that the opposing sides
have strong and convinced representa-
tiVeS of weight both within and With
out the Congress; the difference be-
ing not only as to matters, of opinions,
but as to matter of fact. In order that
definite information may be available
for the use of the Congress-. 1 have
appointed a commission composed of
w. A. Richards, commissioner of the
general land office; Clifford Pinchot,
chief of the Bureau of Forestry of the
Department of Agriculture, and F. H.
Newell, chief photographer of the ge-
illogical survey, TO report at the earl
lest practicable moment upon the con-
dition operation. and effect of the
present land laws and on the USE, con-
dition, disposal and settlement of the
public lands. The commission will re-
port especially what changes in or
ganization, laws, regulations and prac-
tice affecting the public lands are
needed to effect the largest practical
Bile disposition of the public lands to
actual settlers who will build perma-
nent homes upon them, and to secure in
permanence the fullest and most eff
fective 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 immedi-
ately upon those points concerning
which it's Judgment is clear; on any
point upon which it has doubt it will
take the time necessary to make in
vestigation and reach a final judg
ment.
RecIniming Arid Lands.
The work of reclamation of the arid
lands of the West is progressing stead
lily and satisfactory under the terms
of the law setting aside the proceeds
from the disposal of public lands. The
crops of engineers known as the recla-
nation service, which is conducting the
surveys and examinations, has been
thoroughly organized, especial pains be-
ing taken to secure under the civil
service rules a body of skilled, expert
enced and efficient men. Surveys and
examinations are progressing through
out the arid states and territories, plans
for retaining works being prepared
and passed upon by boards of engi-
neers before approval by the Secretary
of the Interior. In Arizona and Ne
vada, in localities where such work is
pre- eminently needed, construction has
already been begun. In other parts
of the arid West various projects are
well advanced towards the drawing up
of contracts, these being delayed in part
by necessities of reaching agreements
or understanding as regards rights-of-
way or acquisition of real estate. Most
of the works contemplated for con-
a.ssNa