Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1903-12-10


|nia 0z11k possssslgn b ae!0.s 5Alls....y /
fsady eKpend64 for iIsstholl4ts: xne1 4
govsfnor shouI9 " smRcFsssd ,,,,t e y. Pqss ~
Kim, without submitting the matter v
e, 81 Z our insuiar possessions the Philip
pines and Porte Rico i z Ef*s ..
:sy yh t e y shs MA s'isGs
,asich firis n discuslirf kheld yef the
con fess aho!IId exSr KEEP ~ mind pst
p2culIe1 csIieafion III, &. WEI q e e
thss9 eommunities. The philippines
should b knit closer to US BY taiih ar
ranrernerts II would. OF course, be Inn
possible suddenly 70 raise the people 81
the islands TO the high pitcn q m nMlsarn
to WhicS they viii III The end by degrees
attain: and the caution and moderation
shown IN developing them nave peen
among the main reasons why this devei-
~. ScrupuIous care has been taken IN
he choice OF governmental agents. ana
,, tie entire elimination 81 partisan politics
from the public service. The condition
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
s snoins ~ pf PIipinos By taking possession
OF the Islands. sti.af ftr IN
The Pubiic Lands.
,,atifving disposition has been
evineed BY those having unlawful in
Closures 81 public land to remove their
| fence. Nearly 2000l000 acres 50 IN
closed have been thrown open on demand.
IN but comparatively tsg c caSrt t nas AZ !.
coneniish this purpose This work will be
yigorously prosecuted until all unlawful
,nclosures have been removed.
Experience has shown that .i n me Ven ~.
rsst Of ~ the Country, there. Is widespread
conviction that certain q tne pubic ia sa1ea
laws and the resulting administrative
practice no longer meet the present NEEDS :.ls
a ans cnh lards diner widely from those q
Inc public lands which congress had es-
necialIy n View when these. laws were
BASED. The rapidly increasing rate q
disposal of the public ,sno1 n erease I'm IN
| hnme btilding. There Is . tendency to
mas II, large holdings public lands, es.
neciaiiy timber and grazing ialds. ana
thereby 70 retard settlsm .araat,a o1ns ~
NV year mat 20 far a they are available
for aariculture In tts broadcast sense. and
IA whatever extent they may De re-
claimed under the national Trlgauon ,hW
,ns foF ''i he home builder. The atten-
tion Of the congress is especially direct
Cd To the timber and stone law, the
desert-land law and the communication
clause Of the homestead aaw. W rns,scts
CONNECTED with wise ppblic-land policy.
The discussions In the congress ana eIse-
where nave made It evident that there y
a wide divergence Of opinions between
thSss sold and G tRst Tie opposing sides
baIe sffonr and convinced representa-.
r susS " WeiRht both within and without
The Congress: the differences 6eing nor
only as to matters o. oRlniothh m. 1ut aaan,tS
Information may be available for the use
Of he Congress. have appointed COM
mission composed Of W. 4. -HcA2ras,
Commissioner Of the general land omcej
Clifford PiHchct. chisI 2, W ~ Pu Ssricul.
ture. and r. H. Newell chief hydrogra.
pher Of the geological survey, to repon
Al the earliest practicable moment uRS Sa
the condition, operation and enect OF sne
present land laws and on the USE con-
Sit Io disposal and settlement Of the
public lands The commission Will reRort
especially what changes in ORGANIZATION
law. regulations and practice anectnk
L the public lands are needed 70 eMect we
\ arrest practicable disposition Of the pup,
IL lands 10 actual settlers who will build
n sss name homes upon them. and to Sc
crre IN nermanence the fullest ana moss
\ elfectIve use Of the resources q the pvD-
lie lands: and i VIII max tso, sucn III IN
sfIidv Of these questions may suggest
L me Commission Il to report immediate-
Nv upon those points concerning Wnicn
its judgement y clear: on on, any POM INT 9R %s
necessary to make investigation ana
reach q final Judgment.
The Array and Navy.
Ths effect az the laws providing gen
srai IAN AND Tor the army and for the more
efiectiye use Of the national guard has
been excellent. Great Improvement nas
BEEN made In the efiiciencY ~ our AMY
III recent years sucn scncVss ~ ~ WY Tors
Riley and the institution Of fall maneuyef
WORK accomplish satisfactory results.
| The rood effect OF these maneuyers upon
1.-THE national edArd y marked and apg,s
t6e gs,ardsnnen Of the several states "
share In the beneflt. The governme.,
| should a. soon a. possible secure suitable
permanent camp sites for miitafy man
euvers in the various ,h ssc1Cns rspder re
not only to the regular army. put 20 tns ;
NATIONAL guard Of the several states, VIII
Be- 80 great a. TO repay many times ovS.
the relatively small stpeI ,S.s NJ ss n Sssp
done however. The only people who arc
eontented with q system Of promotion
~ mere seniority are those who are con.
tented with the triumph q nid aoS
svstem which encouraged the. exsrcise q
socisi or political favoritism IN promo.
lions would BE- even worse. But II would
surely be easy 70 devise 2 method q
, ~ oninion Of the higher oficers OF thu
service upon the candidates should b
derisive upon the standing and promotier
Of the latter.
The Navy. n
fheartlIy congratulate the congress upen
y. hte.erS --.rsr~arc Il htiIdfnW mn 1hn