The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-12-08
AFFAIRS or TIE NATION
REVIEWED BY PRESIDENT

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lands, especially timber and grazing
lands, and thereby TO rctard settlement, |
renew and oInphaslze my Recommendation
obl Ell for agriculture III It's broadcst sense,
and to whatever extent they may be re-
claimed ,indei. the national irrigation
law, tho remaining public lnn f,tI sho 14,lt
attention Of the Congress Is especially
directed to the timber and stone law.
Tia desert land law and the communication
clause Of tho homestead Inv. which y,
conflict with, wise public land policy. The
discussions In the Congress- ana else
where have made IT evident that tn, there -
o vide oGers eoposto pews these
subjects, and that tho. opposing sides have
strong and convinced representatives OF
weight both within and without the Con
grcss the differences he, PEI ,s NJ n ON f,crs
~ feet. In order. that definite Information
my he available for the use Of the Con.
Eress, have appointed a. eo' nm,
simmer 81 the General Land ONCE CLIFFORD
Pinchot, Chief OF the 13urea,i Of Forestry
of the Department OF Agriculture, anu
r. II. Newell Chief 1iydrosra nher OF ", tnt
practicable moment upon the condition:
n,,eration and effect OF the present land
laws nnd ON the lise, condition. disposal,
and settlement Of the public land ,s , [nf
changes in organization. laws regulations,
ond practice affecting the public lands nre
needed to effect the. largest practicable,
disposition, Of The p,h,Iic lands to h o1ns
uron them E and to- secure in peimanence
tic fullest and most effective use Of the
resource OF the public lands: and It VIII
A.. .},t,fN n
tlutions ns Its study Of these questions
may suggest
Tho cotton weevil,i patent rights for
foreigners, Indian affairs and the safety
appliance law are given short pa,agrap PMS.
Prompt heed, says the message should
be paid to the need OF education for the
children Of the Indian Territory.
Pensions; Civil Service.
Tho message continues dealing with the
subject OF pensions and the extension OF
the civil service rules: .
Special attention is asked 10 the cx-
celent work OF i the Pension Bureau III
cxpcditIng and dlsposing OF pension
claims. During the fiscal year ending
July 1904 the Bgr ga Seted to yo =
working day Of the year. The number Of
settlements since july. 1905 has been
in. excess Of last years average. approach
INF lUuUI Claims 1Ol-f ctCu WOlNiIle5
and and It is believed that the work of the
bureau will be current at the close OF
the present fiscal year,
During the year ended June goth last,
2h,566 persons were appointed through
competitive examinations under the GILL
service rules This was 1862 more than
during the preceding year, and 40 per
cent. Of those who passed the exa1nna-
tons. This abnormal growth was largely
occasioned by the extension OF classih-5
cation to the rural free delivery service
and the appointment last year OF over
1900 rural carriers, a. revision q the n,
last, which has greatly improved their
opera ton Tho completion OF the reform
of the civil service Is recognized by good
citizens a. ma nd fhe q the
cess OF the merit system largely dcpend5
upon. the effectiveness gof the !. rules and
the machinery provided for their enforce
in,cnt. a very gratifying spirit Of friend
ments OF the government In the enforce
lnent and uniform observance Of both the
letter and: spirit OF the. civil service act
.26.@ 1908, and sJulS4s,, 1ao3 REQUIRE that
appointments of all unclassif1cd laborers.
beth in the @Departmetts3at Washington
and IN the neldoservIce. ,shal! be made!
Civil Service Commission under a sys-
TEN OF registration to test fithe relative
fitness OF applicants for appointment or
MS SYSTEM is fcDUIIPllLl
and IS open to all citizens Of the United
Sta ties qualified in respect to ago. physical
ability. moral character. industry and
ptability far manuel labor that 1t
element Of age IS omitted" 8
The Army.
4 The report Of the Board of Charities
for the DistrlctEof COLUMBIA is referred
to Congress as worthy, OF It's sconsdera-
~ t,o<, bo fol.
lowing to say on the army and navy: II
.'The effect OF the laws providing a
general staff for the army and for the
more effective use OF the National Guard
has been excellent. Great Improvement
has been made In the efficacy Of our army
in recent years. Such schools rs those
Riley and tho institution of fall manoeu-
vres upon tho National Guard Is marked,
and ample appropriate ton should be made
TO enable tho guardsmen OF the several
States to share in the benefit. The gov
ernlnent, should as soon as possible Sc
cure suitable permanent camp sites for
lions Of the country. The service thereby
rendered, not only to the regular nrmy;
but, to the, National Guard Of the several
times over tho relatively small expense.
We should not rest satisfied with what
has bene done ony PPe 0ra
motion by mere seniority are those who
arc commended with the triumph OF medioc-
rity over excellence. On tho other hand,
.lsystem which, encourage, he exercise
motions would be even worse. But y
would surely be easy to devise a method
which TIC ,onlnon Of the higher officers {,
be decisive upon the standing and pro
tenn now obtains at West Point. The
quality Of each years work determines
man being dropped La. Gp duatedi Into hS
his military su l decide to be War
rented BY his merit. ! n ether words,
liar Qualities determine the ranl! Of q man ,,4.
standing in tho army when he graduates
from West Point: but from that time on
all effort TO find which man is best or
worst. and reward or punish hin accord,
ingly. Is abandoned; no brllllancy, no
amount Of hard work, no easerness III tho
performances Of duty. can udyance him,
short Of u co1 w offense can =
tard him. Until this system Is changed
We cannot hone that our officers Viii be
OF us high grade as We have y, right TO
n con ilnriNY tho material llDOn