Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1903-12-17

steadily extended. The attention of the
congress IS asked to the question of the
! compensation of the letter carriers and
| clerks engaged in the postal service, es-
! peclally 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.
! While due regard to economy must be
! kept IN mind In the establishment of new
! routes, yet the extension of the rural
iree-deHvery system must be continued
| Tor reasons of sound public policy. No
| governmental movement of recent years
| mas resulted in greater Immediate benefit
to the people of the country districts.
| Rural free delivery. taken in connection
! WIN the telephone. the bicycle and the
trolley accomplishes much toward les
seninE the isolation of farm life and
making 1t brighton and more attractive.
International Expeditions.
l trust that the congress will continue
10 favor In all proper ways the Louisiana
! purchase exposition. This exposition com
! memorateS the Louisiana purchase which
was the hrst great step in the expansion
winch made us a continental nation The
! expedition of Lewis and Clark across the
! continent followed thereon, and marked
! the beginning Of the process OF exploration
! ana colonization which thrust our national
boundaries to the Pacific. The acquisition
OF the oregon country. including the pres
eht states or Oregon and Washington, was
fact of immense Importance in our his
tory; hrst giving us our place on the Pa
| cine seaboard and making ready the way
for our ascendency in the commerce of the
! greatest of the oceans The centennial of
our establishment upon the western coast
| by the expedition of Lewis and Clark Is
TO be celebrated at Portland, Ore, By an
exposition In the summer of 1908. and this
event shou!d receive recognition and sup
port from the national government.
Our InsuInr Possessions.
l recommend that an appropriation be
made for building lighthouses in Hawaii,
and taking possession of those already
built. The territory should be rem-
ready expended for lighthouses. The
governor should be empowered to sus-
pend or remove any official appointed by
him., without submitting the matter to
the legislature.
| 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
peculiar obligatio rests upon us to
these communities. The Philippines
should be knit closer to us by tariff ar
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
ly. Scrupulous care has besn 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 brne-
fitted the Filipinos by taking possession
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 1t
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 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 fol-
home building. There is a tendency to
mass in large holdings public lands. es-
pecially timber and grazing lands, and
thereby to retard settlement | renew
and emphasize my recommendation Of
last year that so far as they are available
for agriculture in its broadest sense, and
to whatever extent they may be re-
claimed under the national irrigation law
the remaining public lands should be held
rg!dly for the home builder. The atten-
ton Of the congress is especially direct
ed to the timber and stone law. the
dcsert-land law. and the cOmmutatiOn
clause of the homestead law. which in
their operation have in many respects
confllcted with wise publc-land policy
The discussions In the congress and else
where have made 1t evident that there Is
"A wide divergence OF opinions between
subjects; and that the opposing sides
have strong and convinced representa-
tt;ves of weight both within and without
only to matters Of opinion but as to
matters OF fact. In order that definite
information may be available for the use
mission composed of w. A. Richards
commissioner of the general land office;
Clifford Pinchot. chief of the bureau of
forestry of the department of asricul-
ture. and f. II. Newell, chief hydroGra-
pher OF the geological survey. to report
at the earliest practicable moment upon
the condition, operation and effect of the
present land laws and on the use, con-
ditI0n. 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
permanent homes upon them. and to Sc
cure in perlnanence the fullest and most
effective use of the resources of the pub
lie lands; and 1t will make such other
reports and recommendation as its
study of these questions may suggest.
The commission is to report mmedia te-
ly upon those points copcerning which
its judgment is clear: on any point upon
which 1t has doubt 1t 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 coed effect of these maneuvers upon
the national guard is marked. and ample
appropriation should be made to enable
the guardsmen of the several states to
share in the benefit The government
should soon possible secure suita BILE
permanent camp sites for military man
euEers in the various sections of the
country. The service thereby rendered
not only to the regular army. but to the
national guard of the several states will