The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-12-08
SAVANNAH MORNING NEWS: TUESDAY DECEMBER s. 1908

SAN ANNAH MORN
the larger needs for which it is de-
signed. Further legislation is not rec
commended until the necessities of
change are more apparent
The study of the opportunities of
reclamation of the vast extent of arid
land shows that whether this reclama-
ton is done by individuals, corpora
tons or the state, the sources of water
supply must be effectively protected
and the reservoirs guarded by the
preservation of the forests at the head
waters of the streams. The engineers
making the preliminary examinations
continually. emphasize this need and
urge that the remaining public lands
at the headwaters of the important
streams of the West be reserved to in
sure permanency of water supply for
irrigation. Much progress in forestry
mas been made during the past year.
ne necessity for perpetuating our for
est resources, whether in public or pri-
Nate hands, is recognized now as never
before. The demand for forest re-
serves has become insistent in the
west, because the West must use the
water, wood, and summer range which
only such reserves can supply. Pro-
gfeSslVe luHbermen are striving,
through forestry, to give their business
permanence. Other great business in
terests are awakening to the need of
forest preservation as q business mat
ter. The governments forest work
should receive from the Congress
hearty support, and especially support
adequate for the protection of the for
est reserves against fire. The forest
reserve policy of the government has
passed beyond the experimental stage
ana has reached a condition where sci
entlhc methods are essential to it's sue
Cesstul prosecution. The administrative
features of forest reserves are at pres
ent unsatisfactory, being divided be-
tween three bureaus of two depart
ments. 1t is therefore recommended
that all matters pertaining to forest
reserves, except those involving or
pertaining TO land titles. be consolidat-
ed in the bureau of forestry of the De-
partment OF Agriculture.
The Boil weeviL
The cotton growing states have re-
Gently been invaded by a weeVil that
mas done much damage and threatens
the entire cotton industry 1 suggest
70 the Congress the prompt enactment
of such remedial legislation as its judg-
ment may approve.
In granting patents to foreigners the
proper course for this country to fol-
low is to give the same advantages to
foreigners here that the countries in
which these foreigners dwell extend in
RETURN to our citizens; that is, to ex-
tend the benefits of our patent laws
on inventions and the like, where in
return dhe articles would be patentable
m the foreign countries concerned
where an American could get a CORE
sponding patent in such countries.
The Indian agents should not be de-
pendent for their appointment or ten
ure of Office upon considerations of par
tlSan fp9litics; the Practice of appoint
ing, when possible, ex-army officers or
bonded superintendent to the vacancies
I lhat~9eeuE is working WELL Attention
S invited to the widespread illiteracy
due to- lack of public schools in the
Indian Territory. Prompt heed should
be paid to the need of education for
the children in this territory.
In my last annual message the at
tention of the Congress was called to
the necessity of enlarging the safety
appliance law, and it is gratifying to
note that this law was amended in
important respects. With the increas-
ing railway mileage of the country,
the greater number of men employed,
and the use of larger and heavier
equipment, the urgency for renewed
effort to prevent the loss of life and
limb upon the railroads of the country,
particularly to employees is apparent
the Life Saving Service upon the water
| the Congress has built up an elaborate
body of protectiYel legislation and a.
thorough rnethOslI of inspection and is
annually spending large sums of money!
| IT is encouraging to observe that the.
| CongreSSsiiS alive to the interests of
those who are employed upon onr won7
dePful arteries of commerce-the rail-
roads-who so safely transport. millions
Of passengers and billions of tons of
freight. The federal inspection of safe
ty appliances, for which the Congress
is now making appropriations is a
service analogous to that which the
government has upheld for generations
in regard to vessels, and it is believed
will prove of great practical benefit,
both to railroad employees and the traV-
cling public. AS the greater part of
commerce is interstate and exclusively
under the control of the Congress, the
needed safety and uniformity must be
secured by national legislation.
80 Payment of Pensions.
NO other class of our citizens de-
serves so well of the nation as those
to whom the nation owes its very be-
ing, the veterans Of the civil war.
Special attention is asked to the excel
lent work of the Pension Bureau in ex-
peditirg and disposing of pension
ing July l, 1908, the bureau settled PSI
9S2 claims. an average of S25 claims
for each working day of the year. The
number of settlements since July l.
1903, has been in excess of last years
average, approaching 1000 claims for
each working day, and it is believed
that the work Of the bureau will be
current at the close of the present MS
cal year.
During the year ended June 30, last
1856 persons were appointed through
competitive examinations under the
civil service rules. This was 1852
more than during the preceding year,
and 40 per cent. of those who passed
the examinations. This abnormal
growth was largely occasioned by the
extension of classification to the rural
free delivery service and the appoint
ment last year of over 5000 rural car
riers. A revision Of the civil service
rules took effect on April Is, last,
which has greatly improved their oper-
alton. The completion of the reform
of the civil service is recognized by
good citizens everywhere as a matter
of the highest public importance, and
the success of the merit system largely
depends upon the effectiveness of the
rules and the machinery provided for
their enforcement. A very gratifying
spirit of friendly cooperation exists in
all the departments of the government
in the enforcement and uniform OBJ
of the civil service act. Executive or