The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1903-12-11


The rural frcc-lciivery service has been
steadily extended. The attention of the
congress u asked to the question OF the
compensation OF the letter carriers and
clerks engaged In the postal service. cs-
peonlly On the new rural frCe-dclivery
routes. Mote routes have been Installed
since the first Of July last than In amy
liko period In the departments history.
While u due regard to economy must BE-
kert In mind IN the establishment OF new
routes, yet the extension Of the rural
frcc-delivery system must he continued.
for reasons ~ sound public policy. No
governmental movement Of recent years
mas resulted III greater immediate benefit
70 the people Of the country distrlcs.
Rural .ircc delivery. taken In connection
with the telephone. the bicycle, and the
scnine the isolation " farm life and
making It brighter and more attractive.
International Expeditions.
trust that the congress viii continue
20 favor In all proper Ways the Lnukiana
memorates the Louisiana purchase. which
was the nrst great step In the expansion
which made Us u continental nation. The
expedition OF ltNls u tlnrk across the
continent foliowed thereon. ard marked
the beginning ofthp process OF exploration
and colonization which thrust our national
boundaries 60 the Pacific. The ncquf1tion
OF the OREGON country. including the pres
ont states of oregon and Washington. was
. TACT OF immense importance IN ON hts
tory hfst gilins ~ our place on the Pa
cite s%eabOard, ana making ready the way
for our nsrcudouUy iu the commerce Of the
greatest ~ the oceans Tho centennial Of
our establishment upon ihc western coast
by the expedition of Lewis and clark IL
10 be celebrated at Portland, ore, hy an
exposition IN the summer OF igi. and this
eNtnt should receive recognition and rup-
port nom the national government
our insuinr ross-s-ion..
I recommend that an appropriation be
made tor building ii%Hhthouscs In Hawaii.
tnd tnkiug possession NJ those already
hNllt. InU fVTTtlVFN NHNNlll lT FNNma
hurscd for whatever umuuuts II has al.
ready expended. for lighthouses. The
pond or remove any oinciai appointed BY
MIN, without submitting the matter to
the legislature.
Of our insuiar possessions the philip.
pines and Porto ltico II II gratifying to
say that their steady progress has been
such ~ To make u unnecessary ~ spend
much time In discussing them Vet the
congrcs. should ever keen In mind that
y peculiar obligation rests upon ~ 10
futthor In every way The welfare OF
these communities. The Philippines
should be knit closer iu NJ bv iatln ar
rHnEamcnts. II would Of course. h- I'm.
possible suddenly TO raise the people Of
the Islands 20 the hlrh pitch NJ industrial
prosperity and ~ governmental efficiency
To which they Will In the end by degrees
attain. and the caution nnd moderation
shown IN developing them have been
among the main reasons why this dcvrl-
opmcnt has hitherto gore on ~ smooth
W. Hcrupulous care has been taken IN
Nv ~ ANN'N ANA'NNNA NNfNAN"H NNNN
IN" entire elimination 81 partisan politics
from the public service. Thu condition
OF The islandcrr Is IN material things far
better than ever before. while their ruv-
ornamental. intellectual and morri nd-
vance har Kept pho, with their material
advance Nc one people over benefited
nted the f1lipinos by taking possession
OF the Islands.
The rubiir Lands.
A gratifying disposition has been
eyinccd by those having unlawful In
fcnces Ncnriy sos'ej ncras 90 In.
closed have been thrown open m demand
In but ~rumpnrntivrlN few eases has u
been necessary to gu into court Ia ar.
complish this purpose. Thir work viii be
vigorously prosecuted until all unlawful
Enclosures have bgrn removed.
Experience has shown that IN the west
.fn states themselvca, ~ well ~ In the
rest Of the country. there o. widespread
7 conviction that certain Of the public land
laws and the resulting administrative
practice no longer meet the present needs.
The character aud uses Of the remaining
public lands diner widely from those of
peciiliy In view when these laws were
passed. The rapidly Increasing rate. Of
disposal Of the public lands II not fol
lowed by a corresponding Increase In
home building. There IN u tendency To
mass In large holdings public lands, -.
prclaiiy timber aud grnzlng lands, hnd
and emphasize my Recommendation Of
last year that 20 FAR ~ they are available
for agriculture In IT, brondrSt sense. and
10 whatever extent they nay be- re
claimed under The national irrigation law.
tho remaining public lands should he held
rigidly for III" home builder tn" ntt"n-
ton VI the courfofg ~ especially direct
I'd TO the timber aud stone law, ~
dTscrt-lnnd law, n the Communication
claus, "f thu Homestead law. which IN
their operation have In many respects
connicted with WlNt public land policy
Tho discussions In Ne conEtcsH and else
where have made II cyidcnt that there s.
n Wide divergence 81 opinions between
those holding opposite views IN these
subjects. ana that tn opposing sides
have strong and convinced TcprrH"ntas
lives 81 weight both within and without
The congress-. IN" difference hvlnH not
oniy ~ to mntters Of opinion hut ~ 20
information may b. available Tor the use
~ the congress-. ! have appointed "a CON.
mission composed of W. \ Richards
commissioner uf the general land uiiic"
forestry Of the department uf agricul.
urc. and T. ~ Newell. chief hydrogen.
phor Of the geological survey 90 report
At thu earliest practicable moment upon
the condition, operation ana "u"ct Of IA"
present Land laws and on th' use, CON
public lands. The commission will report
especially what changes In ofgnniynt0n,
laws, regulations ana prhcilr" nr"cilng
tho public lands are needed 10 erect the
largest practicable dlspnsiiiuu ui the pub.
lie lands 90 actual settlers who viii build
permanent homes upon them, aud 10 ~.
cure In pprmnncncT the fullest ana most
effective use ~ the resources ~ the pub
lie lands. ana "A viii make such other
reports ana recommendation ~ Its
study ut these questions may suggest
Tho commission IL 10 report Immediate
~ upon those point concerning which
its Judgment ~ clear. on any point npon
which II has doubt II VIII take the tim.
necessary TO make investigation and
reach "a nnul judgment,
The Army and Navy.