Mexico weekly ledger., 1903-12-10
throughout the empire, and TO Introduce
ether desirable administrative reforms
Rurni Free Delivery.

t~hroughout the empire, and TO Introduce
ether desirable administrative reforms
Rurai Free Delivery.
The rural free-deliyery service has been
steadily extended. This attention OF the
congress Is asked to the question Of the
compensation Of the letter carriers and
clerks engaged in the postal service. es-
pecfaily on the new rural frce-deivery
routes. Mcte routes have been Installed
since the FIRST Of July last than In any
Ike period In the departments history.
While a due regard to economy must be
kept IN mind IN the establishment Of new
routes yet the extension OF the rural
Iree-defvery system must BE- continued,
Tor reasons OF sound public policy. No
governmental movement Of recent years
mas resulted In greater immediate bsnent
to the people OF the country DISTRICTS
Rural free delivery. taken IN connection
with the telephone. the bicycle. and the
trolley. ~accomplishes much toward less
SEEMING the isolation OF farm life and
HiassHS x s-ssAsS aid more attractive
International Exposition.
I trust that the congress will continue
% favor In all proper ways the louisiana
Purchase exposition. This exposition eom-
m~emorates the Louisiana purchase, uhich
Was the trst great step Ia the expansion
which made US a continental nation The
expedition OF Lewis and Clark across The
the beginning OF tho process OF Hxploratioa
and colonization which thrust our n~atIonal
boundaries To the Pacific. The ACQUISITION
OF the Oregon country, Including the pres
ent states o. Oregon and Washington Mas
a TACT OF Immense Importance III our his
tor9i nrst giving rs our place on the Pa
cine seaboard and making ready the WAY
ior our aseeadency In the commerce Of the
Dur establishment upon the western coast
BY the expedition OF Lewis ami Clark Is
20 De celebrates at Portland Ore, BY an
event should receive recognition and sup
port from the national government.
Oar Insnlar P~os.essioas.
recommend that an appropriation be
made for building lighthouses In Hawaii
and taking possession Of those already
built The territory should be REIN
onrsea LOT whatever mounts u a Al
governor should be empowered 10 sus-
pend or remove any official appointed by
without submitting the matter to
the legislature.
OF our insuIar possessions the Philip.
pines and Porto Rico II Is gratifying to
say that their steady progress has been
such as to make II unnecessary 10 spend
much time In discussing them. Yet tho
q peculiar obligation rests upon us to
further IN every way the welfare of
these communities The Philippines
should be knit closer to US by tArin ar
- - ~ AAAL~
possible suddenly TO raise the people OF
the stands 10 the high pitch of Industrial
prosperity and OK governmental efficiency
to which they will In the end by degrees
in developing them have been
anOn the main reasons why this devei-
opmen; has hitherto gone on so smooth
ly. ~Scrupulous care has been taken In
choice of governmental agents. and
the entire elimination Of partisan politics
frem the public service. This condition
the islanders IS IN material thincs far
intsJlert1ai sn ma msral k Say.
has kept pace with their material
advance. No one people ever benefited
people more han we have bene-
the Ffllpsnos by taking possession
The Public Laads.
A gratifying disposition has been
by those having unlawful in
Of public land 70 remove their
fences. Nearly 2eo9Q9 acres so in
have been thrown open on demand.
In but comparatively few cases has II
somplish this purpose. This work win Be
vigorously prosecuted until all unlawful
Enclosures have been removed
Experience has shown that In the west
afn states themselves as well Us In the
conviction that certain OF the public land
and the resulting administrative
l~ractioe no longer meet the present needs.
rhe character Sand uses 81 the remaining
public lands differ widely from those OF
he public n which congress had es-
in view when these laws were
The rapidly Increasing rate OF
OF the public lands is not fol-
by a corresponding Increase in
1ume building. There Is a tendency to
mass Ia large holdings public lands, e.
timber and grazing lands. and
to retard settlement, enew
emphasize my recommendation OF
year that 80 far as they are available
or agriculture In It's bruadest sense. and
% whatever extent they may be re-
,laimed under the national irrigation law, |
he remaining public lands should be held
-igldly for the ZONE builder, The atten-
Of the congress 5 especially direct |
q TO the timber and stone law. ths
law. and the Communication |
OF the homestead law. which in
heir operation have In nan respects |
with wise pubiie-land policy. |
The discussions in the congress and else |
o v made A-evideni that there Is
wide divergence Of opinions between |
hose holding opposite views on these |
and that the opposing sides |
AVE strong and convinced representa-
ives OF weight both within and without |
he congress: The differences being not |
,nly as to matters o. opinion but as to |
matters Of fact. In order hat definite |
Information may be available for the use
II the congress. | have appointed a com |
mission composed of w. A. Richards, |
Commissioner o. the general land Office: |
clifford Pinchot, chief OF the bureau OF
'orestry Of the department o. agricul
.ure. and r. II Newell, chief h~ydrogra-
,her Of he geoiogicsi survey. to report
II the earliest practicable moment upon
he condition, operation and effect Of the
present land laws ard on the use. con
iition. disposal and settlement of the
public lands. The commission will report
specially what changes in organization, /
avs. regulations and practice aneeting
he public lands are needed to effect the
arEest practicable disposition OF the pub /
&c lands 10 actual settlers who will build
homes upon them. and to Sc
,ure In -pernanence he fullest and most
,heftye use Of the resources OF the pub
&c lands. and Il win make such other
'eports and recommendations as Its
OF these ques IONS may suggest
The commission Is u report immediate
y upon those points Concerning which
Is judgment Is clear: on any point upon
which it has doubt I viii tax the time
to make investigation and
a final Judgment.
The Army and Navy.
The effect Of the laws providing a gen
raj stan for the arrry and for the more
use Of The national guard has
lecn excellent. Great Improvement has
been made in the err cheney OF our army
n recent years. Such schools as those
at Fort Ieavenworth n Fort
Riley and the institution OF fan maneuver
y u alAkAAAEAAr1 ENAtHNhIAtfR IHhUNlE. I
fhe good effect Of these maneuverx upon
he national guard Is marked. and ample
appropriation should be made to enable
guardsfnen Of the several states &c
hare in the benefit. The government
ihould as soon as possible secure suitable
permanent camp sites for military man.
,uvers IN the various sections Of the
The service thereby rendered
lot only TO the regular army, but 10 the |
guard Of tho several states. will
e 50 great as to repay many times ovef
he relatively small Expense. We should
iot rest satisfied Nih what has been
lone, however. The only people who are
with a system Of promotlon
" mere seniority are those who are con.
ented with the triumph Of mediocrity
yer excellence on the other hf nd q
ystem which ENCOURAGED the exercise Of
Oetal or political favOritism In promo.
Ions would be oven worse. Bat Il would
urely be easy to devise a method OF
lromoticn from grade to grade In which
he opinion u the + Fhg Officers n the
upsn the starding and promotion
{ the latter.
The Navy.
/ heartily congratulate the congress npop
he STEADY progress In building up the
nayy. We cannot afford a iet.un
this frtat work. To stand still means
90 tacF. There should be no cessation
adding 20 the effective units Of the fight
" strength = the feet Meanwhile the
avy department ana the officers Of The
avy are dciEg well their parg b. provid-
~ service at sea under conditions
70 those Of actual warfare Our ON
rs and enlisted men are learning TO han.
le the baitleships. cruisers and torpedo
with high efficiency IN fleet and
auadron formations. and the standard Of