The San Francisco call., 1903-12-08

or our Insular possessions the Philippines
and Porto Rlco. II is gratifying 20 that their
steady progress has been such 70 make II IN
necessary 70 spend much time In discussing
them Yet the Congress should ever keep IN
mind that peculiar obligation rests upon US 70
further In every way the welfare Of these com
munities. The Philippines should be knit closer
I'd Us hy tariff arrangements. Il would. Of
course be impossible suddenly 70 raise the peo-
--isr n-osTe-fty and Of Eovernraenrai efficiency
% which they Viii 10 the end by degrees attain
and the caution and moderation shown in devel-
rrur them have been among the main reasons
why this development has hitherto gone on 50
smoothly. Scrupulous care fas been taken IN
The choice of governfilental agents ana tne en-
tire elimination - partisan politics from the
public service The condition of the islanders
is Dr. lsterial things Tar betler lhsn ever pe-
fore while their governmental. Intellectual and
moral advance has kept pace with their mate
rial advance No one people ever penented an
rrher peoule more than we have benefited the
FiHpinos by taking possession q the islands.
The cash receipts o. tne Genersl AZ. lana i 1lnee
increase Ct SI.T02. SIG - over the preceding
year ol MS sesn. sppEoH,.ls ss -. -
nation q arid land making the total OF this
fuad. W 70 the 3oth of June. 1908. approximate
grstifyIng disposition has been evineed by
those having unlawful Enclosures Of public land
ro remove their fences. Nearly two million
acres 30 inclosed have been thrown open on de-
rranc IL but comparatively few cases has il
80 --.-5-se IRIS --o-j vii Be vixorousiy
prosecuted until al unlawful Enclosures have
Experieno. has shown that in the Western
states themselves as vel as in the rest Of the
country. there Is widespread conviction that
certain ot the public land laws ana the result
.1E administrative practice no longer meet the
present needs The character and uses OF the
remaining pubic lands dffer widely from those
n the public lands which Congress had espe-
clslly m viev when these laws were passed
Tne rapidly Increasing rate of disposal Of the
public lands s not followed by corresponding
increase IN home building. There is a tendency
no mass In large holdings public lands, espe-
4frrf-e Hnrraa n of-rrf -
retard settlement. renew and emphasize my
recomnencatiol of last year that 50 far as
they are available for agriculture in its broad
est seuse. and 10 whatever extent they may be
reriair~ei under the rational frrigation law the
rau1airinF pubic lands should be held rigidiy
for the home builder The attention Of the
Congress IS especially directed 70 the timber and
etone law the desert land law and the COM
mutation clause Of the homestead law. which
~ tbeir ouerstion have IN many respects con-
nicted with wise public land policy.
The discussions in the Congress and else
where have made IL evident that there II
~ He divergence of opinions between those hold
irr opposite views On these subjects. and that
fte oprosirg sides have strong and convinced
reserra tiVes of weight both within and with
fur The Congress. the differences being not only
- f0 rrsf tiers 81 opinion but matters ~
ract Ia order that definite Information may be
--sIIahle for the Use u the Congress. have
-rroirted = commission composed Of w A.
r 'rlsrIf Commissioner of the General Land
f1rfce. {; ford Pinchot Chief Of the Bureau of
Forestry os The DEPARTMENT ~ Agriculture and
r RI Newell Chief HydrographeT of the Geo
l1rical Survey. 20 report AZ the earliest prac-
flcabIe moment upon the condition. operation
end enec1 u -he present land laws and the
rse condition. disposal ard settlement Of the
nur1fr 1ands The commission VIII report espe-
rfr llv what cha uEes IN orEsniZs tiOn. Jaws.
uleflons and practice affecting the public lands
arc uecled fc eject the largest practical dispo-
sit on ~ the public lands 90 actual settlers who
WIN build permanent homes upon them. AMI 20
eec-ro in pernanence ne fullest ara most r
frCtfve use RI the resources Of the public lands.
and it VIII make such other reports and recon-
r1tIicattcuS az lts study Of these questions may
sf,rEesi- The commission T. 70 report imn,edi-
ately uDCn those points concerning which us
judgment ls clear; On any point upon which II
has doubt it VIII take the time necessary %
make investigation and reach final judgment
The work n reclau1a ton ~ the arid lands
of the West Is progressing steadily and salts
factnrily under the terms of the law setting
7zife The proceeds from the disposal OF public
lands TIE corps of engineers known the
reclamation service. which Is conducting the
surveys and examinations. has been thoroughly
crTanizrd, esrec al pains being taken % secure
under the civil service rules a body OF skilled.