The Yale expositor., 1903-12-11

OF stable. s"lf-suppnrting communities I'm |
the midst OF vast tracts 81 vacant land. |
The Nation as "a whole is Of course the |
gaiuer by the creation 90 these homes, |
adding as they do to the wealth ana sta |
hility q the country. and furnishing a
home market FOR the products OF the East |
ana South. The reclamation law. while |
perhaps not Ideal. appears at present to |
answer the larger needs for which u II
designed. Further legislation IN not rec |
commended until the necessities OF change |
are more apparent
Preservation OF Forests.
The study ~ the opportunities ~ rec
lamation OF the vast extent OF arid land |
shows that whether this reclamation - |
done by individuals. corporations. or the |
State. the sources % water supply must
be effectively protected and the Iesor-
voirs guarded by the preservation OF the
forests at the headwaters OF the streams.
The engineers making the preliminary
examinations continually emphasize this |
need and urge that the remaining public
lands AT the headwatcrs OF the important
streams 90 the West be reserved TO in
sure pcrmanency of water supply for ir-
rigation. Much progress Ia forestry has
been made during the past year. The
necessity for perpetuating our forest re-
sources. whether In public or private
hands. is recognized now as never before.
The demand for forest reserves has be-
come insistent in the West because the
West must use the water. wood. and
summer range which only such reserves
can supply. Progressive lumbermcn are
striving, through forestry. To- give their
business permanence other great bust
ness interests are awakening 20 the need
OF forest preservation az "a business mat
ter. The Governments forest work
should receive from the Congress hearty
support and especially support adequate
FssV -
against IRE. The forest reserve policy
Of the Government has passed beyond
the experimental stage and has reached
condition where scientific methods are
essential 20 It's successful prosecution.
The administrative features OF forest re-
serves are at present unsa tisfac Glory. be-
tng divided between three Bureaus OF
two Departments. IL Is therefore recon-
mended that all matters pertaining TO
forest reserves. except those involving or
pertaining TO land titles be consolidated
In the Bureau Of Forestry OF the Depart
ment OF Agriculture.
Cotton Weevil.
The cotton growing States have re-
Gently been invaded by wcevil that has
done much damage and threatens the
entire cotton industry. suggest TO the
Congress the prompt enactment OF n
remedial legislation Az It's Judgment may
approve
Patents TO Foreigners.
In granting patents 20 foreigners the
proper course for this country To follow
h. TO give the same advantages TO for
eigners here that the countries In which
these foreigners dwell extend In return
TO our citizens. that b.. To extend the
benefits OF our patent laws on inventions
and the like where In return the articles
would be patentable In the foreign coun-
tries conCernsd-whcrc an American
could get corresponding patent In such
countries.
Indian Affairs.
The Indian agents should not be- de-
pendent for their appointment or tenure
OF Office upon considerations 81 partisan
politics; the practice of appointing. when
possible. eN-army officers or bonded SUI
perintendcnts To the vacancies that oc-
cur IL working well Attention T. inyit-
ID to- the widespread llitcracy due TO
lack of public schools Ia the Indian Ter
ritory. Prompt heed should be- paid TO
the need 90 education for the children In
this Territory.
safety-Appllanee Law.
In my last annual message the ntten-
ton 81 the Congress was called 20 the
necessity Of enlarging the safety-appliance
law. and u is gratifying TO note that this
law was amended In important respects
With the Increasing railway mileage III
the country the greater number % men
employed. and the use Of larger and
heavier equipment the urgency for re-
newed effort To prevent the loss 81 NE
and limb upon the railroads 81 the conn
try. particularly 20 employees Is apparent.
For the Inspection % water craft and
the Lne-Saving Service upon the water
the Congress has built up an elaborate
body az protective legislation and n
thorough method Of inspection and ~ an
nualiy spending large sums 81 money. II
II encouraging To- observe that the Con-
gress ~ alive TO the interests Of those
who nre employed upon our wonderful
arteries of commercc-the railroads-who
SO safely transport millions OF passcn-
gers and billions Of tons OF freight Tho
Federal inspection OF safety appliances.
for which the Congress Is now making
appropriations. ~ a service analogous 10
that which the Government has upheld
for generations In regard 20 vessels and
u u believed VIII prove % great practical
benefit. both Go railroad employees and
the travelling public. - the greater part
81 commerce Is interstate and exclusively
under the control 81 the Congress the
needed safety and uniformity must be Sc
cured by national legislation.
Pensions.
No other class OF our citizens deserves
SO well OF the nation as those To whom
the nation owes It's very being. the vet
Grams OF the civil war. Special attention
n asked To- the excellent work 90 the
Pension Bureau In eXpcdltng and dispOs-
ing OF pension claims. During the fiscal
year ending July l. i.03. the Bureau set
tied 2ai.st2 claims. an average OF so
claims for each working day OF the year
| The number OF settlements since July
!. 1908 has bccl In excess OF last ycar'f
average, approaching 1000 claims FOR each
working day. and 70 u believed that the
work % the Bureau will be current at
the close OF the present fiscal year.
Extension Of Civil-Serviee Rules.
During the year ended June % last
&5.Ia6 persons were appointed through
competitive examinations under the civil
service rules. This was l2C12 more than
| during the preceding year. and o. per cent
| 81 those who passed the examinations.
| This abnormal growth was largely occa-
| aiorcd by the extension 90 classification
To the rural free-deliVery service and tht
| appointment last year 81 over 1890 rural
| carriers. revision OF the civil-servlc,
| rules took cffcct on April 10 last. which
has greatly improved their operation
| The completion 81 the reform OF the civil
service D. recognized by good citizens
| everywhere as matter OF the highest
| public importance. and the success of
| the merit system largely depends upon
| the effectiveness 81 the rules aud the ma