Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1903-12-17

| The Nation as a whole Is of course the
| gamer by the creation OF these homes,
adding as they do to the wealth and sta
bility OF the country, and furnishing a
home market for the products of the East
and South. The reclamation law, while
perhaps not ideal, appears at present to
answer the larger needs for which it Is
designed. Further legislation is not rec
commended until the necessities of change
are more apparent.
Preservation of Forests.
The study Of the opportunities Of rec
lamatlon Of the vast extent Of arid land
shows that whether this reclamation is
done by individuals, corporations, or the
State, the sources OF water supply must
be effectively protected and the reser-
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 headwaters Of the important
streams Of the West be reserved to in
sure permanency Of water supply for ir-
rigation. Much progress in forestry has
been made during the past year. The
necessity for perpetuatlng our forest re-
sources, whether In public or private
hands, is recognized now as never before.
The demand for forest reserves has be-
come inslstent In the West, because the
West must use the water, wood, and
summer range which only such reserves
can supply. Progressive lumbermen are |
striving. through forestry to give their |
business permanence. Other great bus- |
ness interests are awakening to the need |
Of forest preservation as a business mat |
ter. The Governments forest work |
should receive from the Congress hearty |
gllnnOrt ad fa
for the protection Of the forest reserves |
against fire. The forest-reserve policy |
OF the Government has passed beyond |
the experimental stage and has reached |
condition where scientific methods are |
essential to its successful prosecution. |
The administrative features of forest re- |
serves are at present unsatisfactory, be- |
ing divided between three Bureaus OF |
two Departments 1t 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-growng States have re-
Gently been invaded by a weevil that has |
done much damage and threatens the
entire cotton industry. suggest to the
Congress the prompt enactment OF such
remedial legislation as its judgment may
approve.
Patents to Foreigners.
In granting patents to foreigners the
proper course for this country to follow
Is to give the same advantages to for
eigners here that the countries in which |
these foreigners dwell extend In return
to our citizens; that is. 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 concerned-where 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 OF partisan
politics; the practice OF appointing, when
possible. ex-army officers or bonded su-
perintendents to the vacancies that oc-
cur Is working we'll. Attention is invit-
ed to the widespread illiteracy due to
lack OF public schools in the Indian Ter
ritory. Prompt heed should be paid to
the need OF education for the children in
this Territory.
Safety.Appllanee Law.
In my last annual message the atten-
tion OF the Congress was called to the
necessity OF charging the safety-appllance
law, and 1t is gratifying to note that this
law was amended In important respects.
With the increasing railway mileage of
the country, the greater number OF men
employed. and the use OF larger and
heavier equipment, the urgency for re-
newed effort to prevent the loss OF life
and limb upon the railroads OF the coun-
try, particularly to employees, is apparent.
For the inspection OF water craft and
the Life-Saylng Service upon the water
the Congress has built up an elaborate
body OF protective legislation and q
thorough method Of inspection and Is an
nually spending large sums of money II
Is encouraging to observe that the Con- |
gress Is alive to the interests OF those
who are employed upon our wonderful
arteries OF commerce--the railroads-who
so safely transport millions OF passen-
gers and billions Of tons OF freight The
Federal inspection OF safety appliances.
for which the Congress Is now making
appropriations, Is a service analogous to
that which the Government has upheld
Tor generations In regard to vessels and
IL Is believed Will prove Of great practical
benefit. both to railroad employees and
the travelling public. As the greater part
OF commerce Is interstate and exclusively
under the control OF 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 its very being, the vet
Grams OF the civil war. Special attention
Is asked to the excellent work OF the
Pension Bureau in expeditlng and dispos-
ing or pension claims. During the fiscal
year ending July |. 1908. the Bureau set
tied 2Sl,sS2 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 1t is believed that the
work OF the Bureau will be current at
the close OF the present fiscal year.
Extension Of Civi-Servce Rules,
During the year ended June 30 last
1855 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 occa-
stoned by the extension OF classification
to the rural free-delivery service and the
appointment last year OF over 1900 rural
carriers. A revision OF the civil-service
rules took effect on April Is last. which
has greatly improved their operation.
The completion OF the reform OF the civil
service Is recognized by good citizens
everywhere as matter OF the highest