Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1903-12-07

J volving or pertaining 70 land titles. be
consolidated IN the bureau Of forestry
| Of the department Of agriculture.
The cotton growing 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
or such remedial legislation as its judg-
ment may approve.
No other class OF our citizens de
serves 50 well OF the nation as those
to whom the nation owes its very be-
| ing. the veterans OF the civil war; Spe-
| cial attention,is asked TO the excellent
work OF the pension bureau in expedit-
ing and disposing OF pension claims.
| During the fiscal year ending July l.
1908, the bureau settled 251.9S2 claims.
an average OF S25 claims for each
working day OF the year The number
| Of settlements since July !, 1905. has
been In excess OF last years average.
approaching 1000 claims for each
working day. and II is believed that
| the work OF the bureau will be current
at the close of the present fiscal year.
Extension OF Civil Service Rules.
During the year ended June 30 last
25.566 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
Il n. ell .od hU
extension OF classification to the rural
free delivery service and the appoint
ment last year OF over 1900 rural car
riers. 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 citi-
zens everywhere as a matter of the
highest public Importance, and the sue
cess of the merit system largely depends
upon the effectiveness of the rules and
the machinery provided for their en-
forcement. A very gratifying spirit of
| friendly cooperation exists in all the
departments of the government in the
enforcement and uniform observance
VI DOtu bhS icttch dhu SpAiAl VA TAG Civil
service act
The Army and Navy.
The effect OF the laws providing a
general staff for the army and for the
more effective use of the national guard
has been excellent. Great improve
ment has been made in the efficiency
OF our army in recent years. Such
schools as those erected at Fort Leav-
enworth and Fort Riley and the insti-
tuition of fall maneuver work accom-
plish satisfactory results. The good ef-
feet of these maneuvers upon the ma
tional guard is marked. and ample APP
preparation should be made to enable
| the guardsmen of the several states to
share in the benefit. The government
should as soon as possible secure suit
able permanent camp sites for military
maneuvers in the various sections OF
the country.
l heartily congratulate the congress
upon the steady progress in building
up the American navy. We cannot
afford let-up in this great work. To
stand still means to 60 back. There
should be no cessation in adding to the
effective units of the fighting strength
Of the feet. Meanwhile the navy de-
partment and the officers Of the navy
are doing well their part by providing
| constant service at sea under condi-
| tons akin to those of actual warfare.
| Our officers and enlisted men are learn
Ing to handle the battleships. cruisers
onI fnrpad, hna xxyifl, bfn, af1ofonou
In feet and squadron formations, and
the standard of craftsmanship is being
steadily raised. The best work ashore
| is Indispensable. but the highest duty
| of a naval officer is to exercise COM
mand at sea. 1t is eminently desirable
that naval general staff should be
established.
Tsthmian Canal.
BY the act of June %, 1902, the con-
gress authorized the president to enter
into treaty with Colombia for the
| building of the canal across the 18TH
mus Of Panama, it being provided that
| In the event of failure to secure such
treaty after the lapse of reasonable
time recourse should be had to build
ing a canal through Nicaragua. 1t has
not been necessary to consider this al
tentative, as l am enabled to lay be
fore the senate treaty providing for
the building of the canal across the
! isthmus of Panama. This was the
route which commended itself to the
deliberate judgment of the congress.
and we can now acquire by treaty the
right to construct the canal over this
route. The question now, therefore, Is
not by which route the isthmian canal
! shall be built, for that question has
been definitely and irrevocably decid-
ed The question is simply whether or
not we shall have an isthmian canal.
When the congress directed that we
should take the Panama route under
treaty with Colombia the essence Of
the condition, OF course, referred not
to the government which controlled