Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1903-12-07

lie lands at the headwaters of the i'm
portant streams of the west be re-
served to insure permanency of water
supply for irrigation. Much progress
in forestry has been made during the
past year. The necessity for perpe-
trating our forest resources, whether
in public or private hands. is recog-
nized now as never before. The de-
mand for forest reserves has become
insistent 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 bust
ness interests are awakening to the
need of forest preservation as a bust
ness matter. The governments forest
work should receive from the congress
hearty support. and especially sup
port adequate for the protection of the
forest reserves against fire. The for
est reserve policy of the government
has passed beyond the experimental
stage and has reached a condition
where scientific methods are essential
to it's successful prosecution. The ad-
ministrative features of forest reserves
are a. present unsatisfactory, being di-
vided 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 con-
solidated in the bureau Of forestry of
the department of agriculture.
Cotton WeeviI
The cotton growing states have re-
Gently been invaded by weevil that
has done much damage and threatens
the entire cotton industry. l 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 fol-
low is to give the same advantages to
foreigners here that the countries in
which these foreigners dwell extend in
return to our citizens; that is. to ex-
tend the benefits of our patent laws on
inventions and the like where in re-
turn the articles would be patentable
in the foreign countries concerned
where an American could get a corre-
spending patent in such countries.
Indian Affairs
The Indian agents should not be de-
pendent for their appointment or ten
ure of office upon considerations of
partisan politics; the practice of ap-
pointing. when possible. ex-army Off
! GERS or bonded superintendent to the
/ ,;a
Attention is invited to the widespread
illiteracy due to lack of public schools
in the Indian territory. Prompt heed
should be paid to the need of educa-
ton for the children in this territory.
Safety Appliance Law
In my last annual message the atten-
ton of the congress was called to he
necessity of charging the safety-ap-
pliance law, and it is gratifying to note
that this law was amended in import
ant respects With the increasing
railway mileage of the country. the
greater number of men employed, and
the use of larger, and heavier equip
ment, the urgency for renewed effort
to prevent the loss of life and limb
upon the railroads of the country, par
ticularly to employees, is apparent
For the inspection of water craft and
the life saving service upon the water
the congress has built up an elabo-
rate body of protective legislation and
thoi ough method Of inspection and is
annually spending large sums of
money. 1t is encouraging to observe
that the congress is alive to the inter-
ests of those who are employed upon
our wonderful arteries of commerce
the railroads--who so safely transport
millions of passengers 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 for gener-
atior.s In regard to vessels. and it 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 uni
formity must be secured by national
legislation.
Pensions
No other class of our citizens de-
serves so we'll of the nation as those
to whom the nation owes it's 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 1.
1903 the bureau settled 251,ss2 claims,
an average of s25 claims for each
working day of the year. The number
of settlements since July /, 1903. has
been in excess of last years average,
approaching 1000 claims for each
working day. and it is believed that the
work of the bureau will be current at
the close of the resent fiscal year.
Civil Service