The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1904-12-06

Ecdu 8 w DIS cSIdDliSueu. Lie dppOluL-
ment of field assistant to the commits
sioner of Indian affairs would be GER
tain to insure this good end. Such an
official II possessed of the requisite en-
ergy and deep interest in the work
would be most efficient factor in
bringing into closer relationship and a
more direct union Of effort the bureau
In Washington and It's agents in the
field, and with the cooperation Of It's
branches thus secured the Indian bu-
reau would in measure fuller than ever
before lift up the savage toward that
self help and self reliance which con-
/ stttute the man.
Jamestown Tricentennial.
In 1907 there will be held at Hamp-
ton Roads the tricentennial celebrations
| Of the settlement at Jamestown, Va.
! with which the history Of what has
now become the United States really
begins. commend this to your favor
able consideration. 1t is an event of
| prime historic significance, In which all
the people Of the United States should
| feel and should show great and general
| interest.
Postal Service.
In the postofice department the sery-
ice has increased in efficiency, and con-
| dit1ons as to revenue and expenditure
continue satisfactory. The increase of
revenue during the year was $685.
1S1.1O, or SO per cent, the total re-
cefpts amounting to $143, 3S2, 624.34.
The expenditures were S152, 362, lie. 20.
an increase Of about 8 per cent over
the previous year, being thus $S,979,-
| 1926 In excess Of the current revenue.
Included in these expenditures was
total appropriation of So, 1856, 637.35 for
the continuation and extension Of the
rural free delivery service, which was
an increase Of $4.9O2,257.35 over the
amount expended for this purpose in
the preceding fiscal year. Large as this
expenditure has been, the benefcent
results attained in extending the free
distribution of mails to the residents Of
| rural districts have justified the wis
dom Of the outlay. Statistics brought
down to the LIST Of October, 1904. show
that on that date there were 7,13S ru-
raj routes established, serving approx
imately 100000 of people in rural
districts remote from postoffces, and
that there were pending at that time,
1850 petitions for the Enlistment of.
new rural routes. Unquestionably-
some part Of the general increase In,
receipts is due to the increased postal!
foai1ifino vrI
| afforded. The revenues have also been.
aided greatly by amendments In the.
classification of mail matter and the.
curtailment Of abuses Of the second
class mailing privilege. The average
increase in the volume Of mall matter
for the period beginning with 1902 and
ending June, 1905 THAT portion for
1905 being estimated), is 4O.47 per cent
as compared with 25.46 per cent for
the period Immediately preceding and
1892 for the four year period imme-
dfately preceding that.
Consular Service.
Our consular system needs improve
| ment. Salaries should be substituted
for fees, and the proper classification,
grading and transfer of consular off,
GERS should be provided. am not pre-
pared to say that competitive system
Of examinations for appointment would
work well, but by law 1t should be
provided that eonsuls should be IA
miliar, according to places for which
they apply, with the French, German
or Spanish language and should pos
sess acquaintance with the resources
Of the United States.
National Gallery of Art.
The collection of objects of art con-
templated in section 55S6 Of the Re-
vised Statutes should be designated
and established as national gallery of
art, and the Smithsonian Institution
should be authorized to accept any adj
d1tions to said collection that may be
received by gift, bequest or devise.
National Quarantine Law.
1t is desirable to enact proper ma
ttonal quarantine law. 1t is most un-
desirable that a state should on it's
own initiative enforce quarantine regu-
lations which are in effect a restric-
ton upon interstate and international
commerce. The question should prop
erly be assumed by the government
alone. The surgeon general of the ma
tional public health and marine hos
pital service has repeatedly and con-
vincingly set forth the need for such
legislation.
Extravagance In Printing.
! call your attention to the great ex-
travagance in printing and binding
government publications and especially
to the fact that altogether too many
of these publications are printed. There
is constant tendency to increase their
number and their volume 1t is an un-
derstatement to say that no apprecfa-
BILE harm would be caused by, and sub
stant1al benefit would accrue from, de-
creasing the amount Of printing now
done by at least one-half. Probably
the great majority of the government
reports and the like now printed are
never read at ALL and, Furthermore, the
printing Of much Of the material con-
tanned in many Of the remaining ones
serves no useful purpose whatever.
Currency.
The attention of the congress sho,,1dz
be especially given to the currency
question and that the standing commit
tees on the matter in the two houses
charged with the duty take up the mat
ter Of our currency and see whether it