The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-12-05

Is other than one possessing money value.
This ought To be remedied by appropriate
legislation. Legislation should also be en-
acted To cover. explicitly. unequivocally
and beyond question, breach OF trust In
the shape OF prematurely divulging offi-
cial secrets by an officer or employe OF
the United states and TO provide sulta-
BILE pealty therefor. Such officer or en-
ploye owes the duty OF the United states
TO guard carefully and not to divulge or
in any manner use, prematurely, informa-
tion which Is accessible to the officer or
employe by reason OF his official position.
Most breaches OF public trust are already
covered by the law, and this one should
be. IL is impossible no matter how much
care is used. To prevent the occasional APP
pointment 10 the public service of man
VINO when tempted proves unfaithful: but
every means should be provided TO detect
and every effort made to punish the
wrongdoer
So far as In my power lies each and
every such wrongdoer shall be relentless
ly hunted down: I'm no instance I'm the flu
ture shall he be spared His crime is "a
crime against every honest man I'm the
nation, for IL is a crime against the whole
body polite. Yet in dwelling on such mis-
dedes, II Is unjust not to add that they
are altogether exceptional. and that
the whole the employees OF the govern
ment render upright and faithful service
to the people. There are exceptions nota-
Oily III one or TWO DranCneS or the service.
but at no time In the nations history has
the public service OF the nation taken as n
whole stood on a higher plane than now,
alike as regards honestly and as regards
efficiency.
PUBLIC LAND LAWS.
once again I call your attention to tn,
condition OF the public land laws Recent
developments have given new urgency 10
the need Tor such changes as will it these
laws TO actual present conditions The
honest disposal and right use OF the re-
manning public lands is Of fundamental
Importance. The iniqultous methods by
which the monopolizing OF the pubic
lands is being brought about under the
present laws are becoming more generally
known, but the existing laws do not fur
nish effective remedies. The recommenda-
tions OF the Public Lands Commission up-
on this subject are wise and shourd he
given effect
The creation OF small irrigated farms
under the reclamation act is "A powerful
Offset to tho tendency OF certain other
laws 10 foster or permit monopoly OF tho
land. Under that act the construction OF
great Irrigation works has been proceed
Ing rapidly and successfully, the lands re-
claimed are eagerly taken up and the
prospect that the policy OF national irri-
cation will accomplish all that was ex-
pected OF II is bright. The act should be
NA''hh'h W iDNlule the state or Texas
The Reclamation act derives much OF
It's value from the fact that II tends to
secure the greatest possible number of
homes -tAa-laHA, and 10 create C0Tn-
mumtcs of freeholders, i'm part ~ set
tement on public land. i'm part by fore
ing the subdivision OF large priyst, hold
irgs before they can get water from gov
ernment Irrigation works The law re-
Guires that no right TO tho use Of water
for land In private ownership stall he
sold for tract exceeding lt0 acres To
any one land owner This provision has
excited active ana power hostility but
the success OF the law itself depends on
the wise and firm enforcement of IT, we
can not afford to substitute tenants Tor
freeholders on the public domain.
CANNOT BE IRRIGATED.
The greater part OF tho remaining pub
lie lands can rot be irrigated. They are
at present and will probably always be
Of greater value for grazing than for any
other purpose. This fact has led to the
grazing honest cad OF $40 acres I'm Ne
braska and 20 the proposed extension
OF " to other states. IL Is arguch7hat
family can not be supported on 100
acres Of arid grazing land This is OBJ
viously true but neither can family he
supported on so ac"es of much NJ land
TO which II Is proposed 20 apply the graz
ing homestead
To establish universally any such arbI-
trary limit would be unwise at the present
time IT would probably result on the
one hand I'm enlarging tho holdings OF
some of the great land owners, and Oh
the other I'm needless suffering and fail
ure on the part of a very considers bile
proportion OF the bona hde settlers " 10
give faith to the implied assurance of
the government that such an Brenr is suf-
ficient The best use Of the public graz
ing land requires the careful examination
ana classification Of these lands i'm order
TO give each settler land enough to sup
port his family and no more. While this
work is bein gdone, and until the lands
are settled the governor should take con-
trol OF the open range. under reasonable
regulations suited 10 local needs follow
Ing the general policy already I'm sue
cessful operation on the forest reserves.
1t Is probable that the present grazing
value OF the open public range Is scorce-
" more than half whai-lt-o -opea-was- or
what II might easily be again under care
fu regulation.
The forest policy OF the administration
appears to enjoy the unbroken support
of the people. The great users OF timber
are thmeslves forwarding the movemeit
for forest preservation. All organized
opposition to the forest reserves in the
west has disappeared Since the consoli-
dalton Of all government forest work In
the National crest service there has been
a rapid and notable gain the usefulness
OF the forest reserves 10 the people and
IN public appreciation OF their value. The
national parks within or adjacent To for
est reserves should be transferred To the
charge OF the crest service also.
The National government already does
something I'm connection with the con-
struction and maintenance of the great
system OF levces along the iowe- caurse
Of the Mississippi: In my judgment IL
should do much more.
MERCHANT MARINE.
To the spread of our trade in peace
and the defence OF our flag in war n
great and prosperous merchant marine is
indispensable. We should have ships Of
our own and seamen OF our own II con-
vcy our goods 20 neutral markets. and in
case of need TO reinforce our battle line.
II cnn not r'ut he a source OF regret aud
uness ssiness to us that the lines of ctm-
munt tion with our sister republic of
South America should he chiefly ualsr