Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1905-12-14

every march, for instance, being made with
the soldier loaded exactly as he would be In
an active campaign. The Generals and Colo
nels would thereby have opportunity OF hand.
ling regiments. briEades and divisions and
me eommissary and medical departments
be made for the exercise at least of q bri.
gads ana By preference Of . division in march
ing and embarknH At some point our
coast and disembarking at some other point
ana continuing Its march. The number of
posts In which the Army is kept in time OF
peace should bs materially diminished and
the posts that are left made oorrespondingly
larger. No local interests should be allowed
to stand in the way OF assembling the greater
part or the troops which would at need form
our field armies in stations Of such size as
VIII permit the best training to be given to
the personnel Of all grades, including the high
Officers and stan officers. To accomplish this
end We must have not company or regimental
garrisons. but brigade and division garrisons.
/ Our Navy must, relatively to the naves Of
/ other nations, always be OF greater size than
! our Army. We have most wisely continued
/ for q number of years to build up Navy
and II has now reached q fairly high standard
OF efficiency. This standard Of efficiency must
not only be maintained. but increased. 1t
does not seem to me necessary, however. that
the Navy should-at least in the immediate
future-be increased beyond the present num-
Der Of units What s now clearly necessary
Ia to substitute efficient for inefficient units
as the latter become worn out or as 1t be-
comes apparent that they are useless. Prob
ably the result would be attained by adding a
single battle ship to our Navy each year. the
superseded or outworn vessels being laid up
or broken up as they are thus replaced. The
four single-turren monitors built Immediately
after the close Of the Spanish war, for in
stance. are vessels which would be Of but
little use in the event OF war. The moneys
spent upon them could have been more use
fully spent in other ways. Thus It would have
one Of these monitors and to have put the
money into an ample supply Of reserve guns.
Most OF the smaller cruisers and gunboas,
though they serve useful purpose so far as
they are needed for international police work,
would not add to the strength OF our Navy
in conflict with a serious foe, There is
urgent need Of providing a large increase in
the number of officers, and especially in the
number OF enlisted men.
Naturalization Laws.
During tho past year evidence has accu-
mulated to confirm the expressions con-
tanned in my last two annual messages as
10 the importance of revising by appro-
Pirate legislation our system Of naturalizng
aliens. l appointed last March a commits
sion to make a careful examination of our
naturalization laws, and to suggest appro-
priate measures to avoid the notorious
abuses resulting from the improvident or
unlawful granting Of citizenship. This COM
mission. composed OF officer Of the De-
partment of State. the Department Of JUS
tice, and of the Department of Commerce
and Labor. has discharged the duty imposed
upon it. and has submitted a report, which
will be transmitted to tho Congress for its
consideration and. hope, for its favorable
action.
Breaches Of Trust in Public Service.
There seems to be statute Of the United
States which provides for the punishment of
United States Attorney other officer of
the Government who corruptly agrees to
Wrongfully do or wrongfully refrain from
doing any act when the consideration for
such corrupt agreement is other than one
possessing money value. This ought to be
remedied by appropriate legislation. Legis-
lation should also be enacted to cover ex-
plicity unequivocally and beyond question,
breach Of trust in the shape Of prematurely
divulging official secrets by officer
employe of the United States and to pro-
vide suitable penalty therefor. Such Off
Ger or employe owes the duty to the United
States to guard carefully and not to divulge
or in any manner prematurey infor-
nation 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,
Public Land Laws
Once again call your attention to the
condition OF the public-land laws. Recent
Developments have given new urgency to the
to actual present conditions The honest
disposal and right OF the remaining
public lands is Of fundamental Importance
The iniquitous methods by which the mo-
brought about under the present laws are |
becoming more generally known, but the |
existing laws do not furnish effective RENE
lies. The recommendations OF the Public |
Lands Commission upon this subject are wise |
and should be given effect.
The creation Of small irrigated farms un- |
Ter the reclamation act is a powerful offset
% the tendency Of certain other laws to fos-
er or permit monopoly of the land. Under
hat act the construction of great irrigation
works has been proceeding rapidly and sue
,essfully, the lands reclaimed are eagerly
aiken up and the prospect that the policy
Il National irrigation will accomplish all
hat expected of II is bright. The act
hould be extended to include the State of
Texas
The forest policy Of the Administration ap.
,ears to enjoy the unbroken support of the
'eople. The great users OF timber are them
elves forwarding the movement for forest
reservation. All organized opposition to the
crest reserves in the West has disappeared
ince the consolidation of all Government for.
st work in the National Forest Service there
as been rapid and notable gain in the use
ulness OF the forest reserves to the people {
nd in public appreciation OF their value. The
National parks within or adjacent to forest
eserves should be transferred to the charge /
( the Forest Service also.
Merchant Marine.
To the spread OF trade in peace and
he defense of our nag in war a great and pros
erous merchant marine is Indispensable We
houd have ships OF our own and seamen of !
ur own to convey our goods to neutral mar t
cts. and in of need TO reinforce our i
attic line. 1t not but be a source of re- i
ret and uneasness TO that the lines OF f
with sister republics Of /
outh America should be chiefly under for d
ign control. 1t is not good thing that | :
merican merchants and manufacturers should $
ave to send their goods and letters to South {
merica via Europe II they wish security and :
spatCh. Even the Pacific, where our >
lips have held their own better than on the :
tlantic. merchant flag Ia threatened 7
trough the liberal aid bestowed by other 7
)vernments on their own steam lines. l ask =
our earnest consideration Of the report with -
hich the Merchant Marine Commission has .
allowed its long and careful inquiry. r
Pensions o
1t is a matter OF ,unmixed satisfaction once $
ore to call attention to the excellent work of n
lie Pension Bureau; for the veterans of the &
vil War have greater claim upon than W
ly other class OF our citizens. To them. 81
rst of all among our people, honor is due. u
Seven years ago my lamented predecessor, {,
resident Mckinler, stated that the time had q
me for the Nation to care FOR the graves t,
the Confederate dead. l recommend that :,
e Congress take action toward this end. The la
st need is to take charge OF the graves Of ~
e Confederate dead who died in Northern I,
isons. -
immigration. u
The question of immigration is OF vital in u
rest to this country. In the year ending IL
me 80, 1905. there came to the United states I'll
lZopo alien immigrants. In other words
the single year that has just elapsed there
me to this country a greater number OF HI
ople than came here during the 1863 years OF al
Colonial life which interviewed between the II
ST landing at jamestown and the Decara- ri
report OF the Commissioner General Of In
migration that while rJ.ch OF this enormous M
migration is undoubtedly healthy and natur- NJ
considerable proportion is undesirable m
nm one reason another; moreover a con ue
lerable proportion Of it, probably very "a
se proportion. including most Of the uudc- hr