Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1905-12-07
PRESIDENTS ANNUAL MESSAGE
TO CONGRESS.
Continued from page one.)

by setr1ernerz on Pubic Ianu, IN parl
by forcing the subdivision Of large
private holdings before they can get
water from government irrigation
works. The law requires that no right
to the use of water for land In private
ownership shall be sold for a tract
exceeding 100 acres to any one land
owner. This provision has excited ac-
tive and powerful hostility, but the
success Of the law itself depends on
the wise and firm enforcement sof 1t.
We cannot afford to substitute tenants
for frceholders on the public domain.
The greater part of the remaining
public lands cannot be irrigated. They
are at present and will probably al
ways be Of greater value for grazing
than for any other purpose. This fact
has led to the grazing homestead Of
$40 acres In Nebraska and to the pro-
posed extension Of 1t to other states.
1t Is argued that a family cannot be
supported on 100 acres of arid grazing
land. This is obviously true but
neither can family be supported on
$40 acres Of much of the land to which
It Is proposed to apply the grazing
homestead To establish universally
any such arbitrary limit would be I'M
probably result on the one hand In
charging the holdings Of some OF the
great land owners, and on the other
in needless suffering and failure on
the part of very considerable pro-
portion of the bona fde settlers who
give faith to the implied assurance OF
the government that such an area Is
sufficient. The best use of the public
grazing lands requires the careful ex. !
animation and classification of these |
lands in order to give each settler |
land enough to support his family and |
no more. While this work Is being |
done, and until the lands are settled. |
the government should take control of |
the open range, under reasonable reg |
ulatlons suited to local needs. follow |
ing the general policy already In sue
cessful operation on the forest re- |
serves. 1t Is probable that the present |
grazing value of the open public range |
is scarcely more than half what 1t |
once was or what 1t might easily be
again under careful regulation,
The immigration Question.
Several recommendations looking TO
changes In the present immigration laws
are made, and he suggests that United
States government agents pass upon immi-
grants before they leave their native shores
for this country. He also recommends such
changes In the laws as would not work
hardship on the educated Chinese coming
into or visiting this country but without
letting down the bars to the Chinese coolie
labor, and In this connection he says:
But in the effort to carry out the policy
Of excluding Chinese laborers, Chinese
coolies, grave injustice and wrong have
been done by this nation to the people OF
~ MI Al. al |
ton itself Chinese students. business and
professional men Of all klnds-not only
merchants, but bankers. doctors. manufac-
turers, professors, travellers and the like
should be encouraged to come here and
treated on precisely the same footing thai
we treat students. business men, travellers
and the like OF other nations. Our laws
and treaties should be framed, not so as TO
put these people In the excepted classes,
but 10 state that we will admit all Chinese.
except Chinese u the eoolie class Chinese
skilled or unskiiled aborers There would
not be the least danger that any such pro
vision would result in any relaxation Of the
law about laborers. These will, under all
conditions, be kept out absolutely. But 1t
will be more easy to see that both Justice
and courtesy are shown as they ought to
be shown, TO other Chinese, II the law or
treaty Is framed as above suggested. Ex-
aminations should be completed at the port
Of departure from China. For this purpose
there should be provided a more adequate
consular service In China than we now
have. The appropriations, both for the
Offices Of the consuls and for the ONCE
forces In the consulates, should be In
creased.
1nsular Possessions
He treats at considerable length OF condi-
l. Al
that the coastwise laws Of the United
States as applied to the archipelago be sus-
pended until July l. 1909 He recommends
the immediate fertilization Of Hawaii In
order to conserve the interests Of this coun-
try In the Pacific. He also advocates the
adoption Of legislation that will explicitly
confer American citizenship on the people
Of Porto Rico and on the general subject
Of insuIar affairs says:
wish also 10 call the attention Of the
congress 10 one question which Affects our
insular possessions generally: namely. the
need Of an increased liberality In the treat
ment Of the whole franchise question In
these islands. In the proper desire to pre-
vent the islands being exploited BY specula-
tors and to have them develop In the inter
sS si e Il IhARS3 ResSPA AZ ssEES S es sS
eral terms 10 induce the investment Of
American capital IN the Philippines and in
Porto Rico. Elsewhere In TITS message l
have spoken strongly against the jealousy
Of mere wealth. and especially Of cor
porate wealth az such. But Il ls partionlar-
~ regrettable 10 allow any such JEALOUSY
10 be developed when We are dealing either
with our insular Or with foreign anaira.
The big corporation has achieved its pres
ent position IN the business world simply
because Il IL the'most efeetlve instrument
n business competition. In foreign anaira
We cannot Afford 10 put cur people 81 Dis
nfvantare with their eompetitora ~ In any
way Discriminating against the efficiency
% sur hl1uanaa. eaEantlatinnM- IN tha sane