Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-05
rnmsns % prosec. Ii. slk on their winter

srnment % protect the elk on their winter
range.
Tho most chara ctsristic animal of the
Western plains Was tho great shasgy-man
wild OK, the bison. commonly known a.
bunalo. Small fragments Of herds exist in
domesticated state here and there. a few
herd as that on the Flathead reservation
should not be allowed to go out of exist
ence. Either on some reservation or on
some forest reserve like the Wichita re-
made for the preservation OF such herd.
believe that the scheme would be OF eco
nomio advantage. for the robe Of the buffalo
u OF high market value. and the same Is
true OF the robe OF the cross-bred animals.
Life-saving Service.
call your especial attention to the de-
STABILITY Of giving to the members of the
life-saving service pensions such as are
given to fremen and policemen in all our
great cities. The men In the life-saving
service continually and In the most matter
of-fact way do deeds such as make Ameri-
cans proud of their country They have no
mote places that the really heroic services
they continually render receive the scantiest
recognition from the public. 1t is unjust
for q great nation like this to permit these
men to become totally disabled or to meet
death In the performance of their hazard
our duty and yet to give them no sort OF
reward. II one of them serves thirty years
OF his life In such q position he should sure
ly be entitled to retire on half pay. as a
fireman or policeman does, and If he be-
comes totally fncapacitated through acci-
dent or sickness or loses his health in the
discharge of his duty he or his family
should receive a pension Just as any soldier
should l call your attention with especial
earnestness to this matter because it ap-
peals not only to our Judgment, but to our
sympathy, for the people on whose behalf
ask 1t are comparatively few in number,
render lncalculable service of a particularly
dangerous kind and have no one to speak
for them.
Indians.
During the year just past the phase OF
the Indian question which has been most
Sharply brought to public attention is the
larger legal significance of the Indians in
auction into citizenship. This has made it,
seir manifest not only in a great access OF
iitlgauon In which the citizen Indian fig
ufes as party defendant and In q more
widespread disposition to levy local taxa
ton upon his personality. but in a decision
OF the United States Supreme Court which
Struck away the main prop on which has
nitherto rested the governments benevolent
erort to protect him against the evils OF
intemperance. The court holds, in effect.
that when an Indian becomes by virtue Of
Oil 1ioeiHeHt oL ldnO 10 MIN, a citizen OF
the state in which his land is situated, he
passes from under federal control in such
matters as this, and the acts of Congress
prohibiting the sale or gift to him of tntoxi-
Giants become substantially imperative. 1t
Is gratifying to note that the states and
municipalities of the west which have most
at stake in the welfare of the Indians are
taking up this subject and are trying to
supply. In measure at least, the abdication
OF Its trusteeship forced upon the federal
government. Nevertheless, I would urgent
ly press upon the attention of the Congress
the question whether some amendment OF
me internal revenue laws might not be of
aid in prosecuting those malefactors known
IN the Indian country as "bootieggers" who
are engaged at once in defraudng the
United States Treasury Of taxes and what
is far more important, in debauching the
Indians by carrying liquors illicitly into ter
ritory still completely under federal juris-
dicton.
Among the crying prese 1T needs of the
inolahs are more day schools situated in
the midst Of their settlements more effect
i've instruction in the industries pursued on
thelr own farms and a more liberal extern
sion of the field-matron service. which
means the education of the Indian women
In the arts of home making. Until the moth
ers are well started in the right direction
we cannot reasonably expect much from
the children who are soon to form an inte-
graz part OF our American citizenship
moreover, the excuse continually advanced
by male adult Indians for refusing offers
OF femunerative employment at distance
from their homes is that they dare not
leaVe their families too long out of their
sight. One effectual remedy for this state
OF things Is to employ the minds and
strengthen the moral fiber of the Indian
women, the end to which the work of the
neid matron Is especially directed. L trust
that the Congress will make its appropria-
tlons for Indian day schools and field ma
irons as generous as may consist with the
other pressing demands upon its providence
The Philippines.
During the last year the PhiIippine
Islands have been slowly recovering from
the series Of disasters which, since Ameri-
can occupation, have greatly reduced the
amount of agricultural products below
what was produced in Spanish times. The
war. the rinderpest, the locusts. the
drought and the cholera have been united
as causes TO prevent return of the pros-
perity much needed in the islands. The
most serious Is the destruction bv tho rim,
derpest of more than 10 Der cent of tho
draft cattle. because 1t will take several
years OF breeding to restore the necessary
number of these Indispensable aids tn apri-
culture. The commission attempted to sum-
ply by purchase from adjoining coun+rias
the needed cattle, but the experiments n,aS
We're unsuccessful. Most of the catTIa I'M
ported were unable to withstand the change
y! ciiIhdte ana the rlgorS of the VOYAGE and
died from other diseases than rindeTDest
The income Of the Philippine government
mas necessarily been reduced by reason of
the business and agricultural depression in
the ISLANDS, and the government has been
oplged to exercise great economy to cut
down It's expenses, to reduce salaries. and
In every way to avoid deficit IT has
adopted an internal revenue law imposinp
taxes on cigars. cigarettes and DISTILLED
liquors, and abolishing the old Snanish in
dustrial taxes. The law has not operated
as smoothly as was hoped, and although its
principle Is undoubtedly correct. II NAV
need amendments for the purpose of re-
concilinS the people TO its provisions The
income derived from 1t has partly made m
for the reduction in customs revenue.
There has been marked increase in the
number of Filipinos employed in the civil
service, and a corresponding decrease in
the number of Americans. The government
In every one of its departments has been
rendered more efficient by elimination of
undesirable material and the promotion of
deserving public servants.
improvements Of harbors roads and
bridges continue. although the cutting down
Of the revenue forbids the expenditure of
any great amount from current income for
these purposes. Steps are being taken. by
advertisement for competitive bids, to Sc
cure the construction and maintenance of
LOCO miles of railway by private corpora
lions under the recent enabling legislation