Weekly Arizona journal-miner., 1905-12-13


 whole body polite. Yet in dwelling on such misdeeds, it is unjust not to add that they are altogether exeep- tional, and that on the whole the em- plOyes of the government render up- right and faithful service to the peo- pie.
 Public Land Laws.
 Once again I call your attention to the condition of the public land laws. 4.ecent developments have given new urgency to the need for such changes as will fit these laws to actual present conditions. The honest disposal and right use of the remaining public lands is of fundamental importance The in- iquitous methods by which the mono pOlizing of the public lands is being brought about under the present laws are becoming more generally known, but the existing laws do not furnish effective remedies.
 The creation of small irrigated farms under the Reclamation Act is a pow erful offset to the tendency of certain other laws to foster or permit mono poly of the land. Under that act the construction of great irrigation works has been proceeding rapidly and sue eessfully, the lands reclaimed are eag- erly taken up, and the prospect that the policy of national irrigation will &C., cOmplish all that was expected of it is bright. The act should be extended to include the s tate of Texas.
 The Reclamation act derives much of it's value from the fact that it tends to secure the greatest possible number of homes on the land, and to create com munities of freeholders, in part by settlement on public land, in part by forcing the subdivision of large pri- vate holdings before they can get wa ter from government irrigation works. The law requires that no right to the use of water for land in private own nership shall be sold for a tract ex- eeeding 16O acres to any one land owner. This provision has excited &C., tive and powerful hostility, but the success of the law itself depends on the wise and firm enforcement of it. We cannot afford to substitute tenants for freeholders on the public domain.
 The forest policy of the administra- tion appears to enjoy the unbroken SUD- port of the people. The great users of timber are themselves forwarding the movement for forest preservation. All organized opposition to the forest re- serves in the west has disappeared. Since the consolidation of all govern ment forest work in the national forest service there has been a rapid and not able gain in the usefulness of the for est reserves to the people and in public appreciation of their value. The na- tional parks within or adjacent to forest reserves should be transferred to the charge of the forest service also.
 Merchant Marine.
 To the spread of our trade in peace and the defense of our flag in war a great and prosperous merchant marine is indispensable. We should have ships of our own and seamen of our own to convey our goods to neutral markets, and in case of need to re- enforce our battle line. It cannot but be a source of regret and uneasiness to us that the lines of communication with our sister republic of South Amer ieo should be chiefly under foreign control. It is not a good thing that American merchants and manufaetur- CTS should have to send their goods and letters to South America via Europe if they wish security and dispatch. Ev- en on the Pacific, where our ships have held their own better than on the At lantie, our merchant flag is now threatened through the liberal aid be- slowed by other governments on their own steam lines. l ask your earnest of the report with which the Merchant Marine commission has followed its long and careful inquiry.
 Pensions.
 It is a matter of unmixed satisfaction once more to call attention to the ex- cellent work of the Pension Bureau; for the veterans of the civil war have a greater claim upon us than any other class of our citizens. To them, first of all among our people, honor is due.
 Seven years ago my lamented pre- deeessor, President Mckinley, stated that the time had come for the nation to care for the graves of the Confeder- ate dead. I recommend that the con- yress take action toward this end. The first need is to take charge of the graves of the Confederate dead who lied in northern prisons.
 Immigration.
 The question ot immigration is of vital interest to this country. In the year ending June 30, 1905, there anne to the United States 1,026,000 llien immigrants. In other words, in he single year that has just elapsed here came to this country a greater lumber of people than came here dur ng the 169 years of our colonial life which intervened between the first anding at Jamestown and the Deelara- ion of Independence. It is clearly hown in the report of the Commission r-General of Immigration that while lueh of this enormous immigration 5 undoubtedly healthy and natural, portion is undesirable rom one reason or another; moreover, considerable proportion of it, pro- ably very large proportion. inelud- ng most of the undesirable class, does Ot come here of its own initiative, but eeause of the activity of the agents the great transportation companies. As l said in my last message to con ress, we cannot have too much i'm