Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-05

u - CRIME against the whole podf pputic.
Unjust nos 70 eaa e shas sssy srs sscssthsr
exceptional and that on the whole the ena-
ployss OF the government render uRrlsns
and faithful service 70 the people. There
branches Of the services but at no time
in the nations history has the public serv-
ice Of the nation taken as a whole stood
on g higher plane than now. alike as re-
CARDS honesty and as regards efficiency.
Once again call your attention to the
condition of the public land laws. Recent
developments have given new urgency 60
the need for such changes as VIII mt these
laws to actual present conditions. The hon
est disposal and right use Of the remaining
public lands Is Of fundamental importance.
The UBIQUITOUS methods by which the mo-
brought about under the present laws are
becoming more generally known put the
existing laws dc not furnish effective RENE
dies. The recommendations OF the pubic
lands commission upon this subject are
wise and should be given effect.
The creation of small irrigated farms un-
der the reclamation act is a powerful on
set to the tendency OF certain otner laws
Under that act the construction of great
irrigation works has been proceeding rap
idly and successfully, the lands reclaimed
are eagerly taken up, ana .hs , pusp yvs,i
accomplish ali that was expected OF II -
bright The act should be exteaded to IN
clude the state of Texas.
The reclamation act derives Iauch OF ies
value from the fact that 1t TENDS 10 secure
the greatest possible number Of homes on
the land, and to create communities OF
freeholders In part by settlement on pup
lie land in part by forcing the supuifision
Of large private holdings before ny . Gor
get water from government irrigation
works. The law requires that no rlSn1 TO
the use of water for land in private owner
ship shall be sold for tract exceeding loo
acres to any one land owner Ins pro-
vision has excited active and powerful nos
tility but the success of the law itself de-
ponds on the wise and firm enforcement or
it. We cannot afford to substitute tenants
for freeholders on the public domain
The greater part of the remaining puonc
lands cannot 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 homestead of $40 acres in Nebraska
and to the proposed extension OF II 10
other states. 1t is argued that family
cannot be supported on 16O acres OF ARID
era zing land. This is obviously true; but
neither can a family be supported on oio
acres Of much of the land to which II IS
proposed to apply the grazing homestead.
To establish universally any such arbitrary
limit would be unwise at the present time.
1t would probably result on the one mana
In enIargng the holdings of some OF the
great land owners, and on the other hand
in needless suffering and failure on the
part OF a very considerable proportion OF
the bona fide settlers who give faith to the
implied assurance of the government mat
such an area is sufficient. The best use or
the public grazing lands requires the care
full examination and classificati ton 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 rea-
sonable regulations suited to local needs,
following the general policy already in sue
cessful operation on the forest reserves. 1t
is probable that the present grazing value
of the open public range is scarcely more
than half of what it once was or what 1t
might easily be again under careful regu-
lation.
The forest policy of the administration
appears to enjoy the unhroken support OF
the people. The great users of timber are
themselves forwarding the movement for
forest preservation. All organized oppo--
sition to the forest reserves in the west has
disappeared. Since the consolidation of all
government forest work in the national
forest service there has been rapid and
notable gain In the usefulness of the forest
reserves to the people and in public appre-
citation of their value. The national parks
within or adjacent to forest reserves should
be transferred to the charge of the forest
service also.
The national government already does
something in connection with the construc-
ton and maintenance Of the great system
OF levees along the lower course of the
Mississippi; in my Judgment 1t should do
much more.
Merchant Marine.
To the spread of our trade in peace and
the defense of our flag in war great and
prosperous merchant marine is indispen-
sable. 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
reinforce our battle line. 1t cannot but be
a source OF regret and uneasness to us
that the lines Of communication with our
sister republics of South America should
be chiefly under foreign control 1t is not
q good thing that American merchants and
should have to send their
goods and letters to South America via Eu-
rope If they wish security and dispatch.
Even on the Pacific, where our ships have
held their own better than on the Atlantic.
our merchant flag is now threatened
the liberal aid bestowed by other
governments on their own steam lines.
ask your earnest consideration of the re-
port with which the merchant marine COM
mission has followed its long and careful
inquiry.
Jamestown Tercentennial.
I again heartily commend to your favor
able consideration the tercentennal cele-
bration of the settlement at Jamestown,
Virginia. Approaching the desirability of
this commemoration, the Congress passed
an act, March 3, 1905, authorizing in the
year 1907, on and near the waters of Hamp-
ton Roads, in the state of Virginia, an in
ternational naval, marine and military cele-
bration in honor of this event BY the au-
tnority vested in me by this act | have
made proclamation of said celebration and
have issued, in conformity with its instruc-
tons, invitations to all the nations Of the
earth TO participate, by sending their naval
vessels and such military organizations as
may be practicable. This celebration would
fail of its full purpose unless it were en-
during in it's results and commensurate
with the Importance of the event to be Gel
ebrated, the event from which our nation
dates its birth. / earnestly hope that this
celebration, already Endorsed by the Con-
gress of the United States, and by the leg
islatures of sixteen states since the action
of the Congress will receive such addf-
tdonal aid at your hands as will make 1t
celebrate, and thereby enable the govern
ment of the United States to make pro-
vision for the exhibition of it's own re-
sources, and likewise enable our people who
have undertaken the work of such a cele-
bration to provide suitable and proper en-
tertainment and instruction in the historic
events of our country for all who NAV visit
the exposition and to whom we have ten
dered our hospitality.
Pensions.
1t is matter of unmixed satisfaction