Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1905-01-06
THE FORESTRY WORK
WHY THE PRESIDENTS RECON-
MENDATION is IGNORED.

MENDATION is IGNORED.
The Speaker Has Friends Who Must Be Kept
Warm-fiow His Suggestion to Secure an Ae-
curatsd Weighing of Mail Have Been Thwart-
ed-The Size of War Ships Adapted to the
Capacity Of Favored Though Small Ship
Yards-New Yorks Trust Ridden Senatorial
Representation.
From our regular correspondent
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Dec. 90.
:" AS have repeatedly recommend
ed, all the forest work of the Govern.
ment should be concentrated in the
Department of Agriculture" declared
the Presiden. in his last MT ssage to
Congress and in support of the propo.
sitiou he cited cogent reasons for the
concentration OF this work in a single
Department. In conclusion he adds,
every administrative officer con-
cerned is convinced of the necessity OF
WIG pioPosSu SoiiooiiuntioH vi IOEtSt
work in the Department of Agricult-
ure, and myself have urged i. more
than once in former messages. Again
l commend it to the early and favor
able consideration Of the Congress.
The interests OF the nation at large
and of the west in particular have
suffered greatly because of the delay"
Behind this straightforward recon-
mendation there lies story which is
typical OF Republican partisan legisla.
ton. The President has, over and
over again, pointed out the advantages
that would accrue from consolidating
the forest work of the Government
and Congress has never needed his
urging. The reason why it has not is
known but to a few. 1t is that Speak
er Cannon, the all powerful dictator
of legislation in the House, has deter
minedly opposed this step, has opposed
it because he feared that the move
ment, although making for better and
more economical administration, would
displace nine of his political hench-
men who now enjoy "jobs" as forest
rangers. OF course there are other
members of Congress whose satellites
enjoy similar preferment but their op.
position would amount to naught if
they were not supported by the omnip-
otent Speaker. There are indications,
that the President has dis
covered the reason for Congress fail.
ure to act, for he has now placed all
forest employees under the protection
of the civil service regulations, and it
to be seen what card Uncle
Joe" Cannon will play next.
The Speaker has been very active OF
late in circulating reports regarding
the necessity of extreme economy in
this sessions appropriations. The
several forms OF remedial legislation !
which the President has pointed out
as essential to the welfare of the ma.
ton would call for no increased appro-
pristions, and session in which it is
desired to cnrtail legislation carrying
would prove ideal for
the consideration of such measures, but |
the Republicans at heart care for no
legislation which will only further the
welfare OF the people and it is a safe
prediction that in no single instance
will Congress undertake to enact such |
legislation as has been recommended
by President Roosevelt, nor even to
lower by trifle the Dingley tariff
schedules.
A simple and highly important step |
by the President in pre-
vious messages, although not referred
to in his last, one that would contrib
ute materially to the economical adj
OF the nations affairs, is
the enactment of a law providing a
modern and efficient method Of arriv.
ing at the weight Of the mails carried
by the various railroads. That the
present law is totally Inadequate was
pointed out by the Auditor for the
Postoffice, Henry A. Castle. who
a year ago, how the Govern
ment might be. and probably WAS.
out OF thousands of dollars
by the present antiquated
system. OF course there is no likeli-
hood that auch legislgtion will be
despite the Presidents recon-
and Mr.. Cannon's deter
mination to promote economy. The
reason why is plain. Tho railroads
prefer the present system and Repre-.
Overstreet of Indiana, now
Chairman OF the House Committee on
Postoffices and Post Roads, will permit
no bill TO be reported from that CON-
mittee which will effect an improve.
ment over the present method. Equal.
ly. Of course, it is highly improper to
those little secrets of the
House above whisper, despite the
|act that they are true. Ii Mr.. Over.
street, whose testimony before the
Mccall committee of last session varied
20 startlingly from the facts, when
asked why no method of paying the
railroads was provided he would bland.
~ explain that his committee had no
lime to 60 into the subject.
Much as opinions may vary regard.
ing the advisability of further increases
in the United States navy, probably
lew people appreciate the true reason
Why the recommendation of expert
naval officers are rejected when new
vessels are authorized and plans for
Dattleships which the naval experts
regard IS of proper size are rejected
and those for smaller ships authorized.
At the head Of the Senate Committee
On Naval Affairs sits the most deter
mined and, in some instances the most
potent OF Senators. He is Mr.. Eugene
Hale of Maine. Unfortunately for the
navy there are two ship yards in Maine
and, still more unfortunately. they
cannot build large battleships. There.
lore, each Congress must always pro.
vide for few small ships for the con.
struction of which these small ship.
yards can compete, in SO far as there
is any competition among the builders
Of battleships, despite the recommend.
atoms of the naval experts and their
insistence that there is no room for
the small battleship in modern war
fare.
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