Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1905-12-14
Amy and Navy.

Army and Navy.
| do not believe there is any army in
the world that has q better average than
ours but previous should be
made for maneuvers. The number Of
posts in time of peace should be dimin-
iShed. Promotion by mere seniority can
never result in a thoroughly efficient
corps. There should be an increase In
the coast artillery force and increase and
reorganization in the medical department..
Our navy must always be of greater
size than our army. 1t does not seem TO
me that the navy should be increased
beyond the present number of units, but
efficient should be substituted for In
efficient units.
Probably the result would be obtained
by adding single battleship each year.
Naturalization Laws.
No alien is to be naturalized until at
least ninety days after filing his petition.
Criminal Laws.
The delays of the criminal law, no less
than of the civil. now amount to a very
great evil. Legislation should be enacted
to cover breach of trust in the shape OF
prematurely divulging secrets by an en-
ploye or officer of the United States. A
statute should be provided for punish
ment of a United States attorney or 9TH
er officer who corruptly agrees to do
wrong, other than for money.
Public Land.
The ubiquitous method of monopolizing
public lands are becoming more generally
known, but existing laws do not furnish
effective remedies. We cannot afford to
substitute tenants for freeholders on pub
lie domain. All organized opposition to
the forest reserves of the west has dis
appeared.
Merchant Marine.
It cannot but be q source of regret and
uneasiness to us that the lines of COM
South America should be chiefly under
foreign control through the lib
eral aid bestowed by other governments
on their own steam lines.
Pensions.
That Congress take action toward care
for the graves of Confederate dead The
first need is to take charge of the graves
of Confederate dead who died in the
northern prisons.
immigration.
We should have none of the wrong
sort. We need more immigration for the
south. No emigrants should be allowed
to come from Canada and Mexico, save
natives of the two countries themselves
Keep immigrants away from the con-
gested tenement house districts of the
great cities.
In the effort to carry out the policy Of
excluding Chinese laborers grave wrong
has been done to the people of China.
Chinese students. business and profes-
sional men should be encouraged to
come. We cannot expect to receive
equity from China) unless we do equity.
Civil Service.
Written competitive examinations do
not make the ideal method, but they rep
resent an immeasureably advance upon
the "sDoils" system.
Copyright Laws.
Our copyright laws urgently need re-
Adulteration of Foods.
Interstate traffic in foodstuffs which
have been debased or adulterated so a.
to injure health or deceive purchaser1
should be forbidden.
National Parks.
be made into a national park. Nothing
should be allowed to interfere with the
preservation of Niagara Falls, The
boundaries Of Yellowstone park should
be extended to include forest preserves
on the south.
Lifesaving Service
Give members Of the service pensions
such as are given to firemen and police
men in all our great cities.
Indians.
Some amendment Of the internal rev
enue laws to prosecute "bootleggefs. -
The acts Of Congress prohibiting the sale
| or gift to In <the Indian) of intoxicants
has substantially become imperative.
The Philippines.
| If there has been error as regards aiy-
| ing self-government to the Philippine Il
| has been it too quickly. I earnestly red
ommend that the tariff now imposed
upon the products Of the Philippines be
entirely removed except on sugar and W-
bacco, that these be reduced Is per cent,
primitive are the methods in the islands
| that it will be many years before the
products Of these islands will have any
| effect whatever upon the markets of the
United States The only solution (of
| labor on the islands, is the training Of
the Filipino.
Hawaii.
| Immediate steps should be taken to
| fortify the island. Hawaii is too heavily
taxed. Seventy-fve per cent. Of the rev
enue receipts should be set aside for, say
| twenty years, for education and improve
ments. Hawaii shall never be territory
| in which a governing class of rich plant
ers exists by means of coolie labor.
Porto Rico.
LEGISLATION which will explicitly confer
American citizenship on all citizens of
Porto Rico.
Insular Affairs in General.
We have been paying all heed to the
political and educational interests Of
these islands, but it is not less important
| that we should favor their industrial
development.
Alaska
Alaska be given an elective delegate
Admission to Statehood.
Indian territory and Oklahoma be ad-
mitted as one state and that New Mex
leo and Arizona be admitted as one
state.
Panama Canal.
What is needed without delay is an
appropriat ton by Congress to meet the
current and accruing expenses of the
commission.
Neither at homo or abroad is there
sufficient working force to do the bust
ness properly. The salary list should be
adjusted.
Game Butchers.
Earl De Grey, the heir to the Marquis
of Ripon, has probably accounted for
more game than any other living sports