Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-12-05

punish the wrongdoer. So far as in my power lies each and every such wrongdoer shall be relentlessly hunted down. Tn no instance in the past has he been spared; in no instance in the future shall he be spared. His crime is crime against every honest man in the nation, for it is a crime against the whole body polite Yet in dwelling on such misdeeds it is unjust not to add that they are altogether exceptional and that oR the whole the employees of the government render upright and faithful service to the people. There are exceptions, notably in one or two branches of the service, but at no time in the nations history has the public service of the nation taken as whole stood on higher plane than now. alike as regards honesty and as regards effi- ciency.
 Public Land Laws.
 Once again I call your attention to the condition of the public land laws. Recent 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 monop- olizing 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 recommenda- tions of the public lands commission upon this subject are wise and should be given effect.
 The creation of small irrigated farms under the reclamation act is a power ful offset to the tendency of certain other laws to foster or permit monop- oly of the land Under that act the construction of great irrigation works has been proceeding rapidly and sue cessfully, the lands reclaimed are eagerly taken up, and the prospect that the policy of national irrigation will accomplish all that was expected of it is bright. The act should be extended to include the state 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 set clement on public land, in part by fore ing the subdivision of large private holdings before they can get water from government irrigation works. The law requires that no right to the use of water for land in private ownership shall be sold for tract exceeding 160 acres to any one landowner. This pro- vision has excited active and powerful hostility, but the success of the law it. self depends on the wise and firm en- forcement of it. We cannot afford to substitute tenants for freeholders on the public domain.
 The greater part of the remaining public lands cannot be irrigated. They are at present and will probably al- ways 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 pro- posed extension of it to other states. It is argued that family cannot be supported on 160 acres of arid grazing land. This is obviously true, but nei- ther can a family be supported on $40 acres of much of the land to which it is proposed to apply the grazing home stead. To establish universally any such arbitrary limit would be unwise at the present time. It would proba- ply result on the one hand in enlarging the holdings of some of the great land owners and on the other in needless suffering and failure on the part of a very considerable proportion of the bona fde settlers who give faith to the implied assurance of the government that such an area is sufficient. The best use of the public grazing lands requires the careful examination and of these lands in order to give each settler land enough to sup port 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 reasonable regulations suited 10 local needs. following the general policy al- ready in successful operation on the forest reserves. IL is probable that the present grazing value of the open pub lie range is scarcely more than half what it once was or what it might cas- fly be again under careful regulation.
 The forest policy of the adminiStra- ton appears to enjoy the unbroken support of the people The great users Of timber are themselves forwarding the movement for forest preservation. All organized opposition tO the forest reserves in the west has disappeared. Since the consolidation of all govern ment forest work in the national forest service there has been rapid and not able gain in the usefulness of the for est reserves 10 the people and in public appreciation of their value. The na- tional parks within or adjacent to for est reserves should he transferred to the charge of the forest service also.
 Hississippi Lsvess.
 The national government already does something iH conusetion with the construction and maintenance of the great system Of Invees along the lower course Of the Mississippi In my judg- menf. it should do much more.
 Merchant Marine
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