The Mena weekly star., 1906-12-20

SdgeS rom tue pIeSluShs "SAN " ceived by congress Monday and their reading took practically all the tune of the senate The reading was de- layed in the house by the fact that it was suspension day. The mes sages were in relation to the public land laws and the navy personnel bill and a recounting of the presi- dents visit to inspect the Panama canal The latter message attracted great interest because it was elab- orately illustrated showing the work on the great waterway in it's various stages. It was in the form of very entertaining story of the presidents visit. As it was read the senators followed 1t closely from handsomely bound copies which had been laid upon their desks.
 Regarding public land laws, the president urges the repeal of the tim Der and stone act, demands the radi- cal amendment of the desert land act; urges the repeal of the commu- tation clause of the homestead act, all of which he declares now serve to turn great tracts of land over to spectators and corporations.
 To prevent the fraudulent acquisi- ton of the public lands the president says he has directed the secretary of the interior to allow no patent to be issued to public lands under any law until. by an examination on the ground, actual compliance with the law has been found to exist For this purpose an increase of spe- cial agents in the general land Of flee is urgently required.
 The president believes that there should be provision for leasing coal, oil and gas rights under proper re- strictions.
 He urges the revision and re-en- actment of the existing laws affect ing rights of way and privileges on public lands and reservation in one comprehensive act, providing that the regulations now in force in many cases may be extended to all.-
 Legislation is recommended in line with the proposal to allow railroads Der within forest reserves by ex- change after deeding their lands to the government.
 The president recommends that the 1f ha ho ized to advance to the forest service upon the security of the standing tim her, an amount, say s5,000,000, suf- i ficient to provide a reasonable work to bear interest and to be repaid in annual installments beginning in ten years.
 Transfer of the national parks from interior to the secretary of agricul- ture is recommended.
 The power to create national for ests by proclamation should be ex- tended to Indian lands, the Indians to be paid the full value of land thus taken.
 The president recommends legisla- ton which will provide for govern ment control of the public range through the department of agricul- ture, to insure to each locality rules for grazing specially adapted to its 1 needs and to authorize the collec- tion of reasonable grazing fee. He says he will see to it that Illegal 1 fences are removed unless congress | takes step to legalize proper fenc- ing by government control of the range.
 Personnel of the Navy.
 In his message regarding the per sonnel of the navy, the president earnestly recommends early consider ation of the bin saying that should it be enacted into law 1t will cause or ticers on the sea-going list to roacn the grade of captain at 48 and rear admirals at 55 and will assure their serving seven years in the grade of captain and seven years in the grade of rear admiral, thus enabling them to become thoroughly skillful and efficient in these grades. The bill also establishes the grade of vice admiral. On occasions of official i'm portance, of international council, or of combined naval action, the inter. ests of this great nation demand that our naval representatives shall rank as the equal of the naval representa- tives of other powers.
 The president says that if the pro. posed plan of promotion Is carried out it, will, as compared with exist ing law, make a saving of more than $5,00O,000 during the next seven years.
 The principal part of this saving is made by stopping the voluntary re. tirement of young lieutenant com manders with the rank and pay of commanders on the retired list.
 The president is firmly of the opinion that unless the present COT. dition of the higher commissioned personnel is rectified by judicious legislation, the future of our navy will be grayely compromised
 Augustus Hartje Appeals.
 Fittsburg, Pa, Dec. l6.-Aueustus har0e' hbeliant in the divorce case which was dacidaa aus. ,