The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1907-12-03

PIE VI 1orlO 1SlcO.
Mining.
A bureau Of mines should be created
under the control and direction Of the
secretary of the interior. the bureau to
have power to collect statistics and
make Investigations in all matters per-
tanning to mining. and particularly to
the accidents and dangers of the IN
dustry. If this cannot now be done at
least additional appropriations should
be given the interior department to be
used for the study of mining condi-
tons, for the prevention of fraudulent
mining schemes, for carrying on the
work of mapping the mining districts,
for studying methods Of minimizing
the accidents and dangers in the in
dustry-in short. to aid in all proper
ways the development of the mining
industry.
The Hermitage.
. l strongly recommend to the con-
gress to provide funds for keeping up
The Hermitage, the home of Andrew
Jackson, these funds to be used
through the existing Hermitage ASSOC
citation for the preservation of his
toric building which should ever be
dear to Americans.
Vicksbure National Park.
l further recommend that a naval
monument be established in the Vicks-
burg Natio,Nll park. This national
park gives a unique opportunity for
commemorative the deeds Of those gal
liant men who fought on water no less
than of those who fought on land in
the great civil war.
The Thirteenth Census.
Legislation should be enacted at the
present session of the congress for the
thirteenth census. The esta blishment
of the permanent census bureau at
fords the opportunity for a better cen
Sus than we have ever had, but in Or
der to realize the full advantage of the
permanent organization ample time
must be given for preparation.
The Public Health.
There is a constantly growing inter
est in this country in the question Of
the public health. At last the public
mind is awake to the fact that many
diseases, notably tuberculosis, are ma
tiOnal scourges. The work Of the state
and city boards Of health should be
supplemented by constantly increas-
ing interest on the part Of the national
government. The congress has already
provided bureau Of public health and
has provided for a hygienic laboratory.
There are other valuable laws relating
to the public health connected with the
various departments. This whole
branch Of the government should be
strengthened and aided in every way.
Governmental Commissions.
I call attention to two government
commissions which 1 have appointed
and which have already done excellent
work. The first Of these has to do
with the organization Of the scientific
work Of the government, which has
grown up wholly without plan and is
in consequence so unwisey distributed
among the executive departments that
much of it's effect is lost for the lack
of proper coordination. This commits
sions chief object is to introduce a
planned and orderly development and
operation IL the place of the ill assert
ed and often ineffective grouping and
methods OF work which have prevail
ed. This cannot be done without leg
islation, nor would it be feasible to
deal in detail with so complex an ad-
ministrative problem by specific pro-
visions Of law. I recommend that the
president be given authority to concen
trate related lines Of work and reduce
duplication by executive order through
transfer and consolidation of lines of
work
The second committee. that on Ge-
partment methods, was instructed to i'll
vestigate aud report upon the changes
needed to place the conduct Of the ex-
ecutive force of the government on
the most economical and effective ba-
Sis In the light of the best modern
business practice. The committee has
made very satisfactory progress. An
tiquated practices and bureaucratic
ways have been abolished, and a gen.
eral renovation Of departmental meth
DDS has been inaugurated. All that
can be done by executive order has al
ready been accomplished or will be
put into effect in the near future. The
work Of the main committee and it's
several assistant committees has pro-
duced wholesome awakening on the
part of the great body of officers and
employees engaged in government
work. In nearly every department and
Office there has been a careful self in
spection for the purpose Of remedying
any defects before they could be made
the subject Of adverse criticism. This
has led individuals to a wider study
of the work on which they We're en-
gagged, and this study has resulted in
increasing their efficiency in their re-
spective lines Of work There are rec
= concentrations of special Importance
from the committee on the subject Of
personnel and the classification of sal
fries which will require legislative ac-
ton before they can be put into eff