Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-12-03
PARCELS POSTS.
Extension of This Service Advisable,
Especially In Rural Delivery.


Especially In Rural Delivery.
l further commend to the congress
the consideration Of the postmaster
generals recommendation for an eX- !,
tension of the parcel post, especially |
on the rural routes. There are now
3S,215 rural routes, serving nearly 49,
100000 people who do not have the |
advantages of the inhabitants of cities |
in obtaining their supplies. These rec.
concentrations have been drawn up to |
benefit the farmer and the country |
storekeeper. Otherwise l should not
favor them, for / believe that it is |
good policy for our government to dc
everything possible to aid the small
town and the country district 1t is |
desirable that the country merchant
should not be crushed out.
The fourth class postmasters' con-
vention has passed a very strong reso-
luton in favor of placing the fourth
class postmasters under the civil serv-
ice law. The administration has al
ready put into effect the policy of re-
fusing to remove any fourth class post
masters save for reasons connected
with the good of the service, and it is
endeavoring so far as possible to re-
move them from the domain of parti-
san politics. 1t would be n most de-
sirable thing to put the fourth class
pOStmaSterS in the classified service.
1t Is possible that this might be done
without congressional action; but, as
the matter is debatable, l earnestly
recommend that the congress enact a
law providing that they be included
under the civil service law and put in
the classified service.
Oklahoma.
Oklahoma has become a state, stand
ing on q full equality with her elder
sisters, and her future is assured by
her great natural resources. The duty
of the national government to guard
the personal and property rights of the
Indians within her borders remains of
| course unchanged.
Alaska.
l reiterate my recommendations of
| last year as regards Alaska. Some
| form of local self government should
|
| as possible. 1t is impossible for the
congress to devote the necessary time
| to all the little details of necessary
| Alaskan legislation. Road building and
railway building should be encouraged.
| The governor of Alaska should be Civ
en- an ample appropriation wherewith
| to organize force to preserve the
public peace. Whisky selling to the
natives should be made a felony. The
coal land laws should be changed so
as to meet the peculiar needs of the
| territory. This should be attended to
at once, for the present laws permit in
( dividuals to locate large areas of the
| public domain for speculative pur-
poses and cause an immense amount
of trouble, fraud and litigation. There
should be another judicial division es-
tablished. AS early as possible light
houses and buoys should be establish
ed as aids to navigation, especially In
and about Prince William sound, and
the survey of the coast completed.
There is need of liberal appropriations
for lighting and buoying the southern
coast and improving the aids to navi-
cation in southeastern Alaska. One of
the great industries of Alaska, as of
Puget sound and the Columbia. is
salmon fishing. Gradually. by reason
of lack of proper laws, this industry
is being ruined. 1t should now be TAX
en- in charge and effectively protected
by the United States government.
The courage and enterprise of the
| .{f Of hn 70 in "
projected Alaska Yukon-Pacific exposi.
ton to be held In 1909 should receive
liberal encouragement. This exposi
ton is not sentimental in its concep
ton, but seeks to exploit the natural
resources of Alaska and to promote the
commerce, trade and industry of the
Pacific states with their neighborinl
states and with our insular possessions
and the neighboring countries of the
Pacific. The exposition asks no LOAF
from the congress, but seeks appropria
tions for national exhibits and exhibits
of the western dependencies of tn,
general government. The state OF
Washington and the city of Seattle
have shown the characteristic western
enterprise in large donations for tn,
conduct of the exposition. in which
other states are lending generous as
sistance.
Hawaii.
The unfortunate failure of the ship
ping bill at the last session of the las
congress was followed by the takin;
off of certain Pacific steamships. which
has greatly hampered the movement o
passengers between Hawaii and tn
mainland. Unless the congress Is pre-
l pared by positive encouragement, 4
secure proper facilities in the way o
shipping between Hawaii and th
/. mainland then the coastwise shippin
: laws should be SO far relaxed as t
y prevent Hawaii suffering as it is nov
Y suffering. l again call your attention
= to the capital importance from ever.
e standpoint Of making Pearl harbo
II available for the largest deep waite
: vessels and of suitably terrifying tn
e island.