New-York tribune., 1907-12-04
sUs- The estah
he Thirteenth
Census.

The Thirteenth portunty for better census
Census. than we have ever had but
IN order TO realize the full ad-
vantage Of the permanent organization, ample
time must be given for preparation
There Is a constantly growing interest in this
country in the question OF the public health
AT last the public mind is awake TO the fact
The Public tuberculosis. are national
Health. scourges The work of the
state and city boards OF
health should be supplemented by constantly
government The Congress has already provided
a bureau OF public health and has provided for
a hygienic laboratory There other valuable
laws relating TO the public health connected with
the various departments. The whole branch OF
the government should be strengthened and
aided in every way.
1 call attention to two government commits
sjons which 1 have appointed and which have
already done excellent work The first OF these
has TO do with the organiza-
Governmental ton Of the scientific work Of
Commissions. the government, which has
grown UP wholly without
plan and is in consequence unwisely dis
tributed among the executive departments that
much of its effect is lost for the lack of proper
coordination. This commissions chief object is
10 introduce a planned and orderly development
and operation in the place OF the i'll assorted and
often Ineffective grouping and methods Of work
which have prevailed This cannot be done
without legislation would it be feasible TO
deal in detail with so complex administrative
problem by specific provisions of law. recon-
mend that the President be given authority to
concentrate related lines of work and reduce
DUPLICATION by Executive order through transfer
and consolidation of lines of work.
The second committee, that on department
methods. was instructed to investigate and re-
port upon the changes needed TO place the con-
duct of the executive force of the government
On the most economical and effective basis in
the light of the best modern business practice
The committee has made very satisfactory
progress. Anticipated practices and bureau
cratic ways have been abolished and general
renovation of departmental methods has been
inaugurated. All that can be done by Executive
D1iGf hsN
put into effect in the near future The work OF
the main committee and lis several assistant
committees has produced a wholesome awaken
ing or 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 inspection for the purpose Of
renedying any defects before they could be
made the subject OF adverse criticism This has
led individuals TO q wider study of the work
which they We're engaged and this study has re-
suited in increasing their efficiency in their re-
spsctive lines of work There are recommends
tions of special Importance from the committee
the subject OF personnel and the cIasSlIica-
OF salaries which will require legislative ac-
tion before they can be put into effect. 1t is my
intention 10 submit 10 the Congress IN the near
future a special message on those subjects.
Under our form of government voting Is not
merely a right but a duty. and. moreover, a
fundamental and necessary duty if man is 10
be a good citizen. 1t is we'll
Presidential TO provide that corporations
Campaign shall not contribute TO Presi-
EXPENSES Dental or national cam
paigns. and. Furthermore. 10
provide for the publication OF both contribu-
tions and expenditures. There Is. however. al
WAYS danger in laws of this kind, which from
their very nature difficult OF enforcement,
the danger being lest they be obeyed only by
the honest and diSobeyed by the unscrupuous,
so as TO act only as penalty upon honest men,
Moreover such law would hamper an un-
scrupulous man OF unlimited means from buy
ing his own way into office. There Is d very
radical measure which would. I believe work
q substantial Improvement in system OF
conducting a campaign, although I well
hat will IA 9tgo mo
familiarize themselves with such a proposal
as to be willing to consider its adoption. The
need for collecting large campaign funds would
vanish If Congress provided an appropriation
for the proper and legitimate expenses OF each
OF the great national parties. an appropriation
ample enough TO meet the necessity for thor
ough organization and machinery. which re-
quires large expenditure OF money. Then the
stipalation should be made that no party re-
ceiving campaign funds from the Treasury
should accept more than a fixed amount from
any individual subscriber or donor, and the nee
essary publicity for receipts and expenditures
could without difficulty be provided
There should be national gallery of art es-
tablished in the capital city of this country
This is important not merely to the artistic but
to the material welfare OF the
A National country: and the people
Gallery Of Ar. TO be congratulated the
fact that the movement to
establish such gallery is taking definite form
under the guidance Of the Smithsonian Institu-
ton. So far from there being a tariff on works
OF art brought into the country, their i'm
portation should be encouraged in every way
There have been sufficient collections OF Oh
jects Of art by the government, and what col
lections have been acquired are scattered and
generally placed in unsuitable and imper-
fectly lighted galleries.
The Biological Survey is quietly working for
the good of our agricultural interests. and is
excellent example Of government bureau ca;
The Biological entific research the findings
Survey. of which are OF much practi-
cal utility. For more than
twenty wears It has studied the food habits of
birds and mammals that are Injurious or bene-
fetal TO agriculture, horticulture and forestry;
has distributed illustrated bulletins on the sub
-iect and has labored secure legislative pro-
lection for the beneficial species The cotton
bol-weevil, which has recently overspread the
cotton belt of Texas and is steadily extending
its range. is said to cause an annual loss or
about 100000 The Biological Survey has as
certained and given wide publicity to the
fact that at least forty-three kinds Of
birds prey upon this destructive insect 1t has
discovered that fifty-seven species OF BIRDS feed
upon scale insects-dreaded enemies of the fruit
grower II has shown that woodpeckers as d
class. by destroying the larvae of wood boring
insects, are so essential TO tree me that IL Is
doubtful if our forests could exist without them
1t has shown that cuckoos and orioles are the
natural enemies of the leaf eating caterp.llars
that destroy our shade and fruit trees; that our
uuais and sparrows consume annually hundreds
OF tons of seeds of noxious weeds that hawks
and owls as a class excepting the few that Kill
poultry and game birds) are markedly beneficial
spending their lives in catching grasshoppers.
mice and other pests that prey upon the prod
ucrs of husbandry. 1t has conducted held eX-
I,eriments for the purpose of devising and per
fecting simple methods for holding in check the
hordes of destructive rodents-rats, mice rab-
bits gophers, prairie dogs and ground squirrels
which annually destroy crops worth many
millions of dollars; and it has published prac-
teal directions for the destruction of wolves
and coyotes the stock ranges OF the West.
resulting during the last year in an estimated
saving of cattle and sheep valued at upward of
81 100000.
II has inaugurated system of inspection at
the rrincipaI ports of entry both Atlantic
and Pacific coasts by means Of which the intro
duction of noxious mammals and birds is pre-
vented thus keeping out the mongoose and Ger