New-York tribune., 1907-12-04

-ock Of such character that il will furnish
safe and stable foundation" Subsequent new
horingS. conducted by the present commission.
have fully confirmed this verdict Tney show
that the locks viii rest on rock for their entire
length. The cross section Of the dam and
method OF construction Will he such as TO insure
against any slip sloughing of. Similar ex-
animation Of the foundations OF the locks and
dams on the Pacinc side are IN progress l be
Iseve that the locks should DE made OF width
pf TO feet
Iast winter bids were requested and received
fo- doing the work OF canal construction BY
contract None OF them was found to be sat
isfactory and all were rejected. II is the unani-
nous opinion of the present commission that
the work can be done better. more cheaply and
more quickly by the government than by pri-
vaGe contractors Fully SO Der cent OF the en-
tire plant needed for construction has been
purchased or contracted for: machine shops
have been erected and equipped for making all
needed repairs 10 the plant: many thousands OF
eEnployeS have been secured: an effective or
esnizaIion has been perfected: recruiting
system = N operation which Is capable OF fur
i,iShs--S more labor than can be used advan-
IsSeouSly: employees are well sheltered and well
ed s45arles PAID are satisfactory and the work
= not only going forward smoothly. but il is
--odUcing results far in advance OF the most
>2nguine anticipations. Under these favorab BILE
,s1aditionS change in the method of prosecut-
sGE the work would be unwise and uniustifiabIe
for il uould inevitably disorganize existing cor
GtEcc-i>, ccecA progress and increase the cost
s2G ls-1Srhsn the time OF completing the canal
[h5 ceiSL engineer and all his professional
sS>ccS axes are firmly convinced that the S5-feet
isssl EocS canal which they are constructing IS
Ire ceS- rhat could be desired Some OF them
o
iS-e-f1Sa A. the plans have developed under
,1ss- Stfecrica their doubts have been dispelled
While Chey may decide upon changes in detail
IS cocSrrUcIlOn advances they are in hearty
Ecco-d in approving the general plan. They
believe Jhs[ il provides canal not only ade-
GUate 70 all demands that viii be made upon
u but superior in every way TO 3 sea level
canal. concur in this belief
I commend TO the favorable consideration Of
the Congress & postal savings bank system IS
recommended by the Postmaster general The
primary object is 70 eneour-
Postal Affairs age among our people econ
o:uy and thrift and by the
use OF postal savings banks TO give them
opportunity TO husband their resources. Partic-
ularly those who have not the facilities at hand
Tor depositing their money IN savings banks
viewed, however from the experience OF the
iast feT weeks Il IS evident that the advantages
n such an institution are still more far reach
Ing. Timd depositors have Withdrawn their
savings for the time being from national banks.
trust companies and savings banks. individuals
have boarded their cash and the workingTnen
their earnings. all OF which money has been
withheld and kept in hiding or in the safe de-
posit box. 10 the detriment Of prosperity
Through the agency of the postal savings banks
such money would be restored to the channels
labor.
further commend 20 the Congress the con-
sideration OF the Postmaster Generals recon-
uen6ation for an extension of the parcels post.
especially the rural routes. There are now
SSel5 rural routes, serving nearly 15.crcrp
people who do not have the advantages OF the
Inhabitants OF cities in obtaining their supplies
These recommendations have been drawn up 10
benefit the farmer and the country stoTekeeper;
otherwise I should not favor them. for believe
that it is good policy for our government TO do
everything possible 10 aid the small town and
the country district II is desirable that the
country merchant should not be crushed out
The fourth class postnasters' convention has
passed a very strong resolution in favor of
placing the fourth class postmasters under the
Civil Service law. The administration has al
ready put into effect the policy Of refusing TO
remove any fourth class postmasters save for
reasons connected With the good Of the service,
and il is endeavoring so far as possible 10 re-
move them from the domain Of partisan politics
II would be most desirable thing to put the
fourth class postmasters in the classified ser
vice II IS possible that this might be done
without Congressional action. but, as the mat
ser is debatable, earnestly recommend that
The Congress enact law providing that they
De included under the Civil Service law and
put In the classified service.
Oklahoma has become a state. standing on q
,ru equality with her elder sisters and her future
is assured by her great nat
ckIehona. ural resources. The duty OF
the national government to
guard the personal and property rights OF the
indians within her borders remains OF course
unchanged
1 reiteraIe ny recommendations of last year
as regards Alaska Some form Of local self
government should be provided as simple and
inexpensive as possible; II Is
Alaska impossible fer the Congress
TO devote the necessary time
to all the little details Of necessary Alaskan
legislation. Road building and railway build
ing should be encouraged. The Governor OF
Alaska should be given an ample appropriation
wherewith 10 organize force to preserve the
public peace. Whiskey selling to the natives
should be made felony The coal land laws
should be changed so as to meet the pecullar
needs of the territory. This should be attended
to once. for the present laws permit lndl-
viduals locate large areas of the public do
-+esn for srec,Ila+fve prrposes and cause an i'm
nlense amount of trouble fraud and litigation
There should be another judicial division estab-
Iished As early as possible lighthouses and
buoys should be established aids to naviga-
tIon especially in and about Prince William
Sound, and the survey of the coast completed
There is need OF liberal appropriations for light
Ing and buoying the southern coast and i'm
proving the aids TO navigation 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 it should
now be taken in charge and effectively protected
by the United States COVE nment.
The courage and enterprise OF the citizens OF
The Far Northwest in their projected Alaska
Yukon Pacific Exposition, to be held in 1909,
should receive liberal announcement This ex-
tosition is not sentimental in its conception,
hut seeks TO exploit the natural resources Of
Alaska and TO promote the commerce, trade and
industry of the Pacific states with their neigh
boring states and with our insular possessions
and the neighboring countries OF the Pacinc
rsse exposition asks no loan from the Congress,
sSft seeks appropriations for national exhibits
n7d exhibits of the Western dependencies Of the
general government The State OF Washington
and the city of Seattle have shown the char
acteristic Western enterprise in large donations
for the conduct OF this exposition, in when
other states are lending generous assistance.
The unfortunate failure Of the shipping bill
at the last session of the last Congress was
followed by the taking off of certain Pacific
steamships. which has great
Hawaii; " hanpered the movement of
passengers between Hawaii
and the mainland Unless the Congress is pre-
pared by positive encouragement TO secure
rJroper facilities in the way OF shipping between
Hawaii and the mainland, then the coastwise
shipping laws should be so far relaxed as 10
prevent Hawaii suffering il is suffering
] again call your attention to the ca pltal I'M
porfance from every standpoint of making