The Monticellonian., 1907-12-05

ten years and ~as double the number in the preceding five years These Iig- urcs indicate the increasing need of providing some machinery to deal with this class of disturbances in the inter est alike of the employer, the employe and the general public. I renew my previous recommendation that the con gress favorably consider the matter of creating the machinery for compulsory investigation of such industrial contro- versies as are of sufficient magnitude and of sufficient concern to the people of the country as a whole to warrant the federal government in taking action. !" The recent strike of the tclcgraphcrs Is cited as an instance where such power might profitably have been used.
 Child Labor Evil.
 The necessity of checking the evil of child labor is pointed ont with much di- rectness. On the relation between capital and labor the president asserts that pub lie opinion must be aroused in condemna- ton of evil practices on both sides The work of the department of agriculture is given high praise and the impor ance of the department pointed out Cooperation with farmers associations Is urged. The necessity of a national system of inspec- ton and grading of grain, to correct evils complained of, Is also pointed out. National Water Highways.
 Showing the necessity for the develop l ment of the national water highways the message says: Our great river systems should be developed as national water highways, the Mississippi. with its trib- utaries. standing first in importance. and the Columbia second although there are | many others of importance on the Pacific. i the Atlantic and the gulf slopes. The na- tional government should undertake this work, and l hope beginning will be made in the present congress. and the greatest of all our rivers. the Mississippi, should receive especial attention. From the great lakes to the mouth of the Mis- sssippi there should be q deep waterway, with deep waterways leading from it to the east and west Such q waterway would practically mean tine extension of i our coast line into the very heart of our country. It would be of inealculable ben eft To our people.
 "As an incident to creating the deep waterway down the Mississippi. the gov ernment should build along its whole | lower length lcvees which, taken to- gether with the control of the head waters. will at once and forever put a | complete stop to all threat of floods in | the immensely fertile Delta region. The territory lying adjacent to the Missis- | sippi along it's lower course will there | by become one of the most prosperous and populous, as it already is one of the most fertile, farming regions in all the world"
 Public Lands.
 Extension of the work of irrigation and the reclamation of waste lands is advo- l cated together with a revision of the present land laws in the interest of the | actual home-maker. The unlawful fenc- ing of public lands for private grazing, the president says. must be stopped. but l at the same time the necessity which oc- | paS mn hp pr6Vi1ad for Several 1 plans are recommended.
 Conservatism of the mineral wealth of the country. and the necessity for the preservation of the forests to prevent a timber famine are dwelt upon. Drastic | action by the congress Is urged.
 Would Repeal Duty on Wood Pulp.
 The president declares in favor of the i repeal of the duty on wood pulp, at the same time declaring that it should if possible be accompanied by an agreement with Canada that there should be no ex- port duty on Canadian pulp wood,
 That the government should own and l lease mineral and oil lands is the =bele1 i of the president.
 l Work on the Panama canal is declared to be proceeding in a satisfactory man ner. and figures given to substantiate the statement.
 For Postal Savings Banks. l On the questions of postal savings i banks and the establishment of parcels post system the message says:
 T commend to the favorable Considera- ton of the congress a postal savings bank system as recommended by the l postmaster general.
 q further commend to the congress the consideration of the postmaster general s recommendation for an extension of the parcel post especially on the rural routes. These recommendations have 4.s4 4l,- or, T the country storekeeper; otherwise l should not favor them for I believe that it is good policy for our government to do everything possible to aid the small town and the country district. It is desirable that the country merchant should not be i crushed out"
 some form of local self government i for Alaska is asked of the congress, and that the rights of citizenship be conferred upon the people of Porto Rico.
 Campaign Contributions.
 The president says: Tt is well to provide that corporations shall not con- tribute to presidential or national cam paigns, and furthermore to provide for the publication of both contributions and expenditures. The need for col lecting large campaign funds would vanish if congress provided an appro- priation for the proper and legitimate expenses of each of the great national parties. an appropriation ample enough to meet the necessity for thorough or ganizatien and machinery which re- quires a large expenditure of money. Then the stipulation should be made that no party receiving campaign funds from the treasury should accept more than fixed amount from any indi- vidual subscriber or donor; and the necessary publicity for receipts and ex- penditures could without difficulty be provided"
 The extension of the Ocean Mail act of 1891 is recommended as an aid to American shipping. subsidy for Pacific steamers. the president thinks, Is necessary.
 That the army in the past has been niggardly provided for and should be more generously dealt with is dwelt upon at length together with recom- mendations for future legislation.
 Yearly additions to the navy are recommended and in the presidents judgment the country should build four battleships this year.
 Reason for Pacific Cruise.
 Concerning the dispatch of the fleet to the Pacific. the president believes it should be shifted between the two oceans every year or two as a means of teaching officers and men how to handle the vessels in a time of war.
 Although the results of The Hague conference are declared not to have been up to expectations. a degree of good is said to have resulted. notably provision by which the powers taking part in the conference agreed not to have recourse to armed force for the collection of debts owed to their citi- zens by foreign countries.
 The expectation of the government is declared to be to turn over Cuba to a government chosen by the people of the island within the coming year.