The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1907-12-03
PARCELS POSTS.
Extension of This Service Advisable,
Especially In Rural Delivery.

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 15,-
OOO,OOO people who do not have the
/ advantages Of the inha bitants 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, 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 crushed out.
The fourth class postmasters' con-
vention has passed 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. It would be a most de-
sirable thing to put the fourth class
postmasters in the classified service
It is possible that this might be done
without congressional action; but, as,
the matter is debatable, 1 earnestly
recommend that the congress enact q
law providing that they be included
under the civil service law and put in
| the classified service:
| Oklahoma.
Oklahoma has become state, stand
ing on 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
| I reiterate my recommendations Of
last year as regards Alaska. Some
| form of local self government should
be provided, as simple and inexpensive
as possible. It 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 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
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
citizens Of the far northwest in their
projected Alaska Yukon-Pacifc EXPOSE
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 neighboring
states and with cur fnsular possessions
and the neighboring countries of the
Pacific. The exposition asks no loan
from the congress, but seeks appropria-
lions for national exhibits and exhibits
OF the western dependencies of the
general government. The state Of
Washington and the city of Seattle
have shown the characteristic western
enterprise in large donations for the
SOuuuSl VI lue eA5OSillOu. Ill WHICH
other states are lending generous as.
sfstance.
Hawaii.
! The unfortunate failure Of the ship
ping bill at the last session of the last
congress was followed by the taking
off Of certain Pacific steamships. which
has greatly hampered the movement Of
passengers between Hawaii and the
| mainland. Unless the congress is pre-
pared by positive encoura cement to
secure proper facilities in the, way Of
shipping between Hawaii and the
mainland then the coastwise shipping
laws should be so far relaxed as to
prevent Hawaii suffering as it is now
suffering. again call your attention
to the capital Importance from every
standpoint of making Pearl harbor
available for the largest deep water
vessels and Of suitably fortifying the
island.
The secretary Of war has gone to the