Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1907-12-05

Finally. in October, the record was
again eclipsed. the total excavation be-
ing 1865. 729 cubic yards: a truly ex-
traordinary record. especially in view
of the heavy rainfall. which was III
inches. In fact, experience during the
last two rainy seasons demonstrates
that the rains are a less serious OBJ
stacle to progress han has hitherto
been supposed.
Work on the locks and dams at
Gatun. which began actively in March
last. has advanced so far that 1t is
thought that masonry work on the
locks can be begun within Is months.
Last winter bids were requested and
received for doing the work of canal
construction by contract. None of them
was found TO be satisfactory n all
were rejected. 1t is the unanimous
opinion of the present commission that
the work can be done better, more
cheaply, and more quickly by the gov
eminent than by private contractors
Fully so per cent. of the entire plant
needed for construction has been u
chased or contracted for; machine
shops have been erected and equipped
for making all needed repairs to the
plant; many thousands of employees
have been secured; an effective organi-
zation has been perfected; a recruiting
system is in operation which is capable
of furnishing more labor than can be
used advantageously; employees are
well sheltered and well fed; salaries
paid are satisfactory, and the work is
not only going forward smoothly. but
1t is producing results far in advance
of the most sanguine anticipations.
Under these favorable conditions, a
change in the method of prosecuting
the work would be unwise and unjustt-
fable, for 1t would inevitably d%isorgan-
lie existing conditions check progress,
and Increase the cost and lengthen the
time of completing the canal.
President Recommends
Postal Savings Banks.
II commend to the favorable consid-
Grafton of the congress a postal saw
ings bank system, as recommended by
the postmaster general. hi primary
object is to encourage among u peo-
pie economy and thrift and by the use
of postal savings banks to give them
an opportunity to husband their re-
sources. particularly those who have
not the facilities at hand for depositing
their money in savings banks. Viewed,
however, from the experience of the
past few weeks, 1t Is evident that the
advantages of such an institution are
still more far-reaching. Timid depos-
itors have Withdrawn their savings for
the time being from national banks; in
dividuals have boarded their cash and
the Workingmen their earnings; all
of which money has been withdrawn
and kept in hiding or in the safe de-
post o to the detriment of pros
perity. Through the agency of the pos
tai savings banks such money would be
restored to the channels of trade, to
the mutual benefit of capital and labor
Il further commend to the congress
the consideration of the postmaster
generals recommendation for an e
tension of the parcel post, especially or
the rural routes. There are now 49,
215 rural routes. serving nearly $4,000,
900 people who do not have the adj
vantages of the inhabitants of cities il
obtaining their supplies. These recon
~mendations have been drawn up tt
benefit the farmer and the country
storekeeper; otherwise, / should no
favor them, for / believe that it Is gooC
policy for our government to do every
thing possible to aid the small towr
and the country district. 1t is desirable
that the country merchant should no
be crushed out.
THE fourth-class postmasters' con
vention has passed a very strong reso
lilluh III ldVOI VI pidClllB Llo lOuIll
class postmasters under the civil-serv
ice law. The administration has al
ready put into effect the policy of re
fusing to emove n fourth-class post
masters save for reasons %connecte'
with the good of the service; and 1t /
e~ndeavoring so far as possible to re
move them from the domain of partisan
politics. 1t would be a most desirabl
thing to put the fourth-class postmas
ters in the classified service"
He renews his recommendations o
last year in regard to Alaska; calls at
tention to the admission of Oklahom
as a state; urges the Importance of pro
viding shipping relief for Hawaii; ask
for citizenship for Porto Ricans, an
promises submission of Secretar
Tafts report on Philippines when tina
official returns.
He asks for the creation of a burea
of mines; recommends the providing G
funds for preserving The Hermitag,
the home of Andrew Jackson; and tn
erection of a laval monument a
Vicksburg.
Corporation Contributions
to COmpnign Expenses.
Under our form Of government votin
|, is not merely a right but a duty, an
IiOlGONClt IL LulludIlltULdl anu nGCeBBaT
duty IL a man is to be a good cittzel
, 1t is well to provide that corporation
, shall not contribute to presidential {
national campaigns, and furthermore
!, provide for the publication Of both col
tributions expenditures. There |
. however, always danger in laws of tn
! kind, which from their very nature al
difficult of enforcement; the danger beir
: lest they be obeyed only by the homes
and disobeyed by the INSCRIPTIONS,
I as to act only as a penalty upon hone
men. Moreover, no such law would han
per an INSCRIPTIONS man Of unlimitt
. means from buying his own way into o
. flee. There is a very radical measu
which would, l believe, work a substaI
tial improvement In our system of CO.
Quoting a campaign, although I am we
aware that 1t will take some time f
q people to Sc familiarize themselves wi
q such a proposal as to be willing to co
6 slider its adoption. The need for collec
: ing large campaign funds would vanish
# congress provided an appropriation (
l the proper and legitimate expenses
each of the great national parties, an a
preparation ample enough to meet t
necessity for thorough organization a
\ machinery, which requires a large e
= penditure of money. Then the stipul
= ton should be made that no party |
a ceiving campaign funds from the treasu
should accept more than a fixed amou
from any individual subscriber or dom
and the necessary publicity for receir
~ and expenditures could without Difficult
"a be provided"
a Wants Improvement In the
Is Ocean Mail Service.
le II call YOU especial attention to the Il
% satisfactory condition of our foreign m
Us service, which, because of the lack
SO American steamship lines, is now larr,
er done through foreign lines, and viii,
a particularly so far as South and Cent,
le America are concerned, is done in a mi
p, ner which constitutes a serious barr
ic to the extensions Of our
e 1.-THE time has come, in my judg,ne
- to set to work seriously to make {