Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1907-12-10

not DesuH soon enough. IL Is most TOT
tunate thing, however, that we began ii
when we did We should acquire In the
Appalachian and White Mountain regions
all the forest lands that it is possible TO ac-
quire for the use of the nation. These
lands because they form national asset,
are as emphaticaliy national as the rivers
which they feed. and which flow through
SO many States before they reach the ocean.
Tnrin on Wood Pulp.
There should be no tariff on any forest
product grown in this country and in
especial, there should be no tariff on WOOD
pulp; due notice of the change being OF
course given to those engaged in the Dusi-
ness so as to enable them to adjust them
selves to the new conditions. The repeal
of the duty on wood pulp should if possible
be accompanied by an agreemnt with Can
ada that there shall be no export duty on
Canadian pulp wood.
Mineral Lands.
In my Judgment the Government should
have the right to keep the fee of the coal,
oil and gas fields in its own possession
and to lease the rights to develop them
under proper regulations; or else, II the
Congress will not adopt this method, the
coal deposits should be sold under limite-
lions. TO conserve them as public utilities,
the right to mine coal being separated from
the title to the soil.
The Panama Canal.
Work on the Panama Canal is pres eeding
in a highly satisfactory manner. Last win
ter bids were requested and received for
doing the work of canal construction by
contract None of them was found to be
satisfactory and all were rejected 1t Is
the unanimous opinion of the present COM
mission that the work can be done better,
more cheapy. and more quickly by the GOV
eminent than by private contractors. fuliy
50 per cent of the entire plant needed for
construction has been purchased or con-
tracted for; machine shops have been erect
ed and equipped for making az. needed re-
pairs to the plant; many thousands OF en-
ployes have been secured; an effective or
ganization has been perfected; a recruiting
system is in operation which is capable OF
furnishing more labor than can be used adj
vantageously employees are well sheltered
and the work is not only going forward
smoothly, but it is producing results far in
advance of the most sanguine anticipa-
lions. Under these favorable conditions, a
change in the method of prosecuting the
work would be unwise and unjustifable for
1t would inevitably disorganize existing CON
ditions, check progress, and increase the
cost and lengthen the time of completing
the canal.
The chief engineer and all his profes.
sional associates are firmly convinced that
the S5-foot level lock canal which they are
constructing in the best that could be de-
sired Some of them had doubts on this
point when they went to the lsthmus As
the plans have developed under their direc-
ton their doubts have been dispelled While
they may decide upon changes in detail as
construction advances, they are in hearty
accord in approving the general plan. They
believe that it provides a canal not only
adequate to all demands that will be made
upon 1t, but superior in every way to a sea
level canal. | concur in this belief.
Postal Affairs.
I commend to the favorable consideration
Nn1 aaRl
TEN, as recommended by the Postmaster
General. The primary object is to encour-
age among our people economy and thrift
and by the use of postal savings banks to
give them an opportunity to husband their
resources. 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,
Ii Is evident that the advantages of such
an institution are still more far-reaching.
Timid depositors have withdrawn their saw
ings for the time being from national
banks, trust companies and savings banks
individuals have boarded their cash and the
workingmen their earnings: all of which
money has been withheld and kept in hid
ing or in the safe deposit box TO the detri-
ment of prosperity Through the agency of
the postal savings banks such money would
be restored to the channels of tinde, to the
mutual benefit of capital and labor. fur
Their commend to the Congress the consid-
Grafton OF the Postmaster Generals recon-
mendation for an extension of the parcel
post, especially on the rural routes.
Presidential Campaign Expenses.
1t is well to provide that corporations
shall not contribute to presidential or ma
tional campaigns. The need for collecting
large campaign funds would vanish if Con
gress 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
mi yoff and mo ah
quires large exenditure of money.
Ocean Mail Service.
l call your especial attention to the I'M
satisfactory condition Of our foreign mail
service, which, because of the lack of Amer
lean steamship lines, is now largely done
through foreign lines, and which, particue
larly so far as South and Central America
are concerned, is done in a manner which
constitutes a serious barrier to the extern
sion of our commerce. The time has come,
in my Judgment, to set to work seriously to
make our ocean mail service correspond
more closely with our recent commercial
and political development. The only serious
question is whether at this time we can
afford to improve our ocean mail service
as it should be improved All doubt on
this subject is removed by the reports OF
the PostofIice Department. The Govern
ment of the United States, having assumed
a monopoly of carrying the mails for the
people, is making profit of over $3s6OO,OOO
by rendering a cheap and inefficient service.
That profit | believe should be devoted TO
strengthening our maritime power in those
directions where 1t will best promote our
prestige. l strongly recommend, therefore,
a simple amendment to the ocean mail act
of 1891 which shall authorize the Postmas-
ter General in his discretion to enter into
contracts for the transportation of mails
to the republics of South America, to Asia,
the Philippines, and Australia at rate
not to exceed 81 a mile for steamships of
16 knots speed or upwards, subject to the
restrictions and obligations of the act of
1891.
The Army.
Nat only there is not now. but there
never has been, any other nation in the
world so wholly free from the evils of mil
itarism Is ours Never at any time of
our history has the regular army been of
a size which caused the slightest apprecia-
Bile tax upon the tax-paying citizens of the
nation. As a nation we have always been
shortsighted In providing for the efficiency
of the army in time Of peace. think it is
only lack of foresight thst troubles US, not
any hostility to the army. There are, of
course. foolish people who denounce any care
OF the army or navy as 'militaris'n, but
do not think that these people are nupesr-
GUS We are glad to help in any movement
for International peace, but this is because
we sincerely believe that 1t Is our duty to
help all such movements provided they are
sane and rational, and not because there is
any tendency toward MllIaflSn on our part
which needs to be cured The evils we
have TO fight are those in connection with
industrialism. not miiitarism. Industry is
always necessary, just war is sometimes
necessary. Each has its price, and industry
in the United States now exacts, and has
always exacted, a far heavier toll OF dea tn
than all our wars put together.
We should maintain in peace fairly
complete skeleton of a large army. A great
and long continued war would have to be
fought By volunteers. But months would
pass before any large body Of efficient vols
Enteers could be put in the field, and our
regular army should be large enough to
meet any immediate need. In particular il
is essential that we should possess a num-
Der OF extra officers trained in peace TO per.
form efficiently the duties urgently required
upon the breaking out of war. The rate OF
pay for the officers should be greatly IN
creased there Is no higher type OF citizen
than the American regular officer. and be
should have a fair reward for his admir-
able work. There should be relatively
even greater increase in the pay for the
enlisted men. The rate Of deseTtiOn il our
army now IN time Of peace IS alarming.
The deserter should be treated by public
opinion as a man guilty of the greatest
crime: while on the other hand the man
who serves steadily In the army should be
treated as what he is that Is. as pre-emi-
nently one OF the best citizens Of this re-