The semi-weekly messenger., 1907-12-06

/ try: In short. to aid I'm all proper
ways the development OF the mining
| industry.
THE HERMITAGE
I strongly recommend TO the con-
gress to provide funds for keeping
up the Hermitage. the home OF An
/ drew Jackson; these funds to be used
I through the existing hermitage As
| sociation for the preservation OF n
historic building which should ever
I be dear TO Americans.
VICKSBURG NATIONAL PARK.
| further recommend that a naval
monument be established in the
Vicksburg National Park. This na-
, tional park gives a unique opportun-
ity for commemorating the deeds OF
those gallant men who fought on
water. no less than of those who
fought on land. In the great civil
war
THE THIRTEENTH CENSUS.
Legislation should be enacted at
the present session OF the congress
for the Thirteenth Census The es-
tabIishment OF the permanent Gen.
sus Bureau affords the opportunity
for a better census than we have
ever had, but in order TO realize tho
full advantage OF the permanent or
ganiZation. ample time must be- given
for preparation.
THE PUBLIC HEALTH.
There is constantly growing in
terest in this country In the ques-
/ tion OF the public health. AZ last
the public mind is awake TO the fact
that many diseases, notably tubercu-
losis, are national scourges. The
work OF the state and city boards OF
health should be supplemented by a
constantly increasing interest on the
part OF the national government. The
congress has already provided n bu-
reau of public health and bas pro-
| vided for a hygienic laboratory.
| There are other valuable laws relat-
| ing 10 the public health connected
with the various departments. This
! whole branch OF the government
should be strengthened and aided I'm
every way.
| GOVERNMENTAL COMMISSIONS.
| call attention to two government
| commissions which | have appointed
/ and which have already done excel
lent work. The first OF these has
TO do with the organization OF the
scientific work OF the government,
which has grown up wholly without
! plan and is in consequence SO un-
wisely distributed among the eXecu-
1 tive utIldl iHdl vi lNS
effect is lost for the lack OF proper
coordination. This commissions
chief object is 10 introduce a planned
and orderly development and opera
tion III the place of the ill-assorted
! and often ineffective grouping and
methods OF work which have pre-
allied. This can not be done with
out legislation, nor would ii be feas-
ible to deal in detail with so COM
/ plex an administrative problem by
! specific provisions OF law. recon-
mend that the President be given
| authority to concentrate related lines
Of work and reduce duplication by
executive order through transfer and
! consolidation of lines OF work.
The second committee. that on de-
| partment methods, was instructed to
investigate and report upon the
changes needed to place the conduct
! of the executive force of the gov
ernment on the most economical and
effective basis in the light OF the
best modern business practice. The
committee has made very satisfac-
tory progress. Antiquated practices
and bureaucratic ways have been
abolished, and a general renovation
of departmental methods has been
| inaugurated. All that can be done
by executive order has already been
accomplished or will be put into ef-
feet in the near future. The work
of the main committee and its sew
eral assistant committees has pro-
duced a wholesome awakening on
the part Of the great body OF officers
and employees engaged in govern
ment work. In nearly every depart
ment and office there has been a
careful self-inspection for the pur-
| pose of remedying any defects before
| they could be made the subject OF
adverse criticism. This has led In
! dividuals to a wider study OF the
work on which they were engaged,
| and this study has resulted in in
creasng their efficiency in their re-
, speCtive lines of work. There are
recommendations OF special import
ance from the committee on the sub
! ject OF personnel and the classifica-
! ton OF salaries which will require
! legislative action before they can be
/ put into effect. IL is my intention
/ to submit to the congress in the
near future a special message on
J those subjects.
. PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN En-
PENSES.
Under our form OF government
| voting is not merely a right but n
| duty, and, moreover, a fundamental
and necessary duty IL a man Is to-
| be a good citizen. II Is well to pro-
! vide that corporations shall not con-
| tribute TO presidential or national
| campaigns, and Furthermore, to pro-
| vide for the publication of both con-
| tributions and expenditures. There
| is. however. always danger in laws
of this kind, which from their very
nature are difficult OF enforcement;
the danger being lest they be obeyed
| only by the honest, and disobeyed
by the unscrupulous. so as to act
only as penalty upon honest men,
Moreover, no such law would ham,
per an INSCRIPTIONS man of unlim-