Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1907-12-19

SreSS 1avOraDly consider the matter Oh
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 whole to warrant
the federal government in taking action.
The recent strike of the telegraphers 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 out with much d.
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 Importance 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
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,
the Atlantic and the gulf slopes. The ma
| uonal government should undertake this
work, and 1 hope a beginning will re
| 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-
sissippi there should be deep waterway.
| with deep waterways leading from 1t to
the east and west. Such a waterway
| would practically mean the extension of
our coast line into the very heart Of our
country. 1t would be of incalculable ben
| eft to our people.
| las an incident to creating the deep
| waterway down the Mississippi, the gov
| eminent should build along it's whole
| lower length levees which, taken to-
gether with the control of the head
| waters, viii 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 its 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"
| Il have appointed an inland waterways
commission to study and outline a COM
prehensive scheme of development along
all the lines indicated Later I shall lay
its report before the congress"
Public Lands.
Extension of the work of irrigation and
the reclamation of waste lands is advo-
|
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
at the same time the necessity which oc-
casioned it must be provided for. Several
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
repeal of the duty on FOOD pulp, at the
same time declaring that it should II
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
| lease mineral and oil lands is the beliel
| of the president.
Work on the Panama canal is declared
to be proceeding in a satisfactory man.
| statement.
For Postal Savings Banks.
On the questions of postal savings
| banks and the establishment of a parcels
post system the message says:
| 81 commend to the favorable considera-
ton of the congress postal savings
| bank system recommended by the
postmaster general.
81 further commend to the congress the
consideration of the postmaster generals
| recommendation for extension of the
parcel post. especially on the rural
routes. These recommendations have
been drawn up to benefit the farmer and
the country storekeeper: otherwise
| should not favor them, for / believe that
it is good policy for our government to do
| everything possible to aid the small town
| the district II is desirable
that the country merchant should not be
crushed out"
Some form of local self-government
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: 1T 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
| ganization 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 a 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 recon-
mendations for future legislation.
early 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 feet
to the Pacific, the president believes 1t
| should be shifted between the two
oceans every year or two means of
teaching officers and men how to handle
the vessels in 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 a
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 or the government
is declared to be to turn over Cuba to
a government chosen by the people of
| the island within the coming year.
German Tariff Agreement.
Concerning the tariff agreement en-
| tered into with Germany. it's object is
| declared to have been the prevention of
a tariff war between the United States
and that country. The work of the
| commission which madv the agreement
is praised.
The president asks for authority to
| remit to China all indemnity in excess
of the sum of 81, 655, 1929 and inter-
est at four per cent.
In conclusion the message congratu-
lates the country on its present cor
dial relations with all countries par
| ticularly the sister republics to the
south.
| Experiment on the Ear