Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1907-12-04
marine corps and revenue cutter serv-
The Navy.

ne Navy
Concerning the navy the president
says:
In my judgment. we should this
year provide for four batteships. But
Il Is idle TO build battleships unless. In
addition TO providing the men and the
means for thorough training. we pro
vide the auxllieries for them-unless
we provide docks, the coaling stations,
the Golfers and supply ships that they
need. We are extremely deficient In
coaling stations and docks on the Pa
cihc. and this deficiency should not
longer be permitted to exist Plenty
OF torpedo boats and destroyers should
be built Both on the Atlantic and Pa
cihc coasts Notifications OF the best
type should be provided for all Our
greatest harbors.
Until our battle fleet IS much larger
than at present IL should never be split
into detachments 50 far apart that they
could not I'm event Of emergency be-
speedily united Our coast line Is on
the Pacific just rs much as on the At
lantic The battle fleet should now
and then be moved TO the Pacific. just
as at other times 10 should be kept in
the Atlantic When the isthmian canal
Is built the transit of the battle neet
FROM one ocean 10 the other Will Dee
comparatively easy Uutil If is built
! earnestly hope that the battle fleet
VIII DE thus shifted between the two
oceans eycry year or two The battle
fleet IS about starting hy the strait of
Magellan to visit the Pacific coast
Sixteen hottieships are going under tile
command of Rear Admiral Evans, while
eight armored cruisers aal two other
battleships viii meet him ina san Fran
cisco. WHITTIER certain torpedo destroy.
ers aye also going SO aert OF such
size has ever made such "a voyage, and
it will be OF very great educational use
TO an engaged in &C. The only way boy
which 90 teach officers and men how
TO handle the fieet SO as 10 meet every
possible strain and emergency ia time
of war Is a. lave them practice under
similar conditions iu time OF ponce.
The president recommends the in-
creased pay for both officers and enlist
ell men and advises promotion by Sc
lection above the grade OF lieutenant
commander
Foreign Affairs.
In foreign affairs. the president says.
this country's steady policy is 10 be-
have toward other nations as a strong
and self respecting man should behave
toward the other men with whom he
IS brought into contact In other words.
our aim is disinterestedly to help other
nations where such help can be wisely
given without the appearance of ned
ding with what does not concern Us.
to be careful ID act as a good neighbOr
and at the same time In good natured
fashion TO make 1t evident that we do
not intend 10 be imposed upon.
The president refers at length to The
Hague peace conference. He believes
1t accomplished much good work.
Postal Savings Banks.
The president says on postal affairs:
| commend TO the favorable consld-
GRAFTON OF the congress a postal say
lngs bank system as recommended by
the postmaster general. Timid deposi
tors have withdrawn their savings for
the time being from national banks.
trust companies and savings banks, in
diyiduals have boarded their cash
and the workingmen their earnings. all
OF which money has been Withheld
and kept In hiding or In the safe de
poslt box To the detriment OF prosper
lty. Through the agency OF the postal
savings banks such money would be
restored TO the channels OF trade, to
the mutual benefit OF capital and IA Dor
| further commend To the congress
the consideration OF the postmaster
generals recommendation for an ex
tension or the parcel post, especially
on the rural routes. It would be
most desirable thing to put the fourth
class postmasters In the classified serv
Ice
Other recommends lions are:
Deepening Of the inland waterways.
especially OF the Mississippi river sys-
tenn, TO make them great national high
ways.
The repeal Of the tariff on forest
products. especially the duty on wood
pulp.
The amendment Of the public land
laws to make them more effective
against land grabbers and more favor
able TO bona fide settlers.
Retention of the governments title
to public coal and other mineral lands
Extension of the national forest re-
Eerves.
Citizenship for the people OF Porto
Rico
Freer local self government for Alas
ka
encouragement OF the merchant ma
line, particularly OF an ocean mail line
10 South America.
Remission of the Boxer indemnity
and freer entry for Chinese students
coming TO America.