Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-12-03

l again recommend that the rights of citizenship be conferred upon the peo. pie of Porto Rico.
 t.-.. Mining.
 A bureau of mines should be created under the control and direction of the I secretary of the interior, the bureau to have power to collect statistics and make Investigations in all matters per taining to mining. and particularly to the accidents and dangers of the in- dustry. If this cannot now be done at least additional appropriations should be given tha interior department to be used for the study of mining condi- tions, for the prevention of fraudulent mining schemes, for carrying on the work of mapping the mining districts, for studying methods of minimizing the accidents and dangers in the in. dustry-in short, to aid in all proper ways the development of the mining industry.
 The Hermitage.
 1 strongly recommend to the con- gress to provide funds for keeping up The Hermitage, the home of Andrew Jackson, these funds to be used through the existing Hermitage asso- , citation for the preservation of his toric building which should ever be dear to Americans.
 Vicksburg National Park.
 I further recommend that a naval monument be established in the Vicks- burg National park. This national park gives a unique opportunity for commemorating the deeds of those gal lant 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 establishment of the permanent census bureau af- lords the opportunity for better cen sus than we have ever had, but in or der to realize the full advantage of the permanent organization ample time must be given for preparation.
 The Public Health.
 There is constantly growing inter est in this country in the question of the public health. At last the public mind s'awake to the fact that many diseases, notably tuberculosis, are na- tional scourges. The work of the state and city boards of health should be supplemented by a constantly increas- government. The congress has already provided a bureau of public health and has provided for hygienic laboratory. There are other valuable laws relating to the public health connected with the various departments. This whole branch of the government should be strengthened and aided in every way.
 Governmental Commissions.
 I call attention to two government commissions which I have appointed and which have already done excellent 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 unwisely distributed among the executive departments that much of its effect is lost for the lack of proper coordination. This commis- sions chief object is to introduce a planned and orderly development and operation in the place of the i'll assort ed and often ineffective grouping and methods of work which have prevail. ed. This cannot be done without leg. islation, nor would it be feasible to deal in detail with so complex an ad- ministrative problem by specific pro. visions of law. I recommend that the president be given authority to concen. trate related lines of work and reduce duplication by executive order through transfer and consolidation of lines of work.
 The second committee. that on de pertinent methods. was instructed to in vestigate and report upon the changes needed to place the conduct of the ex ecutive force of the government on the most economical and effective ba. sis in the light of the best modern business practice. The committee has made very satisfactory progress. An tiquated practices and bureaucratic ways have been abolished. and a gen. zf ods has been inaugurated. All that can be done by executive order has al ready been accomplished or will be put Into effect in the near future. The work of the main committee and its several assistant committees has pro duced a wholesome awakening on the part of the great body of officers and employees engaged in government work. In nearly every department and cff1ce there has been a careful self in spection for the purpose of remedying any defects before they could be made the subject of adverse criticism. This has led individuals to a wider study of the work on which they were en gagged. and this study has resulted ir increasing their efficiency in their re spectve lines of work. There are rec concentrations of special importance from the committee on the subject Ot personnel and the classification of sal aries which will require legislative ac ton before they can be put into eff feet. It is my intention to submit tt the congress in the near future a spe cial message on those subjects.