Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-05-02
A COLONIAL BUREAU.
It Will Handle All Reports And
 Recommendations.

Washington, D. C., May Eff tenta- tive plans of the administration do not miscarry, the sixtieth congress will authorize the establishment of CO., loniai bureau in Washington to which all reports and recommendations re- speeding the government of the island possessions of America will be sub mitted.
 The. subject has been under consid- eration for many months. Indeed, Representative Parsons, of New York, at the last session of congress, introduced measure looking to that end. President Roosevelt discussed the matter in his last annual mes- sage, recommending the establish nlent of such bureau and suggest ing that 1t be placed under either the war department or the state depart ment.s
 Representative Parsons Is member of the house committee on insular af- fairs ana was in position to advocate his bill effectively: but 1t so happened that many other measures of seeming ly greater importance had the right of way and his bill was not accorded an advantageous position.
 In the event of the granting by congress of the necessary authority, 1t Is regarded as probable that the work will be placed in the hands of officials of the bureau of Insular af- fairs of the war department. That bureau now has a sort of supervisory Jurisdiction over all of the insular possessions of the United States. but its authority Is not adequate 10 meet the needs of the situation. While this bureau looks carefully after the Phil- ippines, it Is not charged with the responsibility of the Porto Rican gov ernment, with the Hawaiian govern ment or with Guam, Tutulla, and the Midway islands. Reports from sever al of the island possessions of the United States go to various parts Of the government.
 "For instance" said Representative Parsons, 'the governor of Porto Rico reports to the secretary of state; the attorney general of the island govern ment reports to the attorney general of the United States: the treasurer and auditor to the treasury depart ment: and the commissioner of the interior to the interior department. and the small islands like Guam and the Midway, are governmental dere- licts. They are without anybody to look after their interests.
 ka dal- egates in congress, but while they are capable men, they cahnot be ex- pected to supply to the government all of the information 1t nay require on any given subject. The result is that the Governors of the islands have to make frequent trips to this country to convey information. either to the executive or legislative branch that Is necessary for the care of the possessions. With the exception of the Philippines, all of the insular possessions of the government are seriously handicapped because tliey have nobody who Is particularly del eeated 10 look after them My idea ls that this insular work should he concentrated in one permanent insu- lar bureau and that the officials of that bureau should have a supcrvi- sory control over sll of them. By thus concentrating the work of the foreign possessions of the United States under one department. great good would he accomplished. both for the islands themselves. and for the government: expense and time would he saved; and congress would be able te get information without difficulty that now is almost unavailable.
 Roth the president and the mem- bers of his cabinet are interested in the proposition to establish coson- ial bureau. with adequate authority, and the proposition will he pressed vigorously at the next session Of con eTess.