Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1907-12-05

ton years and was double the number
in the preceding FIVE years. These fss-
ures indicate the increasing need OF
providing some machinery to deal with
this class OF disturbances in sthe inter-
est alike of the employer the employe
and the general public. l renew my
previous recommendation that the con-
gress favorably consider the matter OF
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 a whole To warrant
the federal government I'm taking action"
The recent strike OF the telegraphers Is
cited as an instance where such power
might proftably 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 It's 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
tional government should undertake this
work. and / hope a beginning Will be
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-
s,ssippi there should be a deep waterway,
with deep waterways leading from it to
the east and west. Such a waterway
would practically mean the extension OF
our coast line into the very heart or our
country 1t would be of incalculable BEN
eft to our people.
"As an incident to creating the deep
waterway down the Mississippi, the gov
eminent should build along its whole
lower length levees which. taken to-
gether with the control of the head
waters, will 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-
sppi along its lower course VIII there
by become one OF the most prosperous
and populous. as il already is one OF
the most fertile. farming regions In all
the world"
Public Lands.
Extension of the work of irrigation and
the reclamation OF waste lands is advo-
Gated together with revision OF the
present land laws i'm the interest of the
actual homc-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 1t 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 20 prevent
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 wood pulp at the
same time declaring that il should If
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 BELIEF
of the president
Work on the Panama canal is declared
to be proceeding in satisfactory man
ner. and figures given to substantiate the
statement.
For Postal SpNing> BANKS.
on the questions of postal savings
banks and the establishment of parcels
post system the message says:
II commend to the favorable considera-
ton of the congress a postal savings
bank system as recommended by the
postmaster general.
81 further commend to the congress the
consideration of the postmaster generals
recommendation for an 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
ii Is good policy for our government to do
everything possible TO aid the small town
and the country 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 corporal lions 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
lcctlnR large campaign lu4iuS NpuiN
vanish II 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-
uuires 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. A subsidy for
Pacific steamers, the president thinks,
is necessary.
That the army i'm 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.
Yearly additions to the navy are
recommended and in the presidents
judgment the country should build four
battleships this year.
Rcnson for Pacific Cruise.
Concerning the dispatch Of the fleet
to the Pacific the president believes IL
.ba 10 oh ha txUn