The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1908-12-10
DEPARTMENT r

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II has been MY purpose from the Begin
ming of my administration to take the
Indian service completely out of the at
mosphere OF political activity, and there
has been steady progress toward that md.
The last remaining stronghold of politics
IN hat service was the agency system,
which had seen it's best days and was
gradually falling to pieces from natural
or purely evolutionary causes, but, like
all such survivals, was decaying slowly
in It's later stages. 1t seems clear that its
extinction had better be made final now,
so that the ground can be cleared for
larger constructive work on behalf or
the Indians, preparatory to their induc-
ton into the full measure of responsible
citizenship. On November / only Is. agen-
cieS were left on the roster; with two
exceptions, where some legal questions
seemed to stand temporarily in the way
these have been changed to superintend-
~encies, and their heads brought into ths
classified civil service
Postal Savings Banks.
I again renew my recommendation fo'
postal savings banks, for depositing saw
ings win the security OF the goyernment
thrift and economy In the w~age-earner ana
person OF moderate means. In fourteen
states the deposits in savings banks as re-
ported to the comptroller OF the currency
amount to $3.50, 246, ZOE, or 9S.4 per cent OF
the entire deposits, while In the remaining
% states there. are only y ,3OS,543 or LIZ
per cent, hoWinR conclusively that there
are many localities in the United States
where sufficient opportunity is not given
to the people to deposit their savings. The
unemployed. 1t Is believed that in the ag-
gregate vast sums of money would be
brought into circulation through the In
.stTumentality Of the postal savings banks.
While there are only I,453 savings banks
reporting to the comptroller there are more
than $1,000 postofhces, 10000 of which are
money order offices. Postal savings n
are now in operation in practically all the
great civilized countries with the excep-
suon of the United States.
Parcels Post.
In my last annual message I commend
ed the postmaster generals recommended
Sion for an extension OF the parcel post on
the rural routes. The establishment Of a
local parcel post on rural routes would be
% the mutual benefit of the farmer and
me country storekeeper. and 1t is desir-
sable that the routes, serving more than
100000 people, should be utilized to the
fullest practicable extent. An amend
!ment was proposed in the Senate at the
last session, at the suggestion of the post
master general, providing that, for the
purpose of ascertaining the p~racticability
Ot establishing a special local parcel post
system on the rural routes hroughou the
United States, the postmaster general be
authorized and directed to experiment n
report to the congress the result OF such
experiment by establishing a special local
parcel post system on rural delivery
routes In not to exceed four counties In
the United States for packages OF fourth
-FiaSS HldLlST Originating Oh n TuTdl route
or at the distributing postof1ce for deliv-
cry by rural carriers. It would seem only
proper that such an experiment should be
tried In order to demonstrate the practica-
bility OF the proposition, especially as the
postmaster general estimates that the rev.
enue from the operation of such q system
on all the rural routes would amount to
many million dollars.
Education.
b The share that the national government
should take in the broad work of educa-
ton has not received tho attention and the
care 1t rightly deserves. The immediate
responsibility for the support and improve
nlent OF our educational systems and in
} stitutions rests and should always rest
With the people of the several states act
ing through their state and local govern
ments, but the nation has an opportunity
IN educational work which must not be
hiost and a duty which should no longer
be neglected.
The national bureau of education was
established more than 40 years ago. With
the limited means hitherto provided, It
has rendered efficient service, but the con-
gress has neglected to adequately supply
the bureau with means TO meet the educa-
tional growth of the country.
l earnestly that this unfort-
nnate state Of affairs as regards the ma
tionaI educational office be remedied by
adequate appropriations. This m
dation is urged by the representatives OF
our common schools and great state uni
yersities and the leading educators, who
all unite I'm requesting favorable consider
alton and action by the congress upon this
subject.
Census.
l strongly urge that the request OF the
director OF the census in connection with
Ihe decennial work SO soon to be begun, be
10 the census force be placed under the
civil service law, waivlng. the geographical
requirements as requested BY the director