Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1908-12-08

i turn. IL ID lOuI buolbtoo " oDCht
money for inland navigation unless
we get It.
Such shortsighted, vacillating and
futile methods are accompanied by de-
creaslng water borna commerce and
Increasing traffic congestion on land,
by Increasing foods and by the waste
Of public money. The remedy lies In
abandoning the methods which have
so signally failed and adopting new
ones In keeping with the needs and
demands OF our people.
In report on measure introduced
at the FIRST session of the present con-
gross the secretary Of war said, THE
chief defect In the methods hitherto
pursued lies In the absence OF exeeu-
tive authority for originating compre-
hensive plans covering the country or
natural divisions thereof" In this
opinion heartily concur.
Until the work Of river improvement
Is undertaken In modern way 1t cam
not have results that will meet the
needs of this modern nation. These
needs should be met without further
dllly-dallying or delay. The plan which
promises the best and quickest results
Is that Of permanent commission au-
thorized to coordinate the work Of all
the government departments relating
to waterways and to frame and super
wise the execution Of comprehensive
plan. The time for playing with our
waterways Is past. The country de-
mands results.
National Parks.
urge that all our national parks adj
| jacent to national forests be placed
completely under the control Of the
forest service Of the agricultural de-
partment, instead of leaving them. as
they are now, under the interior de
partment and pollced by the army.
Pure Food.
The pure food legislation has already
worked a benefit difficult to overesH-
mate.
Secret Service.
Last year an amendment was incor-
porated in the measure providing for
the secret service which provided that
there should be no detail from the Sc
cret service and no transfer therefrom.
It is not too much to say that this
amendment has been OF benefit only,
md could be Of benefit only, to the
| criminal classes. The amendment iD
| .ro.tto, r,os - topo1f m M ona az.
cepting to criminals, and It seriously
hampers the government in the detec'
lion OF crime and the securing OF Jus
dce. II prevents the promotion of en-
9loyees In the secret service, and this
further dlscourages good effort. In It's
present form the restriction operates
only to the advantage OF the criminal.
VI the wrongdoer.
The chief argument la favor Of the
provision was that the congressman
lid not themselves wish to be inyesti'
| gated By secret service men. Very lit
tie Of such Investigation has been done
In the past, but It Is true that the work
IF the secret service agents was partly
Irresponsible for the indictment and con-
! victlon Of q senator and congressman
| for land frauds In Oregon. do not
believe that it is In the public Interest
to protect criminals IN any branch Of
tho public service, and exactly as we
have again and again during the past
seven years prosecuted and convicted
such criminals who were In the ezecu-
tive branch OF the government so In
my belief we should be given ample
means to prosecute them II found In
the legislative branch. But IL this Is
not considered desirable special ex-
ception could be made in the law pro-
hlbIting the use Of the Secret service
force In investigating members Of the
congress. 1t would be far better to do
this than to do what actually was done
and strive to prevent or at least to
hamper effective action against GRIM
finals by the executive branch OF the
government.
Postal Savings Banks.
again renew my recommendation
for postal savings banks, for deposit
Ing savings with the security OF the
government behind them. The object
Is to encourage thrift and economy In
the wage Garner and person Of mod
crate means 1t is believed that In the
aggregate vast sums of money would
be brought into circulation through
] the fundamentally Of the postal saw
ings banks. Postal savings banks are
now In operation In practically all the
great civilized countries with the ex-
ceptlon OF the United States.
Parcel Post.
In my last annual message l com
mended the postmaster generals rec
ommendation for an extension of the
parcel post on the rural routes. The
establishment Of local parcel post
on rural routes would be to the mu-
tual benefit of the farmer and the
country storekeeper. and 1t is desirable
that the routes. serving more than 49,
100000 people. should be utilized to the
fullest practicable extent
Education. =
The share that the national govern
ment should take In the broad work OF
education has not received the atten-
| A.. a,I 49, ooro ~ fiohtIv daaarvao