Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1908-12-08
Secret Service.

p0rated tn the measure providing for ,
the secret service which provided that
there should be no detail from the Sc
cret service and no transfer therefrom. I
1t Is not too much to say that this
amendment has been of benefit only. !
and could be Of benefit only, to the
criminal classes. The amendment in
question was Of benefit to no one ex-
cepting to criminals. and 1t seriously
hampers the government in the detec-
ton Of crime and the securing OF JUS
tlce. 1t prevents the promotion Of en-
Dloyees in the secret service. and this
further discourages good effort. In it,
present form the restriction operates
only to the advantage Of the criminal.
IT the wrongdoer
The chief argument In favor Of the
provision was that the congressman
did not themselves wish to he investi. /
gated by secret service men. Very lit
tie Of such investigation has been done
in the past, but it Is true that the work
OF the secret service agents was partly
responsible for the indictment and con-
vlction or senator and congressman
for land frauds IN Oregon. do not
believe that 1t Is In the public Interest
to protect criminals In any branch Of
the public service. and exactly as we
have again and again during the past
seven years prosecuted aud convicted
such criminals who were In the execu-
tive branch of the government so in
my belief we should be given ample
means to prosecute them If found in
the legislative branch. But II this Is
not considered desirable special ex-
ception could be made in the law pro-
hibiting the use of the secret service
force in investigating members of the
congress. 1t would he far better to do
this than to do what actually was done
and strive to prevent or at least to
hamper effective action against cNm-
inals 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
I the instrumentality Of the postal saw
ings banks. Postal savings banks are
, now in operation In practically all the
great civilized countries with the ex-
ception Of the United States.
Parcel Post.
In my last annual message I COM
mended the postmaster generals rec
[ ommendation for an extension Of the
: parcel post on the rural routes. The
: establishment Of a local parcel post
on rural routes would be to the mu-
, tual benefit Of the farmer and the
, country storekeeper. and it is desirable
, that the routes, serving more than 49,
!. 100000 people. should be utilized to the
: fullest practicable extent.
+ Education.
e The share that the national govern.
: ment should take in the broad work Of
. education has not received the atten-
: ton and the care 1t rightly deserves.
) l earnestly recommend that this I'M
: fortunate state of affairs as regards
) the national educational Office be rem
, edied by adequate appropriations.
, census.
l strongly urge that the request Of
the director OF the census In cOnnec-
ton with the decennial work SO soon
to he begun be compiled with and that
the appointments to the census force
be placed under the civil service law,
! waving the geographical requirements
as requested by the director OF the
census. The supervisors and enumer-
l ators should not be appointed under
, the civil service law for the reasons
: given by the director
: Public Health.
The dangers to public health from
food adulteration and from many 9TH
err sources, such as the menace to the
physical. mental and moral develop
, ment Of children from child labor,
should be met and overcome. This ma
ton cannot afford to lag behind In the
worldwide battle now being waged
by all civilized people with the micro
scOpic foes Of mankind. The first leg
islative step to be taken is that for the
; concentration Of the proper bureaus
into one OF the existing departments.
Statehood.
! advocate the immediate admission
Of New Mexico and Arizona as states.
This should be done ut the present ses-
, sion Of the congress. The people Of
the two territories have made 1t EVIL
, dent by their votes that they will not
, come In as one state. The only alter
native Is to admit them as two. and
trust that this will be done without
delay.
Foreign Affairs.
This nations foreign policy Is based
] on the theory that right must be done
between nations precisely as between
individuals, and In our actions for the
. last ten years we have In this matter
. proved our faith by our deeds. We