New-York tribune., 1908-12-09

my administration to take the Indian Service
completely out Of the stmos-
Indian Service. phere of political activity. and
there has been steady progress
toward that end. The last remaining strong
hold OF politics in that 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, Ike all such
survtvals. decaying slowly in its later
stages. It seems clear that its extinction had
better be made final now so that the ground
can be cleared for larger constructive work on
behalf Of the Indians, preparatory 70 their in
duction into the full measure OF responsible citl-
zenship On November l only eighteen agencies
were left on the roster; with two exceptions,
where some legal questions seemed TO stand
Temporarily in the vay. these have been changed
70 superintendencies. and their heads brought
into the classified Civil Service.
Last year amendment was incorporated IN
the measure providing for the Secret Service,
which provided that there should
Secret Service. be detail from the Secret
Service and no transfer there
from II IS not too much to say that this amend
ment has been of benefit only. and could be OF
benefit only, 70 the criminal classes. II delo-
erateIy introduced for the purpose Of diminish
ing the effectiveness Of war against crime II
could not have been better devised 10 this end.
L forbade the practices that had been followed
10 greater or less extent by the executive
heads Of various departments for twenty years.
To these practices owe the securing Of the
evidence which enabled US TO drive great lot
teries out of business and secure a quarter Of
million of dollars in fines from their promoters.
These practices have enabled US TO discover some
Of the most outrageous frauds in connection
with the THEFT or government land and govern
rnent timber by great corporations and by in
dviduaIs These practices have enabled US TO
get some of the evidence indispensable IN order
70 secure the conviction OF the veaIthiest and
most formidable criminals with whom the gov
ernnent has to deal, both those operating in
violation Of the antitrust law and others The
amendment IN question was Of benefit to no one
excepting 70 these criminals, and II seriously
hampers the government in the detection Of
crime and the securing Of justice. Moreover. it
not only affects departments outside Of the
Treasury. but II tends 70 hamper the Secretary
I5,- ,e-IS
the employees Of his department so as to best
meet the requirements Of the public service. It
customs service, from Investigating trregular1-
ties in branch ulints and assay Offices. and has
seriously crippled him Il prevents the promo
ton Of employees in the Secret Service. and this
further discourages good effort IN its present
form the restriction operates only TO the ad-
vantage OF the criminal OF the WTOngdOer. The
chief argument in favor Of the provision was
that the Congressman did not themselves wish
10 be investigated by Secret Service men. Very
little 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 conviction OF a Senator and a
Congressman for land frauds in Oregon I do
not believe that il is in the public interest to
protect criminals in anv branch Of the public
service, and exactly as We have again and again
during the past seven years prosecuted and con-
victed such criminals who were in the exec1-
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 If
this is not considered desirable a special excep-
tion could be made in the law prohibiting the
use Of the Secret Service force in investigating
members OF the Congress. It would be far bet
ter TO do this than 70 do what actually was
done, and strive to prevent or at least to ham
per, effective action against criminals by the
executive branch Of the government
! again renew my recommendation for postal
savings banks. for depositing savings with the
security OF the government be-
Postal Savings hind them. The object is to
Banks. encourage thrift and economy in
the wage Garner and person of
moderate means In fourteen states the de
reported
Comptroller of the Currency. amount to $3.50
245 400 or qS4 per cent OF the entire deposits
while in the remaining thirty-two states there
are only STo308.543. or Is per cent. showing
COnClusively that there are many localities in
the United States where sufficient opportunity
is not given to the people to deposit their saw
ings. The result is that money is kept in hiding
and unemployed It IS DelleVed that IN the ag-
gregate vast sums OF money would be brought
into circulation through the instrumentaIity Of
the postal savings banks. While there are only
1.453 savings banks reporting 10 the Comptroller,
there are more than $1,000 postoffiCes. 10000 OF
which are money order Offices. Postal savings
banks are in operation In practically ali
the great civilized countries. with the exception
Of the United States.
In my last annual message I commended the
Postmaster Generals recommendation for an ex-
tension Of the parcel post on the
Parcel Post. rural routes. The establishment
Of a local parcel post on rural
routes would be 70 the mutual benefit OF the
farmer and the country store keeper and IT is
desirable that the routes. serving more than
fifteen million people, should be utilized 10 the +
fullest practIca bIe extent An amendment /
proposed in the Senate at the last session at
the suggestion OF the Postmaster General. pro- /
Vidi1g that. for the purpose OF aSCertaiuing ths
pra Cticabiiry OF establishing special local par
eel post system on the rural routes throughout /
the United States the Postmaster General be f.
and directed to experiment and re-
port 10 the Congress the result Of such expert I
ment by establishing special local parcel post /
system on rural delivery routes in not 10 /
Ceed four counties in the United States for pack
ages Of fourth class matter originating /
rural route at the distributing postOfT1ce for I.
delivery by rural carriers II would seem only /
proper that such experiment should be tried /
order TO demonstrate the praCtiCability Of the (
especially the Postmaster Cen I
eral estimate that the revenue derived from the 4
routes would amount 10 many million dollars.
The share that the national government should /
take in the broad work OF education has not I.
received the attention and the /
Education. it rightly deserves. The /
immediate responsibility for tha /
support and Improvement OF our educational
systems and institutions rests and should always
through their state and local governments. but .
the nation has an opportunity i'm educational 81
work which must not be lost and duty which /
should no longer be neglected
The national bureau OF education was estab-
lished more than forty years ago. Its purpose /
is to collect and diffuSe such information as /
shall aid the people OF the United States in the .
establishment and maintenance OF efficient /
school systems and otherwise promote the cause /
Il education throughout the country This /
purpose in no way conflicts with the educational
work Of the states, but NAV he made Of great
advantage TO the states by giving them the full
est. most accurate and hence the most helpful .
information and suggestion regarding the best /
educational systems The nation. through It's ,
broader field OF activities, its wider opportunity