River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1908-12-10

UlSdSleT 10 Tie SIIldll IOInS-IldhSTS, TIC
settlers of limited means.
Thanks to our own recklessness
In the use of our splendid forests,
we have already crossed the verge of a.
timber famine in this country, and no
measures that we now take can, at least
for many years, undo the mischief that
has already been done. But we can pre-
vent further mischief being done; and it
would be in the highest degree reprehen-
sible to let any consideration of tenn
porary convenience or temporary cost
interfere with such action, especially as
regards the national forests which the
nation can now, at this very moment.
control.
The lesson of deforestation in China
is lesson which mankind should have
learned many times already from what
has occurred in other places. Denuda-
ton leaves naked soil; then outlying
cuts down to the bare rock; and mean
while the rock-waste buries the bottom
lands When the soil is gone. men
must go; and the process does not take
long.
Plea for Inland Waterways.
Action should be begun forthwith, dur
ing the present session of the congress,
for the Improvement of our inland water
ways-action which will result in giving
US not only navigable but navigated
rivers.
Until the work of river Improvement is
undertaken in a modern way it can not
have results that will meet the needs Of
this modern nation. The plan
which promises the best and quick
est results Is that Of per-
manent commission authorized to co-or-
dinate the work of all the government
departments relating to waterways, and
to frame and supervise the execution of
comprehensive plan. Under such a
commission the actual work of construc-
ton might be entrusted to the reclama-
ton service; or to the military engineers
acting with a sufficient number of civili-
ans to continue the work in time of war;
or 1t might be divided between the rec
amation service and the corps of en-
gineers. Funds should be provided from
current revenues If it is deemed wise
otherwise from the sale of bonds. The
essential thing is that the work should
go forward under the best possible plan
and with the least possible delay. The
time for playing with our waterways is
past. The country demands results.
The president urges that national
parks adjacent to national forests be
placed under the control of the forest
service of the agricultural depart
ment; he also points out the benefits
derived from pure food legislation.
Inc message cOnLlDuSS:
Needs Of the 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 secret serv-
ice and no transfer therefrom. The
amendment in question was of benefit to
no one excepting to criminals. and
1t seriously hampers the government in
the detection of crime and the securing
of justice. The chief argument in
favor of the provision was that
the congressman did not them
selves wish to be investigated by the
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 SEN
ator and congressman for land frauds
in Oregon. I do not believe that it is
in the public interest to protect criminals
in any branch of the public service, and
exactly as we have again and again dur
ing the past seven years prosecuted and
convicted such criminals who were in
the executive branch of the government,
so in my belief we should be given ample
means to prosecute them IL found in the
legislative branch. But if this is not
considered desirable a special exception
could be made in the law prohibiting the
use of the secret service force in inves-
tigating members of the congress.
Postal Savings Banks.
I 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-earner and person of mod
crate means. 1t is believed that In the
aggregate vast sums of money would be
he IN
strumentality of the postal savings
banks.
Parcel Post.
In my last annual message I COM
mended the poStmaSter-gen 8
recommendation 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 mutual
benefit of the farmer and the country
storekeepcr, and it is desirable that the
routes, serving more than 100000
people, should be utilized to the fullest
practicable extent.
Education.
With the limited means hitherto pro-
vided, the bureau Of ducation has
rendered efficient service, but the con-
gress has neglected to adequately sup
ply the bureau with means to meet the
educational growth of the country.
L
fortunate state of affairs as regards
the national educational Office be reme-
died by adequate appropriations. This
recommendation is urged by the repre-
sentatives of our common schools and
great state universities and the leading
educators, who all unite in requesting
favorable consideration and action by
the congress upon this subject.
The president points out the neces-
sity Of better organization Of the vari-
Gus bureaus responsible for the public
health, and urges the placing of all
soldiers homes under the jurisdiction
of the war department.
Statehood
On the question of statehood the
president says:
1 advocate the immediate admission Of
New Mexico and Arizona as states. This
should be done at the present session Of
the congress. The people of the two ter
ritories have made it evident by their
votes that. they will not come in as one
state. The only alternative is to admit
them as two, and trust that this will be
done without delay.
Interstate Fisheries.
I call the attention of the congress to
the Importance OF the problem of the
fisheries in the interstate waters. On the
Great Lakes we are now, under the very
wise treaty Of April II of this year, en-
deavoring to come to an international
agreement for the preservation and sat
isfactory use of the fisheries of these wa
tiers which can not otherwise be achieved.
Lake Erie, for example, has the richest
fresh water fisheries in the world; but Il
is now controlled by the statutes of two