The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1908-12-11

country If we do not exercise that
wise forethought which should be one
of the chief marks OF any people call
ing itself civilized. Nothing should be
permitted TO stand in the way OF the
preservation of the forests, and it is
criminal to permit individuals to pur-
chase little gain for themselves
through the destruction of forests
when this destruction Is fatal to the
we'll being Of the whole country In the
future.
finland Waterways.
Action should be begun forthwith,
during the present session of congress,
for the Improvement of our inland wa
terways-action which will result In
giving US not only navigable but
navigated rivers. We have spent
hundreds of millions Of dollars upon
these waterways, yet the traffic on
nearly all Of them is steadily declin-
ing. This condition is the direct re-
suit OF the absence Of any compre-
hensive and farseeing plan of water
way Improvement. Obviously we can
not continue thus to expend the rev.
enues of the government without re-
turn. 1t Is poor business to spend
money for inland navigation unless
we get it.
Such shortsighted, vacillating and
futile methods are accompanied by de-
creasing water borne 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 a report on a measure introduced
at the first session Of the present con-
gress the secretary of war said, "The
chief defect in the methods hitherto
pursued lies in the absence-ef execu-
tive authority for originating compre-
hensive plans covering the country or
natural divisions thereof" In this
opinion I heartily concur.
Until the work Of river improvement
is undertaken In modern way it can
not have results that will meet the
needs Of this modern nation. These
needs should be met without further
dilly-dallying or delay. Thep 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.
l urge that all our national parks ad-
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 spohced by the army.
"}, Pure Food.
The pure food legislation has already
worked a benefit difficult to overesti-
mate r,
- ''''f 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.
1t Is not too much to say that this
q Of
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 it seriously
hampers the government in the detec-
ton Of crime and the securing of JUS
tice. 1t prevents the promotion Of en-
Dloyees in the secret service, and this
further diScOurages good effort In its
present form the restriction operates
only to the advantage of the criminal,
of the wrongdoer
The chief argument in favor Of the
provision was that the congressman
did not themselves wish to be investi-
gated by secret service men. Very lit
tie of such investigation has been done
in the past, but 1t is true that the work
Of the secret service agents was partly
responsible for the indictment and con-
viction of 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
the public service, and exactly as we
have again and again during the past
seven years prosecuted and 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 If this is
not considered desirable special ex-
ception could be- made in the law pro-
hibting 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 70
hamper effective action against GRIM
inals by the executive branch of the
government
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
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