The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1908-12-17

means 10 meet the educational growth or
the country. / earnestly recommend that
this unfortunate state of affairs as
CARDS the national educational Office be
remedied by adequate appropriations.
Census.
/ commend to the Congress the careful
consideration of the admirable report of
the director OF the census, and trust that
his recommendations will be adopted and
immediate action thereon taken
Public Health.
1t Is highly advisable that there should
| be intelligent action on the part of the ma
| ton on the question Of preserving the
health of the country. The first legisla-
| tive step to be taken Is that for the con-
centratiOn of the proper bureaus into one
| of IL existing departments. l therefore
| urgently recommend the passage of a bill
! which shall authorize a redistribution of
| the bureaus which shall best accomplish
| this end.
Government Printing Office.
/ recommend that legislation be enacted
| placing under the jurisdiction of the de-
| partment of commerce and labor the gov
| eminent printing Office.
Soldiers Homes.
| All Soldiers Homes should be placed IN
der the complete jurisdiction and control
| of the war department
Independent Bureaus and Commits
siOns.
Economy and sound business policy re-
quire that all existing Independent bureaus
and commissions should be placed under
the jurisdiction of appropriate executive
| departments.
| Statehood.
| l advocate the immediate admission of
| New Mexico and Arizona as states. This
| should be done at the present session OF
the Congress.
| Interstate Fisheries.
/ call the attention of the Congress to
| the Importance of the problem of the fish
| cries in the interstate waters In this as
| in similar problems the obvious and simple
rule should be followed of having those
| matters which no particular state can man
| age taken in hand by the United States.
Fisheries and Fur Seals.
The federal statute regulating interstate
traffic in game should be extended to In
| clude fish, New federal fish hatcheries
| should be established. The administration
| of the Alaskan fur-seal service should be
vested in the bureau of fisheries.
| 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 proven our faith by
| our deeds. We have behaved, and are be
having. towards other nations, as In pri
|
| towards his fellows.
SLatin-American Republics.
The commercial and material progress OF
| the twenty I.atin-American republics Ii
worthy Of the careful attention of the Con
| gress. No other section Of the world has
shown greater proportionate development
| OF its foreign trade during the last tie,
| years and none other has more specia
claims on the interests of the United States
Panama Canal.
The work on the Panama Canal is being
| done with a speed, efficiency and entire de
votion to duty. which make it model fol
all work of the kind. No task of sucf
magnitude has ever before been undertaken
by any nation and no task Of the kind ha:
ever been better performed
Ocean Mail Lines.
again recommend the extension Of thu
| ocean mail act of 1891 that satisfactor,
American ocean mail lines to South Amer
lea. Asia. the Philippines. and Australasia;
may be established.
Hawaii.
| 1 call particular attention to the Terri
tory of Hawaii The Importance of thos'
Islands Is apparent, and the need OF lmprov
ing their condition and developing their re
sources is urgent.
| The Philippines.
Real progress toward self-government Il
being made in the Philippine Islands Th'
gathering of Philippine legislative bod,
and Philippine assembly marks process
absolutely new In Asia. not only as regards
Asiatic colonies of European powers, but al
regards Asiatic possessions OF other Asiati
powers, and, indeed, always excepting thu
striking and wonderful example afforded IL
the great Empire of Japan, Ii opens al
entirely new departure when compared will
any thing which has happened among Asiati'
Pcwe"s which are their own masters.
hs.K.. I.olta IL
begi inning Of course which Will continue
till the Filipinos become fit TO decide 70
themselves whether they desire to be an In
dependent nation. All we can do Is to Civ
them the opportunity to develop the capac
ity FOR self-government | trust that with
In generation the time will arrive whel
the Philippines can decide for themselve
whether IL Is well for them to become indie
pendent, or to continue under the protec
tion of a strong and disinterrsted power
able to guarantee to the Islands order a
home and protection from foreign invasion
Porto Rico.
again recommend that American citi
zenship be conferred upon the people o
Porto Rico.
/ In Cuba our occupancy will cease fl
about two months time; the Cubans hav,
In orderly manner elected their own govern
mental authorities, and the island will b,
L
this occasion has lasted a little over tw;
years. and Cuba has thriven and prosperet
under IL.
The Army.
As regards the army, I call attention (,
the fact that while our junior officers ant
enlisted men stand very high, the present
system Of promotion by seniority results IL
bringing into the higher grades many mel
| of mediocre capacity who have but a shor
time to serve. No man should regard 1t a
his vested right to rise to the highest ranl
in the Army any more than In any othel
profession. 1t is a curious and by ne
means credltable fact that there should b,
so often failure on the part Of the publ,
great need. from the standpoint of the ser
vice and the nation. of refusing to promot,
respectable. elderly incompetents. The
| higher places should be given to the mos
deserving men without regard TO seniority
| at least seniority should be treated as ONLY
one consideration. In the stress of moderr
industrial competition no business firm coulC
succeed IL those responsible for its manage
ment were chosen simply on the grount
ployment; yet this Is the course advocate
as regards the army. and required by law
for ali grades except those of general Off
Ger. The cavalry arm should be reorgan
| lied upon modern lines. This Is An arm
in which II Is peculiarly necessary that tn.
| field officers should not be old.
Now that the, organized militia. the Ma
ti0nal Guard, has been Incorporated with
| the army part of the national forces
Ii behooves the government to do every rea
sOnabe thing In Its power 10 perfect II:
efficiency. There should be legislation tc
provide complete plan for organizing the
| great body Of volunteers behind the regular
army and national guard when war ha:
| come.
| The Navy.
] approve the Recommendations of tn,
general board for the increase of the navy
| calling especial attention to the need OF
| additional destroyers and Golfers, and
above all Of the four battleshlps. Ii Il
desirable to complete as soon as possible
a squadron of eight battleshsps of the best
| existing type. Nothing better for the navy
from every standpoint has ever occurred
| than the cruise of the battle fleet around
the world. The improvement of the ships
In eyey way has been extraordinary, and
| they nave gained far more experience IN
| battle tactics than they would have gained
| II they had stayed In the Atlantic waters
The American people have cause for pro-
| found qualification. both In view of the
| excellent condition of the feet as shown by