Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1908-12-09

fires that inevitably follow such reck-
less cutting of timber, or to reckless
and uncontrolled grazing, especially
by the great migratory bands of
sheep, the unchecked wanderings Of
which over the country means de-
struction of forests and disaster to
the small home makers, the settlers
Of limited means.
Inland Waterways.
Action should be begun forthwith,
during the present session of the
Congress, for the improvement of nur
inland waterways-action which will
result in giving us nos only navi-
gable but navigated rivers. We have
spent hundreds of millions of dollars
upon these waterways, yet the traffic
on nearly all Of them is steadily de-
clining. This condition is the direct
result of the absence Of any comnre-
hensive and far-seeing plan of wafer
way Improvement Obviously we ea:i
not continue thus to expend the rrv-
cnues of the Government without re-
turn. 1t is poor business to spend
money for inland navigation unless
we get it.
Denatured Alcohol.
I had occasion in my message of
May 4, 1906, to urge the passage of
some law putting alcohol, used in the
arts, industries, and manufactures,
upon the free list; that is, to provide
for the withdrawal free of tax of
alcohol which is to be denatured for
those purposes. The laws of June Z,
1906; and its amendment of March 2,
1907, accomplished what was desired
in that respect, and the use of de-
natured alcohol, as intended, is max
ing fair degree of progress and is
entitled to further encouragement and
support from the CongressA
Pure Food.
The pure food legislation has al
ready worked benefit difficult to
overestimatc.
Indian Affairs.
It has been my purpose from the
beginning Of my administration to
take the Indian Service completely
out Of the atmosphere of political
activity, and there has been steady
progress toward that end. The last
remaining stronghold Of politics in
that service was the agency system,
which had seen its best days and was
gradually falling to pieces from nat
ural or purely evolutionary causes,
but, like all such survivals, was de-
caying 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 con-
structive work on behalf Of the In
dians, preparatory to their induction
into the full measures Of responsible
citizenship. On November 1 only
eighteen agencies were left on the
roster, with two exceptions, where
some legal questions seemed to stand
temporarily in the way, these have
been changed to superintendencies.
and their heads brought into the
classified civil service. .
Secret Service. -
The law enacted by the last session
of Congress to provide that there
should be no detail from the Secret
Service and no transferrence there
from seems to have been only in
the interest of the criminal classes,
both large and small, and as a mat
ter of common interest should be re-
pealed and the old system re-enact-
ed. - 81 Z, ri
Corporations are necessary instru-
ments of modern business. They have
been permitted to become menace
largely because the governmental rep
rescntativcs of the people have work
ed slowly in providing adequate. con-
troll over chem.
Control over the great corporations
doing interstate business can be eff
fective cnly when such control is
vested in the executive department
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-earner and person of
moderate means. In fourteen States
the deposits in savings banks as re-
ported to the Comptroller Of the
Currency amount to $3,59O,245, ,4O2, or
9S.4 per cent of the entire deposits,
while in the remaining 80. States there
are only $7O,3OS,543, or 1.6 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
savings. The result is that money is
kept in hiding and unemployed. 1t
is believed that in the aggregate vast
sums of money would be brought in
to circulation through the instrument,
tality of the postal savings banks.
While there are only 1,453 savings
banks reporting to the Comptroller
there are more than $1,000 postzofices
10000 Of which are money. order Of
fees. Postal savings banks are now
in operation in practically all the
great civilized countries with the ex-
ception Of tie United States.
Parcel Post,
In my last annual message I COM