The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-12-09

not considered desirable a 6pecfal ex- ception. could be made in the law vice 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 criminals by the executive branch of the Government. zs
 Postal Savings Banks. ss
 l again renew my recommendation for postal savings banks. for de- posting savings with the security of the Government behind them. The object is to encourage thrift and economy in the wage-earner and per son of moderate means. In fourteen States the deposits in savings banks the Currency amount to S3.590.245.4e2. or 9s.4 per cent of the entire deposits while in the remaining thirty tive States there are only $70.30S.64s. or there are mang localities in the United States where sufficient opor- tuntty is not given to the people 70 deposit their savings. The, result IS that money Is kept in hiding and un< employed. It is believed that in the aggregate vast sums of money would be brought into circulation through the instrumentality of the postal savings banks. While there are only l4ss savings banks reporting to the s1.o0o post-ofaces. 10000 of which are money order offices. Postal savings banks are now in operation in practi- cally all the great civilized countries with the exception of the United
 Parcel Post.
 In my last annual message T com mended the Postmaster Generals re- commendation for an extension of the parcel post on the rural routes The establishment of local parcel post on rural routes would be to the mutual benefit of the farmer and the country storekeeper. and it is desirable that the routes. serving more than f5so0o. .o0o practicable extent An amendment was proposed in the Senate at the last session at the suggestion of the Postmaster-General, providing that. practicability of establishing a special local parcel post system on the rual routes throughout the United States. the Postmaster-General be authorized and directed to experiment and report to the Congress the result of such experiment. by establishing a special local parcel post system on rural de- livery routes in not to exceed four counties in the United States for packages of fourth-class matter origi- hating on a rural route or at the dia. tributing post office for delivery by rural carries. It would seem only proper that such an experiment sh houid be tried in order to demonstrate the cially as the Postmaster General estimates that the revenue derived from the operation of such a system on all the rural routes would amount to many million dollars
 Education.
 The share that the National Govern ment should take in the broad work or education has not received the at- tention and the care 1t rightly de- serves. The immediate responsibility for the support and improvement of our educational systems and institu- tions rests and should always rest with the people Of the several states acting through their state and local opportunity in educational work which must not be lost and . duty which should no longer be neglected.
 The National Bureau of Education was established more than forty years ago. Its purpose is to collect and dif- fuse such information Gas shall aid the people of the United States in the establishment and maintenance of ef- ficient school systems and otherwise throughout the country" This purpose in no way conflicts with the educa-. tiona1 work of the states, but may be made of great advantage to the states by giving them the fullest. most ac- curate, and hence the most helpful in- formation and suggestion regarding the best educational systems. The na- ton, through it's broader field of activt- ties. It's wider opportunity for obtain from foreign countries. ia able to do that which not even the richest states can do. and with the distinct addt- tionai advantage that tho information thus obtained Is used for the immediate benefit of all our people.
 With the limited means hitherto provided, the Bureua of Education has rendered efficient service, but the Con- gress has neglected to adequately. sup ply the bureau with means to meet tho educational growth of the country; The appropriations for the general work of the bureau, outside education Ss7,500-an amount less than they were ten years ago, and some of the tn1- portant items in these appropriations are less than they were thirty years ago. It is an inexcusable waste .oI public money to appropriate an amount which is so inadequate as to make 1t impossible properly to do the work authorized, and 1t Is unfair to the great educational interests of the country 10 deprive them of the value of the re- suits which can be obtained by proper appropriations.
 fortunate state of affairs as regards the national educational office be reme.iied by adequate appropriations. This recommendation Is urged by the representatives of our common schools and great state universities and the leading educators, who all unite m requesting favorable consideration ana action by the Congress upon thls sup Ject.
 strongly urge that the request or the Director of the Census In com nection with the decennial work go soon to be begun, be compiled with and that the appointments to the cen sus force be placed under the civil ser vice law, waving the geographical re- nuirements as requested by the Dtrec- for of the Census. The supervisors and enumerators should not be appointed under the civil service law, for the reasons given by the director. I com mend to the Congress the careful con sIdera tion of the admirable report or fha Director of the Census. and trust that his recommendations VIII be adopted and immediate action thereon N'- Reatatrfbutlon of Bureaus.
 It ts highly. advisable that. there should be intelligent action on the Tt of the nation on the. question Of 1,reserving the health of the country. Tbroueh the practical extermination Tn San francisco of jisease-beartng radents our country has thus faf escap- sd inc bubonic plague. This is but one of the many achievements of Amer ican health officers; and 1t shows What can he accomplished with better or e~anizatiou than at present exists. The dangers to public health from 1000