Gilpin observer., 1908-12-10
est result. i. tina. 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
a 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 IL 1t 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.
The message continues:
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:
hi ia frIIa rl< pf ba
service agents was partly responsible for
the indictment and conviction of a SEN
ator and a congressman for land frauds
In Oregon. 1 do not believe that 1t 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 II this IS not
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
brought into circulation through the in
strumentality of the postal savings
banks.
Parcel Post.
In my last annual message I COM
mended the postmaster general 8
recommendation for an extension of the
10
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 $4,000, 900
people should be utilized to the fullest
practicable extent.
Education.
With the limited means hitherto pro-
vided. the bureau of e 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.
1 earnestly recommend that this un-
fortunate state of affairs as regards
the national educational Office be rene
died by adequate appropriations. This
recommendation is urged by the repre-
sentatives of our common schools ant
great state universities and the leading
educators. who all unite in requesting
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 o
New Mexico and Arizona as states. Thi.
should be done at the present session Of
the congress. The people of the two ter
ritories have made 1t evident by theii
votes that they will not come in as on,
state. The only alternative is to adm
them as two. and 1 trust that this will b'
done without delay.
Interstate Fisheries.
I call the attention of the congress t
the Importance of the problem of III,
fisheries in the interstate waters. On tn,
Great Lakes we are now. under the yer,
wise treaty OF April II of this year en-
deavoring to come to an internationa
agreement for the preservation and sat
isfactory use of the fisheries of these wa
ters which can not otherwise be achieved
Lake Erie, for example. has the riches
fresh water fisheries in the world: hu. 1
is now controlled by the statutes OF Nv,
nations. four states. and one province
and this province by two different ordi
nances in different counties. All thes
political divisions work at cross pur
poses. and in no case can they achiev,
protection to the fisheries, on the on
hand and Justice to the localities and in
dividuals on the other.
Foreign Affairs.
This nations foreign policy is base,
on the theory that right must be dom
between nations precisely as betweei
individuals. and in our actions for th
| last ten years we have in this matte
| proven our faith by our deeds w
have behaved. and are behaving. to
wards other nations. as in private lif
| an honorable man would behave to
wards his fellows.
latin-American Republics.
The commercial and material prog
| ress of the 20 Latin American republic
| Is worthy of the careful attention o
,