The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-12-11
DEPARTMENT MATTERS.


1t has been my purpose from the begin
ming of my administration to take the
Indian service completely out of the at
lnosphere 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 natural
or purely evolutionary causes, but, like
All such survivals. was decaying slowly
in its later stages. 1t seems clear that its
larger constructive work on behalf OF
the Indians. preparatory to their induce
citizenship. On November / only is agen-
cies were left on the roster: with two
exceptions, where some legal questions
these have been changed to superintend-
encles, and their heads brought into the
classified civil service.
Postal Savings Banks.
l. again renew my recommendation for
postal savings banks, for depositins saw
ings with the security of the governmen.
behind them. The object is to encourage
.nlatt 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
~ states there are only $50, 3oS, 543. or 1.6
per cent, showing conclusively that there
are many localities i'm the United States
where sufficient opportunity is not given
to the people TO deposit their savings. The
result is mat money is kept in hiding and
gregate vast sums of money would be
brought into circulation through the In
s Mi,i1n OF the postal savings banks.
WINE there are only l,453 savings banks
reporting to the comptroller there are more
thah $1,000 postoffices. 10000 of which are
money order offices. Postal savings banks
are now in operation in practically all the
great civilized countries with the excep-
tloil or The United States.
Parcels Post.
In my last annual message / commend
60 the postmaster generals recommenda-
.ioil Tor an extension of the parcel post on
the rural routes. The establishment of a
!ocai parcel post on rural routes would be
70 the mutual benefit of the farmer and
the country storekeepel, and it is desir-
able that the routes. serving more than
1S.VO,Wo people, should be utilized to the
,nent was PROPOSED in the Senate at the
iast session. at the suggestion of the post
, rlrnoss genera &c e proyiding that. for the
of establishing IA special local parcel post
ssstem1 on me rural routes throughout the
authorized and directed 10 experiment and
report to the congress the result OF such
esp per- by establishing u special local
routes In not TO exceed four counties IN
me United States for packages OF fourth.
LASS lass nha'.er originating on a rural route
cry by rural carriers. 1t would seem oniv
proper that such all experiment should h.
,ti1eo N order to demonstrate the practtca-
oll.y OF the proposition. especially as the
postinastef general estimates that the rev.
enue from the operation of such a svS,e,n
on all Inc rural routes would a1noIint N
many million dollars. w
Education.
The share that the national eoyernu.,
should take In the broad work of ed,cas
1lon has not received the attention ,na "a
care 1t rightly deserves. The inn,ad,ate
responsibility tor the support and tmnrn1se'
.if,n Oh our educational systems and in
WITH the people of the several statss OCT.
ing through their state and local eo,,arn-
in !, u nut the nation has un Opportunity
~ educational work which must NOT ~
lost and a duty which sho,,id 10 Ios oe
be neglected. A" 1o longer
esta b,is naaiomai bureau of education wa.
the Iliii m i more ~ssn than % years ago. With
mas rendered efficient service hnt 49,, ~
sIess mas neglected to Adequately snns,i,.
me bureau with means to meet the edin,ca,
tlonal growth OF the country 40" sooca
l earnestly recommend that tbi. 49,,
1na s.ale OF aflalrs as regards the NO.
tlohal educational office be ren,edia5 h.,
d aeHuate appropriations. This recommeny.
our common schools and great stata1SoA
Nersltles and the leading e6Ic,sna. uni-
~ unite IN requesting favorable cons,%ar
atioh ana action By the congress- Huns !!
subject. upon this
Census.
\ strongly urge that the ro,,
Director of the census in connaction VI me
tne d~ecennial work SO soon 10 hs III, win
to 1Pn with and that the appointments us
civil service law, waving the eeoeranh,na9
requirements as requested by the 49,.
OF the census. The SUPERVISOR and eaEn.uorl
1ooio hot W appointed under,