The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-12-09

9 fair degree of progress and is entitled
to further encouragement and suppor1
1rom the congress
Pure Food.
The pure food legislation has already
worked a benefit difficult TO overestimate
Indian Service.
IL mas Deen my purpose from the begin
nil of my administration 10 take the
Indian service completely out of the at
Inosphere of political activity and there
The last remaining stronghold of politics
IN that service was the agency system.
gradually falling to pieces from natural
or purely evolutionary causes. but, like
all such survivals, was decaying slowly
its extinction had better be made final
now. so that the ground can be cleared
for larger constructive work on behalf of
ton into the fun measure of responsible
citizenship.
Postal Savings Banks.
/ again renew my recommendation for
postal savings banks. for depositing saw
ings 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.
Education.
should take in the broad work of educa-
ton has not received the attention ano
care 1t rightly deserves The immediate
provement of our educational systems and
institutions rests and should always rest
with the people of the several states act
ing through their state and local govern-
mentS, but the nation has am opportunity
in educational work which must not be
lost and duty which should no longer
be neglected
Redistribution of Bureaus.
1t is highly advisable that there should
be intelligent action on the part OF the
nation on the question OF preserving the
health of the country Through the prac-
teal determination in San Francisco of
taoo
thus far escaped the bubonic plague. This
is but one of the many achievements of
American health officers; and 1t shows
what can be accomplished with better
organization than at present exists. The
dangers to public health from food adult
teration and from many other sources,
such as the menace TO the physician, mem
tai and moral development of children
from child labor, should be met and over
come.
Panama Canal.
The work on the Panama canal is being
done with speed, efficiency and entire
devotion TO duty which makes it model
magnitude has ever before been per-
formed. The men of the isthmus, from
sioners through the entire list of EN-
ployes who are faithfully doing their
duty, have won their right to the I'M
Porto Rico.
Il again recommend that American citi-
Porto Rico.
In Cuba our occupancy will cease in
about two months time; the Cubans have
in orderly manner elected their own gov
ernmental authorities. and the island viii
be turned over TO them. Our. occupa-
over two years. and Cuba has thriven
and prospered under ii. Our earnest hope
and one desire is that the people of the
island shall now govern themselves with
justice, SO that peace and order may be
Japanese Exposition.
The Japanese government has post
poned until 1917 the date of the great
international exposition the action being
taken so as to insure ample time in which
that it should be made The American
commissioners have visited Japan and
opportunity for America to be represented
at the exposition.
As regards the army / call attention
to the fact that while our junior officers
and enlisted men stand very high. the
present system OF promotion by seniority
results in bringing into the higher grades
many men of mediocre capacity who nav,
but short time to serve No man
should. regard it as his vested right 10
rise to the highest rank in the army any
more than in any other profession 1t
is n curious and by no means creditable
fact that there should be so often q FAIL
ure on the part of the public and its rep
resentatives to understand the great need.
from the standpoint of the service and
table, elderly Incompetence The higher
places should be given TO the most deserv-
ing men without regard to seniority; at
least seniority should be treated as only
one consideration. III the stress of mod
ern industrial competition no business
firm could succeed II those responsible
for it's management were chosen simply
on the ground that they were the oldest
people in its employment; yet this is
the course advocated as regards the
army, and required by law for all grades
except those of general officer As a
matter of fact, all Of the best officers IN
the highest ranks Of the army are those
who have attained their present position
wholly or in part by process OF selec-
ton
Now that the organized militia, the
national guard. has been Incorporated
with the army as part Of the nattona.
forces, it behooves the government to do
every reasonable thing in its power TO
perfect its efficiency. 1t should be assist
ed in its instruction and otherwise aided
more literally than heretofore. The con- |
tinuo4is services of many we'll trained
regular officers will. be essential in this
Such officers must be spe- |
cially trained at service schools best to |
qualify them as Instructors of the nation |
al guard But the detailing OF officers /
for training at the service schools ano
for duty with the national guard entails /
detaching them from their regiments.
which are already greatly depleted by /
of officers for assignment TO |
duties prescribed by acts OF the congress |
The Navy.
Ia.e9 - Of ENnr