The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1908-12-10

which be Is IN any way amenable are
public opinion and the action Of his
fellow judges. 1t Is the last which Is
most Immediately effective and to
which we should look for the reform
OF abuses.
Forests.
II there is any one duty which more
and our children's children to perform
at once II IL to save the forests Of
this country, for they constitute the
first and most important element In
the conservation Of the natural re
sources Of the country.
Shortsighted persons. or persons
blinded to the future by desire TO
make money In every way out OF the
present, sometimes speak as II no
great damage would be done by the
reckless destruction OF our forests II
IS difficult to have patience with the
arguments of these persons. Thanks
to our own rcclSlessness In the use OF
our splendid forests, we have already
crossed the verge Of a timber famine
In this country, and no measures that
we now take can. at least for many
years, undo the mischief that has al
ready been done. But we can prevent
further mischief being done, and II
would be In the highest degree repre-
henslble TO let any consideration Of
temporary convenience or temporary
cost interfere with such action. espc-
clally as regards the national forests
which the nation can now at this very
moment control.
1.-THE president here cites In support
Of his contentious the great destruc-
ton wrought In China by the denuda-
ton Of the forest areas
What has thus happened In northern
China, what has happened In central
Asia, in Palestine. In north Africa. IN
parts Of the Mediterranean countries
Of Europe. will surely happen In our
country II we do not exercise that
wise forethought which should be one
Of the chief marks Of any people call
Ing itself civilized. Nothing should be
permitted TO stand In the way Of the
preservation Of the forests. and II Is
criminal TO permit individuals TO pur-
chase a little gain for themselves
through the destruction OF forests
when this destruction Is fatal to the
well being OF the whole country I'm the
future.
inland Waterways.
Action should be begun forthwith.
during the present session OF congress,
for the Improvement OF our inland wa
terways- which will result In
giving US not only ua,lgable but
nayigated rivers. We have spent
hundreds Of millions OF dollars upon
these waterways. yet the traffic on
nearly all OF them Is steadily decln-
ing. This condition IS the direct re-
suit Of the absence OF any cOmpre
hensive and farseeing plan OF water
] way improvements Wv lRnrlt VIC 'tAA|
not continue thus to expend the rev
cnues Of the government without re-
turn. II Is poor business to spend
money for inland navigation unless
we get II.
Such shortsighted, vacilating and
futile methods are accompanied by de
crcasing water borne commerce and
increasing traffic congestion on land,
by increasing floods and 10y the waste
Of public money. The remedy lies IN
abandoning the methods which have
so slgnally failed and adopting new
ones In keeping with the needs and
demands OF our people.
In a report on a measure introduced
at the first session Of the present con
gress the secretary OF war said. The
chief defect In the methods hitherto
pursued lies In the absence Of execu-
tive authority for originating comprc
hensive plans covering the country or
natural divisions thereof" In this
opinion | heartily concur
Until the work Of river Improvement
Is undertaken IN a modern way 1t can
not have results that will meet the
needs Of this modern nation. These
needs should be met without further
dilly-dallying or delay The plan which
promises the best and quickest results
Is that Of a permanent commission au-
thorlzed TO coordinate the work Of all
the government departments relating
to waterways and to frame and super
wise the execution Of a comprehensive
plan. The time for playing with our
waterways is past. The country de
mands results.
National Parks.
urge that all our national parks ad-
jacent 10 national forests be placed
completely under the control Of the
forest service Of the agricultural de.
partment, instead Of leaving them. as
they are now. under the interior de
partment and polIced by the army.
Pure Food.
The pure food legislation has already
worked a benefit difficult to oyeresti-
mate.
Secret Service.
Last year an amendment was lncor.
porated In the measure providing for |
the secret service which provided that
there should be no detail from the Sc
cret service and no transfer thcrefrom |
1t is not too much 10 say that this |
amendment has been Of benefit only. |
and could be OF benefit only, to the |
criminal classes. The amendment in
question was of-beneAt to no one ex
cepting to criminals, and IT seriously |
hampers the government IN the detec
ton of crime and the securing Of JUS
tice. II prevents the promotion Of EN-
ployees In the secret service. and this
further discOurages good effort In It's
present form the restriction operates |
only to the advantage Of the criminal
II the wrongdoer
The chief argument ln favor of the
provision was that the congressman
did not themselves wish to be lnvestl
gated by secret service men. Very lit
Ito Of such Investigation has been done
In the past, but II is true that the work
Of the secret service agents was partly
~. g. H..