Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1908-12-11

mnnent commission authorized to co-or-
dinate the work of all the government
departments relating to waterways, and
to frame and supervise the execution OF
comprehensive plan Under such
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 civill-
ans to continue the work In time OF war;
or II might be divided between the rec
lamation service and the corps OF en-
gineers. Funds should be provided from
current revenues II 1t is deemed wise
otherwise from the sale OF bonds. The
essential thing is that the work should
60 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;
but 1t is true that the work of the secret
service agents was partly responsible for
the Indictment and conviction of SEN
ator and a congressman for land frauds
In Oregon. l 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 IL this is not
considered desirable a special exception
could be made in the law prohibiting tile
| use of the secret service force in inves-
tigating members Of the congress.
Postal Savings Banks.
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
crate means. It 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 generals
recommendation for an extension of the
parcel post on the rural routes. The
| establishment of a local parcel post on
rural routes would be to the mutual
| benefit of the farmer and the country
| storekeepcr, and 1t is desirable that the
routes, serving more than 100000
people, should be utilized to the fullest
| practicable extent.
Education.
With the limited means hitherto pro-
| vided, the bureau of 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 reme-
| died by adequate appropriations. This
| recommendation is urged by the repre-
| sentatives of our common schools and
| great state universities and the leading
| educators, who all unite in requesting
| favorable consideration and action by
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:
| I advocate the immediate admission of
| New Mexico and Arizona as states. This
should be done at the present session of
| the congress. The people of the two ter
ritories have made 1t evident by their
votes that they will not come in as one
state. The only alternative Is to admit
| them as two, and / trust that this will be
done without delay.
Interstate Fisheries.
I call the attention of the congress to
the Importance of the problem OF the
| fisheries in the interstate waters On the
| Great Lakes we are now, under the very
wise treaty of April II of this year, en-
deavoring to come to international
| 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 richest
fresh water fisheries in the world; but II
Is now controlled by the statutes of two
nations, four states, and one province.
and this province by two different ordi-
nances in different counties. All these
political divisions work at cross pur-
poses, and in no case can they achieve
protection to the fisheries. on the one
hand. and justice to the localities and in
dividuals on the other.
Foreign Affairs.
This nations foreign policy is based
on the theory that right must be done
between nations precisely as between
individuals. and in our actions for the
last ten years we have in this matter
proven our faith by our deeds. We
have behaved, and are behaving to.
wards other nations, as in private life
an honorable man would behave to-
wards his fellows.
Latin-Amerlcan Republics.
The commercial and material prog.
ress of the 20 Latin-American republic.
is worthy of the careful attention oi
the congress. The International Bureau
of the American Republics is doing
| useful work in making these nation: