Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 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
mosphere OF political activity, and there
has peen 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 surViYais, was decaying slowly
in its later stages. IT seems clear that It's
extinction had better be made tinal now,
so that the ground can be cleared for
larger constructive work on behalf of
the Indians, preparatory TO their Undue
ton into the fun measure OF responsible
citizenship. On November l only Is agen-
CieS were left on the roster: with two
exceptions. where Some legal questions
seemed to stand temporarily In the way,
these have been changed to s~uperintend-
enCies, and their heads brought into the
classified civil service.
Posta! Savings Banks.
I 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 ana
person Of moderate means. In fourteen
states the deposits in savings banks as re-
ported to the comptroller OF the currency
amount 60 50, 800 i5, 402, or 9S.f per cent or
the entire deposits, while In the remaining
81 states thore are only $40, 9OS, DAB, or IL
per cent, showing COnclusively that there
arg many localities in the United states
where sufficient opportunity IS not gwen
to the people TO deposit their savings Inc
result Is that money Is kept In hiding ana
unemployed 1t is believed that in the ag-
gregate vast sums of money would be
brought into circulation through the IN
strunentality Of the postal savings banks,
While there are only L. 53 aVing banks
reporting to the comptroller there are more
than 1900 postoffices, 10000 of which are
money order offices. Postal savings banks
are now I'm operation in practically all the
great civilized countries with the excep-
ton OF the United States.
Parcels Post.
II my last annual message I commend
ed the postmaster generals recommended
ton 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 beneht OF the farmer and
the country storekeeper, and 1t Is deslr-
able that the routes, serving more man
5000. 008. people. should be utilized TO the
fullest practicable extent. An amend
ment was proposed in the Senate at the
last session, at the suggestion or the post
master general, providing that, Tor tne
purpose of ascertaining the practlcaoilty
OF establishing a special local parcel post
system on the rural routes throughout the
United States. the postmaster general be
authorized and directed to experiment ana
report to the congress the result of such
experiment by establishing a special local
parcel post system on rural delivery
routes In not TO exceed four counties in
the United States for packages OF fourth
class matter originating on q rural route
or at the distributing postoffce for dehv-
cry by rural carriers. 1t would seem only
proper that such an experiment should De
tried in order TO demonstrate the practlca-
bility of the proposition, especially as the
postmaster general that the rev.
enue from the operation of such a system
on all the rural routes would amount 10
many million dollars.
Education.
The share that the national government
Should take in the broad work or educa-
tion has not received the attention and the
care IL rightly deserves. The immediate
responsibility for the support and improve
nlent OF our educational systems ana m
stitutions rests and should always rest
with the people of the several states act
ing through their state and local govern
ments, hut the nation mas an opportunity
in educational work when must not Dc
lost and a duty WHICH shoulu ho iohsoi
be neglected.
The national bureau OF education was
established more than 40 years ago. with
the limited means hitherto provided, IL
has rendered efficient service, but the con-
lgress has neglected TO adequately supply
the bureau with means TO meet the educa-
ltional growth OF the country:
/ earnestly mai TINS unfort-
innate state of affairs as regards the ma
tionsI educational office be renealed py
adequate appropriations. THIS fecoIlihel-
dation Is urged. Dy, the iepIeS
orr cornmon schools and great state uni
yersities and the leading educators. VINO
ali unite in requesting favorable consider
alton and action by the congress upon TINS
subject.
Census.
strongly urge that the request or the
d,re.tor OF the census in connection with
the d~acenniai work so soon to be begun, De
conniIed with and that the appointments
To the census force be placed under the
...txa lou WaiyjpQ the ReORraDliCat
sso,,irsments as requested by the director
.SNsaa nansns The superNisors and emu