The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1908-12-08

banks as reported to the comptrol-
Ter of the currency amount to
SO. 500, 245,4O2. or 1914 per cent OF
the entire deposits, while in the
remaining 80 states there are only
$40 ,30S.543, or 1.6 per cent, showing
cOnclusively that there are many
localities in the United States
where sufficient opportunity is not
given to the people to deposit their
savings. The result is that money
Is kept in hiding and unemployed.
1t Is believed that in the aggregate
vast sums of money would be
brought into circulation through
the instrumentality of the postal
savings banks. While there are
only 1853 savings banks reporting
to the comptroller there are more
than $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
exception of the. United States.
4 I'm my last annual message I
commended the postmaster gener-
ais recommendations for an extern
sion 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 store
keeper, and it Is desirable that the
routes, serving more than $4,000, 900
people, should be utilized to the
fullest practicable extent. An
amendment was proposed in the
senate at the last session, at the
suggestion of the postmaster gen.
eral, providing that, for the purpose
of ascertaining the practicability 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 and re-
port to the congress the result OF
such experiment by establishing a
special local parcel post sustem on
rural delivery routes in not to ex-
coed four counties in the United
States for packages of fourth class
matter originating on rural route
or at the distributing pos toffice for
delivery by rural carriers.
1T would seem only proper that
such an experiment shout dbe tried
in order to demonstrate the prac-
ticability of the proposition. espe-
cially as the postmaster general es-
Inmates that the revenue derived
from the operation would amount
to many million dollars"
The president takes up the ques-
ton of preserving the forests and
cites at length the waste and ruin
caused in all parts of the world,
particularly in China, by deforesta-
ton. He argues that it is criminal
to permit individuals to purchase
little gain for themselves through
the destruction of the forests when
this destruction is fatal to the we'll
being of the whole country in
future.
The same line of argument is car
ried into the question of restoring
and maintaining inland waterways,
in which the president repeats his
former arguments for. such i'm
provement and adds facts and fig
ures since obtained. He advocates
the speedy undertaking of water
way improvement in accordance
with modern methods. An inherit
ance and income tax is again rec
commended.
The president notes the progress
made toward self government in
the Philippines under American
supervision as marking new era
in Asia. He believes this progress
will continue until the Filipinos are
ready to decide for themselves
whether they prefer to be an indie
pendent nation He says, however,
that no one can prophesy the date
when it would be wise to consider
independence as a fixed and defin-
lite policy.
Recommendation is made that
American citizenship be conferred
on the people of Porto Rico and the
president mentions that the Ameri-
can arm Twill leave Cuba in two
months, with the prospect that the
Cubans will be able to govern them
selves thereafter.
Attention of congress is called to
the fisheries question, especially
the Columbia river problem, where
the salmon fishery amounts to only
a fraction of what 1t was 25 years
ago on account of lack of protection
due to the conflicting interests of
Washington and Oregon. Govern
ment regulation is advised as the
remedy.
Particular mention is made of the
growing importance of Hawaii and
the necessity of adequate fortified
tons there.
In brief the president advises the
admission of New Mexico and Ari-
IONA as separate states; greater
participation by the government in
the work of the national bureau of
education; civil service for the
census department: close attentions
to the preservation of public
health; placing soldiers homes UNI
der control of the war department.:
careful attention to the commercial
and material progress of the South
American repuglics; extension of
the ocean mail act especially to
encourage Pacific shipping: depart
ure from the present system of
army and navy promotion by SEN