Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-12-08

so signally failed ana adopting new
ones in keeping with the needs and
demands Of our people.
In a report on measure introduced
at the first session of the present con
gress the secretary of war said, ihe
chief defect in the methods hitherto
pursued lies in the absence OF execu-
tive authority for originating compre
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 permanent commission au-
thorized to coordinate the work of all
the government departments relating
to waterways and to frame and super
wise the execution Of comprehensive
plan The time for playing with our
waterways is past. The country de-
mands results.
National Parks.
urge that al. our national parks ad-
jacent to natio lal 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 benefit difficult to overesti-
mate.
Secret Service.
Last year an amendment was incor-
porated i: Ahe measure providing for
the secret service which provided that
there should be no detail from the Sc
cret service and no transfer there.rom.
1t is not too much to 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 benefit to no one ex-
cepting to criminals, and 1t seriously
hampers the government in the detec-
ton Of crime and the securing Of JUS
tice. 1t prevents the promotion of en-
ployees in the secret service. and this
further discourages good effort. In its
present form the restriction operates
only to the advantage Of the criminal,
of the wrongdoer.
The chief argument In favor Of the
provision was that the congressman
did not themselves wish to be investl-
gated by secret service men. Very lit
tie 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 con-
viction of senator and congressman
for land frauds in Oregon. l do not
believe that It Is In the public interest
to protect criminals in any branch Of
the public service, and exactly as we
have again and again during the past
seven years prosecuted and convicted
such criminals who were In the execu-
tive branch of the government so In
my belief we should be given ample
means to prosecute them If found In
the legislative branch. But If this Is
not considered desirable special ex-
ception could be made In the law pro-
hibiting the use Of the secret service
force in investigating members of the
congress. 1t would be far better to do
this than to do what actually was done
e%u "a nr Of laoSk hfn
hamper effective action against GRIM
inals by the executive branch Of the
government.
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
the wage Garner and person Of mod
crate means. 1t Isl believed that in the
aggregate vast sums Of money would
be brought into circulation through
the fundamentally of the postal saw
ings banks. Postal savings banks are
now in operation in practically all the
great civilized countries with the ex-
ception Of the United States.
arceI Post.
In my last annual message I COM
mended the postmaster generals rec
ommendation for an extension of the
parcel post on the rural routes. The
establishment Of local parcel post
on rural routes would be to the mu-
tual benefit of the farmer and the
country storekeeper, and it is desirable
that the routes, serving more than IT,
100000 people, should be utilized to the
fullest practicable extent.
Education.
The share that the national govern
ment should take in the broad work Of
education has not received the atten-
ton and the care it rightly deserves.
I earnestly recommend that this I'M
fortunate state Of affairs as regards
the national educational Office be rem
edied by adequate appropriations.
Census.
I strongly urge that the request Of
the director Of the census in connec-
ton with the decennial work SO soon
to be begun be complied with and that
the appointments to the census force
be placed under the civil service law,
waving the geographical requirements
as requested by the director Of the
census. The supervisors and enumer-
ators should not be appointed under
the civil service law for the reasons
given by the director.