Evening journal., 1908-12-08

which he Is In any way amenable are
public opinion and the action Of his
fellow judges. It is the last which Is
most Immediately effective and to
which we should look for the reform
,f abuses.
Forests.
If there is any one duty which more
than another we owe It to our children
md our children's children TO perform
it once It Is 60 save the forests OF
this country. for they constitute the
Hrst and most important element IN
the conservation Of the natural re-
sources OF the country.
shortsightcd persons, or persons
blinded TO the future by desire 10
make money in every way out Of the
present, sometimes speak as II no
great damage would be done by the
reckless destruction OF ourrforests. II
Is difficult to have patience with the
arguments OF these persons. Thanks
10 our own recklessness In the use OF
sur splendid forests. we have already
crossed the verge of timber famine
In this country, and no measures that
we now take can, at least for many
gears, undo the mischief that has al
ready been done. But we can prevent
further mischief being done, and It
would be In the highest degree repre-
hensible to let any consideration Of
temporary convenience or temporary
cost interfere with such action, espe-
rially 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-
llon wrought In China by the denuda-
lion Of the forest nreas.l
What has thus happened in northern
China. what has happened in central
Asia. in Palestine. I'm 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 bo
I permitted TO stand in the way OF the
! preservation Of the forests. and It Is
criminal 10 permit individuals to pur-
rhase a little gain for themselves
/ through tho destruction of forests
when this destruction is fatal 10 the
well being OF the whole country IN the
future.
Inland Waterways.
Action should be begun forthwith,
during the present session of congress-,
for the improvement OF our inland wa.
terways-action which Will result in
giving US not only navigable but
navigated rivers. We have spent
hundreds of millions OF dollars upon
these waterways. yet the traffic on
nearly all Of them is steadily declin
ing. This condition is the direct re
suit Of the absence Of any compre
hensive and farseeing plan Of water
way improvement. Obviously we can
not continue thus to expend the rev
enues Of the government without re.
turn. It is poor business to spend
money for inland navigation unless
we get It.
Such shortsighted, vacillating and
futile methods are accompanied By de
creasing water borne commerce and
Increasing traffic congo Qon on land
by increasing floods aud sy the waste
o. public money. The remedy lies n
abandoning the methods which have
so signally failed and adopting new
ones in keeping with the needs and
demands Of our people
In report on a measure introduced
at the first session Of the present con
gress the secretary OF war said. 'ThC
chief defect ia the methods hitherto
pursued lies in the absence Of execu
tive authority for originating compre
hensive plans covering the country ol
natural divisions thereof" In thi,
opinion ] heartily concur.
Until the work Of river Improvement
IS undertaken in modern way ii can
not have results that will meet tn,
needs Of this modern nation. Thes,
needs should be met without further
dilly-dnllying or delay. The plan whict
promises the best and quickest results
Is that Of a permanent commission au
thorized TO coordinate the work OF al
the government departments relating
to waterways and to frame and super
wise the execution Of a comprehensiv,
plan. The time for playing with oul
waterways is past The country de
mands results.
National Parks.
urge that all our national parks ad
iacent TO national forests be place,
completely under the control Of th,
forest service Of the agricultural de
partment. instead Of leaving them, al
they are now, under the Interior de
partment and policed by the army.
Pure Feod.
The pure food legislation has alread,
worked a benefit difficult to overesti
mate
Secret Service.
Last year an amendment was incor
porated in the measure providing 70
the secret service which provided tha
there should be no detail from the Sc
cret service and no trnnsfer therefrom
It is not too much to say that thi
amendment has been OF benefit only
and could be Of benefit only. TO tn
criminal classes. The amendment Il
question was Of benefit TO no one cx
reptng to criminals. and II seriousl,
hampers the government IN the detec
tlon Of crime and the securing OF Jus
tice. II prevents the promotion Of en-
ploVees In the secret service, and thi