The San Francisco call., 1909-12-08


mise, il seems to me, which may give
needed local legislation and secure a
conservative government is the one /
propose.
In several de-
i lpartments there is
1 conservation presented the ne
Icessity for legfsla-
Ideas Prom tion looking TO the
| further conServa-
| iSed Later Ition of our national
resources, and the
is one of
such Importance as to require a more
detailed and extended discussion than
can be entered upon in this communi-
cation. For that reason / shall take am
message to congress on the subject OF
the Improvement of our waterways.
upon the reclamation and irrigation of
arid, semiar1d and swamp lands; upon
the preservation of our forests and the
reforesting of suitable areas; upon the
reclassificatiOn OF the public domain
with a view of separating from agri-
cultural settlement mineral coal and
phosphate lands and sites belOn ging 10
the government bordering on streams
suitable for the utilization of water
1 commend to your careful consid-
Grafton the report Of the secretary OF
agriculture as showing the immense
sphere of usefulness which that de-
partment now fills and the wonderful
addition to the wealth of the nation
made by the farmers OF this country In
the crops of the current year
The lighthouse board now discharges
it's duties under the department. or
40 years this board has been consti-
tuted of military and naval officers
and two or three men of science, with
such an absence of a duly constituted
executive head that il is marvellous
what work has been accomplished In
the period of construction the energy
and enthusiasm of all the members
prevented the inherent defects of the
system from interfering greatly with
the beneficial work of the board, but
now that the work is chiefly confined
to maintenance and repair. for which
purpose the country is divided into 16
districts. to which are assigned an engi-
of the navy, each with a lighthouse ten
der and the needed plant for his work,
il has become apparent by the frequent
friction that arises, due to the absence
of any central independent authority,
that there must be a complete reor-
ganiZa ton of the board i cOncede the
advantage Of keeping IN the system
the dignity of discipline that the pres
ence of naval and military officers in
charge insures, but unless the pres
ence of such officers in the board can
be made consistent with responsible
executive head that shall have proper
authority. 1 recommend the transfer OF
| suitable civilian bureau. This Is in ac-
cordance with the Judgment OF COM
petent persons who are familiar with
/ the workings or the present system. /
am confident that a reorganization can
be effected which shall avoid the re-
/ currenee of friction between members.
/ instances of which have been officially
| brought to my attention, and that by
/ such reorganization greater efficiency
and a substantial reduction in the ex-
| pense of operation can be brought
about
1 request congressional authority to
fenable the secretary of commerce and
! labor to unite the bureaus of manufac-
/ lures and statistics. This was recon-
mended by a competent committee ap
/ pointed in the previous administration
/ for the purpose of suggesting changes
/ in the interest of economy and ef-
fciency. and is requested by the secre-
tary-