The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-12-08

ject is one Of such special Importance
as tn require a more detailed and ex-
tended discussion than can he entered
upon in this communication. For that
reason / shall take an early oppor-
tunity to send special message {,
congress on the subject OF the I'm
provement of our waterways. upon the
reclamation and irrigation of arid.
semi-arii and swamp lands: upon the
preservation of our forests and the re-
forestation of suitable areas: upon the
reclassi.~. .slnr .t .ssS public domain
with view of separating from con-
stitrtional settlement mineral coal and
phosphate lands and sites belonging
to the government bordering OH
streams suitable for the utilization or
water power.
Department Of Agriculture.
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.
Commerce and Labor.
The Lighthouse. board now discharges
its duties under the department Of
commerce and labor. For upward af
40 years this board has been constf-
tuted OF military and naval officers
and two or three men of science, with
such an absence of duly constituted
executive head that II is marvellous
what work has been accomplished. IT,
the period of construction the energy
and enthusiasm of all the nemh, ~
prevented the inherent defects OF tie
system from interfering greatly with
the beneficial work Of the board but
now that the work is chiefly confined
to maintenance and repair. far
which purpose the country is divided
into 16 districts. To which are assigned
an engineer officer of the army. an in
spector of the navy, each with a light
house tender and the needed plant for
his work. Il has become apparent by
the frequent friction that arises. due
to the absence of any central indie
pendent authority. that there must he
n complete REORGANIZATION Of the board
/ concede the advantage of keeping in
that the presence OF navat and miii-
tary officers In charge insures. br;
unless the presence Of such officers
in the board can be made consistent
with responsible executive head that
shall have proper authority l recon-
mend the transfer of control over the
lighthouses tn a suitable cisi,iaa tu-
reau. This is in accordance with The
judgment of competent persons, who
are familiar with the workings nf the
present system. I am confidcn. that "A
reorganization can be effe ,.el which
shall avoid the recurrence q. friction.
between members, instances If which
have been officially brought u my at
tention, and by such reorganization
greater efficiency and a substantial re-
duction I'm the expense of operation
can be brought about.
Consolidation Of Bureaus.
| request congress for authority to
enable the secretary OF commerce
and labor to unite the bureau OF man.
ufactures and statistics. This was
recommended by competent commit
tee appointed in the previous admins
tration for the purpose of suggesting
changes In the interest of efficiency,
and Is requested by the secretary.
The White Slave Trade.
greatly regret to have to say that
the investigation made by the bureau
of immigration and other sources of
information lead to the view that there
is urgent necessity for additional legis-
iation and greater executive activity to
suppress the recruiting of the ranks of
prostitutes from the streams of i'm
migration into this country-an evil
which. for want of better name. has
been called the white slave" trade. |
believe II to be constitutional to forbid
under penalty. the transportation
of persons for purposes of prostitution
across national and state lines, and
by appropriating a fund of $4,000
to be used by the secretary of COM
mercc and labor for the employment
Of special inspectors. IL will be pos
sgble to bring those responsible for
this trade to Indictment and conviction
under a federal law.
Bureau of Health.
For very considerable period n
movement has been gathering strength.
especially among the members of the
medical profession. I'm favor of Il con-
of the instruments of the
government which have TO do
with the promotion Of public health.
In the nature Of things. the medical
department Of the army and the med
zeal department of the navy must be
kept separate. But there seems To be
no reason why all the other bureaus
and offices in the general govern
ment which have to do with the public
health or subject akin thereto should
not be united in Il bureau 10 be called
THE Bureau Of Public Health" This
would necessitate the transfer OF the
marine hospital service to such bu-
reau. l am aware that there is a wide
field in respect to the public health
To the states in which the
federal government cannot exercise
hut We have seen in the
department the expansion
to the widest usefulness OF a depart
nent giving attention To agriculture
when that subject is plainly one over
which the states properly exercise di-
rect jurisdiction.
The opportunities offered for useful
research and the spread of useful in-