Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-12-08

| papers, but magazines and misceiia-
neous periodicals. The actual loss grow.
Ing out of the transmission of this
second class mail matter at / cent a
pound amounts to about 500 ,OOO.OOO a
portation Of this matter is more than
8 cents pound. The statistics of 1907
show that second class mail matter
constituted 63.91 per cent of the
weight of all the mail and yielded
only 5.19 per cent of the revenue.
The figures given are startling and
show the payment by the government
of an enormous subsidy to the news
papers, magazines and periodicals. A
great saving might be made, amount
ing to much more than half of the loss.
by imposing upon magazines and peri
odicalS higher rate of postage.
Postal Savings Banks.
believe postal savings banks to be
necessary in order to offer proper
inducement to thrift and saving to a
great many people of small means who
do not now have banking facilities and
to whom such system would offer an
opportunity for the accumulation of
capital. They will furnish satisfactory
substitute. based on sound principle
and actual successful trial In nearly
all the countries of the world. for the
system of government guaranty of
deposits now being adopted in several
western states which. with Difference
to those who advocate 1t, seems to me
to have in 1t the seeds Of demoraliza-
ton to conservative banking and GER
tain financial disaster.
Ship Subsidy.
Following the course Of my distin-
guished predecessor. l earnestly rec
ommend to congress the consideration
and passage of ship subsidy bill.
Interior Department-New Mexico and
Arizona.
The successful party In the last cleo
ton in its national platform declared
states Of New Mexico and Arizona.
and l recommend that legislation ap-
propriate to this end be adopted. 4
Alaska.
With respect to the territory of Alas
ka, recommend legislation which
shall provide for the appointment by
the president Of governor and also
Of an executive council, the members
Of which shall during their term Of
Office reside in the territory and which
shall have legislative powers sufficient
to enable 1t to give to the territory To-
cal laws adapted to it's present growth.
l strongly deprecate legislation looking
to the election Of territorial legisla-
ture in that vast district.
Conservation of Natural Resources.
In several departments there is pre-
sented the necessity for legislation
looking to the further conservation of
our national resources. and the SUBJ
ject is one of such Importance as to
require a more detailed and extended
discussion than can be entered upon
in this communication. For that rea-
son l shall take an early opportunity
to send a special message to congress.
The White Slave Trade.
There is urgent necessity for addi-
tional legislation and greater executive
activity to suppress the recruiting of
the ranks Of prostitutes from the
streams Of immigration INFO this coun-
try-an evil which. for want of a bet
ter name, has been called "the white
slave trade"
Bureau of Health.
There seems to be no reason why all
the bureaus and Offices In the general
government which have to do with
the public health or subjects akin
thereto should not be united In a bu-
reau to be called the bureau of pub
lie health"
Political Contributions.
I urgently recommend to congress
that a law be passed requiring that
candidates in elections Of members of
the house of representatives and COM
mittees In charge of their candidacy
and campaign file In proper Office Of
the United States government state
ment Of the contributions received and
Of the expenditures incurred in the
campaign for such elections and that
similar legislation be enacted In re-
spect to all other elections which are
constitutionally within the control Of
congress.
Conclusion.
Speaking generally, the country is
in high state Of prosperity. There is
every reasonlto believe that we are on
the eve Of substantial business ex-
pansion, and we have just garnered a
harvest unexampled in the market val
ue of our agricultural products. The
high prices which such products bring
mean great prosperity for the farming
community; but. on the other hand,
they mean very considerably increas-
ed burden upon those classes In the
community whose yearly compensation
does not expand with the Improvement
In business and the general prosperity.
Various reasons are given for the high
prices. The proportionate increase In
the output of gold. which today is the
chief medium Of exchange and is In
some respects measure of value, fur
nishes substantial explanation Of at
least part of the increase In prices.
The increase in population and the
more expensive mode Of living of the
people. which have not been accom-