Norwich bulletin., 1909-12-08

centratiOn of the instruments of the
 national 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 ical 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 government
 which have to do with the public
 health or subjects akin thereto should
 not be united in a bureau to be called the bureau of public health" This
 would necessitate the transfer of the
 marine hospital service to such a bu- reau. l am aware that there is a wide field in respect to the public health committed to the states in which the federal government cannot exercise ju- risdictlon, but we have seen in the agricultural department the expansion into widest usefulness of department giving attention to agriculture when that subject is plainly one over which the states properly exercise direct ju- risdiction. The opportunities offered for useful research and the spread of useful information in regard to the cultivation of the soil and the breeding of stock and the solution of many of the intricate problems in progressive agriculture have demonstrated the wisdom of establishing that depart ment Similar reasons of equal force car be given for the establishment of a bureau of health that shall not only exercise the police jurisdiction of the federal government respecting quaran- tine, but which shall also afford an op- portunity for investigation and re- search by competent experts into ques- tions of health affecting the whole country or important sections thereof, questions which in the absence of fed eral governmental work are not likely to be promptly solved.
 The work of the United States civil | service commission has been perform ed to the general satisfaction of the | executive officers with whom the com The volume of that l work and its variety and extent have | under new laws, such as the census | act and new executive orders, greatly l The activities of the com mission required by the statutes have reached to every portion of the public domain.
 The accommodations of the commits | sion are most inadequate for its needs. | call your attention to it's request for | in those accommodations as | will appear from the annual report for | this year.
 Political Contributions.
 I urgently recommend to congress that law be passed requiring that in elections of members of l the house of representatives and com | mittees in charge of their candidacy | and campaign file in a proper office of the United States government state | ment of the contributions received and of the expenditures incurred in the for such elections and that similar legislation be enacted in re- spect to all other elections which are constitutionally within the control of congress.
 Freedman's Savings and Trust Com.
 pany.
 Recommendation have been made l by my predecessor that congress ap- | propriate a sufficient sum to pay the | balance-about 3S per cent-of the | due depositors in the Freed mans Savings and Trust company. I | renew this recommendation and advise | also that a proper limitation be pre- scribed fixing a period within which the claims may be presented, that as- signed claims be not recognized and that limit be imposed on the amount of fees collectible for services in pre- senting such claims.
 SemicentenniaI of Negro Freedom.
 The year 1913 will mark the fiftieth anniversary of the issuance of the proclamation granting freedom to the negroes. It seems fit- ting that this event should be proper ly celebrated. Already a movement has been started by prominent ne- groes. encouraged by prominent white people and the press. The south espe- cially is manifesting its interest in this 
 It is suggested that a proper form of celebration would be an exposi- ton to show the progress the negroes have made, not only during their pe- riod of freedom, but also from the time of their coming to this country.
 heartily indorse this proposal and that the executive be author ized to appoint preliminary commis- sion of not more than seven persons to consider carefully whether or not it is wise to hold such an exposition, and if so to outline plan for the en- terprise. l further recommend that such preliminary commission serve without salary, except as to their ac- +naI aypapsaS and that an anDrOnria-