The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-12-08
INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.
New Mexico and Arizona.

INC SdtCCoolul party Ill the last tleC-
ton in It's national platform declared
in favor of the admission as separate
states of New Mexico and Arizona, and
| recommended that legislation appro-
pirate to this end be adopted / urge,
however that care be exercised in the
preparation of the legislation affecting
each territory to secure deliberation in
the selection of persons as members of
the convention to draft a constitution for
the incoming state, and | earnestly adj
wise that such constitution after adoption
by the convention shall be submitted to
the people of the territory for their APP
proval at an election In which the sole
issue shall be the merits of the proposed
constitution and If the constitution is de-
feated by popular vote means shall be
provided in the enabling act for a new
convention and the drafting of a new
constitution. l think it vital that the
issue as to the merits of the constitu-
ton should not be mixed up with the
selection of state officers, and that no
election of state officers should be had
until after the constitution has been fully.
approved and finally settled upon.
Alaska.
With respect to the Territory of Alaska
l recommend legislation which shall pro-
vide for the appointment by the Presi-
dent of a governor and also of an exec
utive council, the members of which
shall during their term of office reside
in the territory, and which shall have
legislative powers sufficient to enable it
to give to the territory local laws adapt
ed to its present growth. 1 strongly dep
recate legislation looking to the election
of a territorial legislature in that vast
district. The lack of permanence of res
idence of large part of the present
population and the small number of the
people who either permanently or tenn
porarily reside in the district as COM
pared with it's vast expanse and the
variety of the interests that have to be
subserved, make it altogether uniting
in my judgment to provide for popular
election of legislative body. The pres
ent system is not adequate and does not
furnish the character of local control that
ought to be there. The only compromise
it seems to me which may give needed
local legislation and secure a conserva-
tive government is the one 1 propose.
Conservation of National Resources.
In several departments there is pre-
sented the necessity for legislation look
ing to the further conservation of our
national resources, and the subject is one
Of such Importance as to require a moro
detailed and extended discussion than
can be entered upon in this communica-
ton. For that reason l shall take an
early opportunity to send special mes
sage to Congress on the subject of the
improvement of our waterways, upon
the reclamation and irrigation of arid,
semi-arid and swamp lands; upon the
preservation of our forests and the refor-
esting of suitable areas; upon the re-
classification of the public domain with
a view of separting from agricultural set
tlement mineral, coal and phosphate
lands and sites belonging to the govern
ment bordering on streams suitable for
the utilization of water power.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
commend to your careful consider
alton the report Of the Secretary of Agri-
culture as showing the immense sphere
of usefulness which that department now
fills and the wonderful addition to the
wealth of the nation made by the farm
ers of this country in the crops of the
current year.
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND
IAQnR