Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1909-12-15

lance Of their transportation is three
and a half times as great.
/ commend the whole subject to
congress-, not unmindful Of the spread
of intelligence which a low charge for
carrying newspapers and periodicals
assists. Livery much doubt, however,
the wisdom of a policy which consti-
tutes 50 large a subsidy and requires
additional taxation to meet it.
Postal Savings Banks.
The second subject worthy of mem
ton in. the postofice department is
the real necessity and entire practica-
bility OF establishing postal savings
banks. The successful party at the
last election declared in favor of pos
tai. savings banks, and, although the
proposition finds opponents in many
parts of the country, 1 mconvinced
that the people desire such banks and
am sure that when the banks are fur
nished they will be %pdocuctive of the
utmost good. The postal savings
banks are not constituted for the pur-
pose of creating competition with 9TH
er banks. The rate of interest upon
deposits to which they would be limit
ed would be so small as to prevent
their drawing deposits away from
other banks.
I believe them to be necessary in
order to offer a proper inducement to
thrift and saving to a great many.
people Of snail means who do not
now have the banking facilities and
to whom such q system would offer an
opportunity for the accumulation of
capital.
Ship Subsidy.
I earnestly recommend to congress
the consideration and passage of q
ship subsidy bill looking to the estab-
lishment of lines between our Atlantic
seaboard and the eastern coast of
South American as well as lines from
the west coast of the United States
to South America, China, Japan and
the Philippines. A bill Of this char
acter has once passed the house and
more than once passed the senate, and.
I hope that at this session a bill
framed on the same lines and with
the same purpose may become a law.
New Mexico and Arizona.
I recommend that legislation APP
propriate looking to the admission of
New Mexico and Arizona as separate
states be taken, but care should be
exercised in the preparation Of the
legislation affecting each territory.
With respect to the territory OF
Alaska, I recommend Legislation
which shall provide for the appoint
ment by the president Of agovernor
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 pow
ers sufficient to enable it to give to
the territory local laws adapted to
its present growth.
Conservation of Natural Resources.
In sveral departments there is pre-
sented the necessity for Legislation
looking to the further conservation of
our national resources, andgthe sub
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 I shall take an early opportunity
to send a special message to congress
on the subject of the Improvement Of
our waterways, upon the reclamation
and irrigation of arid, semiarid and
swamp lands, upon the preservation
of our forests and the reforesting of
suitable areas.
Department Of Agriculture.
I commend to year carefnlIeansid-
Grafton the report Of the secretary of
agriculture as showing the immense
sphere of usefulness which that de-;
-partment now fills and the wonderful.
additin to the wealth of the nation
made by the farmers of this country
in the crops Of the currentsyear.
Consolidation of Bureaus.
I request congressional authority
to enable the secretary of commerce
and labor to unite the bureaus Of
manufactures and statistics. This was
recommended by a competent commit
tee appointed in the pervious admin
~istration for the purpose of suggest
ing changes in the interest of econ
omy and efficiency and is requested
by the secretary.
The White Slave Trade.
I greatly regret to have to say that
the Investigations made in the Ipreau
of immigration and other sources Of
information lead to the view that
there is urgent necessity for addition
al legislation and greater executive
activity to suppress the recruiting Of
the ranks of prostitutes from the
streams of immigration into this
country-an evil which, for want Of a
better name, has been called "the
white slave trade" / believe it to
be constitutional to forbid under pen
atty the transportation Of persons
for purposes of prostitution across
national and state lines, and by ap-
propriating a fund Of $4,000 to be
used by the secretary of commerce and
labor for the employment Of special
inspectors it will be possible TO bring
those responsible for the trade to in
dictmcrrt and conviction under a fed
eral law.
Bureau of Health.
Tor . very considerable Derio1 n