The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-12-07
INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.
New Mexico and Arizona.l

The successful party In the last cleo
ton In Its national platform declared
IA favor of the admission as separate
states OF New Mexico and Arizona.
and | recommend that legislation ap-
propriate to this end be adopted.
urge however. that care be exercised
in the preparation of the legislation
affecting each territory to secure de-
liberation in the selection or persons
as members of the convention to draft
constitution for the incoming state,
and / earnestly advise that such con-
Stitution after adoption by the conVen-
ion shall be submitted to the people
OF the territory for their approval at
an election in which the sole issue
shall he the merits OF the proposed
constitution. and if the constitution is
defeated by popular vote, means shall
be provided in the enabling act for 4
new convention and the drafting OF a
new constitution. | think ii vital that
the issue as to the merits of the cun
stitution should not be mixed up with
the selection OF state offices and that
no election of state officers should be
had until after the constitution had
been fully approved and finally settled
upon.
Alaska,
With respect to the territory of
Alaska, | 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 it to give to the
territory local laws adapted 10 its
present growth. ! strongly deprecatc
legislation looking to the election of a
territorial legislature In that vast dis
trlct The lack Of permanency OF res
idence or a large part OF the present
population and the small number OF
the people who either permanently or
temporarily reside in the district as
compared with Its vast eXpanse and
The variety of the interests that have
to be subserved. make II altogether
uniting In my judgment TO provide
for Il popular election OF legislative
| body
Conservation of National Resources.
In several departments there is
presented the necessity for legislation
I looking 10 the further conservation of
our national resources, and the subject
is one of such Importance as 10 re-
ouire more detailed and extended
J discussion than can be entered upon
in this communication For that rca'
son | shall take an early opportunity
TO send a special message to congress
on the subject OF the improvement of
our waterway, upon the reclamation
and irrigation of arid, semi-arid, and
swamp lands; upon the preservation
of our forests and the re-forestinc of
suitable areas: upon the re-clasSitica.
! tion of the public domain with a view
Of separating from agricultural settle
mcnt, mineral. coal and phosphate
lands and sites belonging to the gov.
ernment, bordering on streams suit
able for the utilization OF water power
Department OF Agriculture.
| commend 10 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 farmer of this country
in the crop of the current year.
The Light House Board,
The light house board now dis.
charges Its duties under the depart
ment of commerce and labor For up.
ward of 10 years this board has been
constituted of military and naval of
licers and two or three men of science
with such an absence of q duly con
stituted executive head that it is mar.
velous what work has been accom-
plished. In the period OF construction
the energy and enthusiasm OF all the
members prevented the inherent de.
fects OF the system from interfering
greatly with the beneficial work of
the board. but now that the work is
chiefly confined 10 maintenance and
repair. Tor which purpose the country
is divided Into sixteen districts. to
which are assigned an engineer Off
Ger OF the army and an Inspector Of
the navy, each With a light house ten.
der and the needed plant for his work.
1t has become apparent by the fire.
quent friction that arises, due to the
absence OF any central indencndent