Los Angeles herald., 1909-11-29

sponsibilities and obligations, Whlcn
my predecessors have carried out with
the utmost fidelity to the public good
Some of the most important ele-
ments of conservation of the natural
resources of the public domain lie
within the purview of this statute; the
dormant power of stream and HOOD
being conserved for the transformation
of the desert into vast tillable areas,
The receipts from all sources do moi
give encoura cement that the fund "Hl
be sufficiently replenished to enable an
expeditions completion and extension
of existing projects or to take up any
new work. | am not in favor of the
extension Of time of these pay
ments, as eleven years (Which the law
practically giVes) without interest, IN
ten annual installments, ought TO per
nit any prudent man to meet his pay
ments, unless the cost of construction
is a greater burden than the lands will
naturally sustain.
Indian Affairs
An investigation Of the field service
of the Indian bureau in the early
spring satisfied me that it required a
thorough reorganization, and steps
have been energetically taken to effect
this necessity. In no other public
service is 1t as important to have re-
liable and faithful field agents and a
systematic method of inspection and
report as in the Indian service. The
Indian may suffer the impositions and
know of the misconduct of his agent
without a murmur, where the white
man under similar proVocat1on would
loudly voice his rights. This diversity
of temperament has, in measure, It's
foundation in the fact that the In
dams appeals have been too frequent
~ ignored by field agents, especially
where the Indians interest conflicts
with the white mans interest. l have
no doubt that this unfortunate con-
dition has had a demoralizing effect
upon some of the officers of the service.
| do not want it understood that the
service has no agents or superln-
tendents in the field who are of the high
type and character that such a service
demands. on the contrary, the faith
less and deficient agent is the eXcep-
tion. and the department is dispensing
with the services of such officers as
fast as they can be weeded out.
Parks and Reservations
NV inspection of the Yellowstone and
Yosemite national parks during Tho
past summer convinces me that the
government should adopt a more ad-
vanced policy respecting their main
tenance, Improvement and operation.
Cd A continued extension of roads
trails and structures for public travel
and convenience are required to en-
able the tourist to obtain the benefits
of the scenic beauties of these natural
playgrounds-the most wonderful in
the world.
co These parks have ceased to be
experimental as to the operation OF
transportation lines, hotels and othe'
concessions, because of the steady
stream of travel frequenting them
and the large profits in most cases
should require the devotion of rea-
sonable share thereof to the mainte-
nance Of the parks.
] have therefore determined to inn
pose upon all the conCessiOnaires, Sc
far as existing contracts will permit, a
franchise or use tax, based upon then
gross earnings, for the enlargement OF
the maintenance fund, and where new
leases are executed to advance the
rental and franchise charge proper
tiouate to the privilege enjoyed, a
definite system of accounting and in
spection will be installed for the gov
ernments protection in this behalf