Arizona republican., 1909-12-08

l m the OI tilt tSiSlsition al fecting each territory. to secure deliber-
 ation in the selection of persons as members of the convention to draft a | constitution for the incoming states and | | earnestly advise that such legisla
 ton after adoption by the convention
 shall be submitted to the people of the
 territory for their approval at an cleo ' ton in which the sole issue shall be | the merits of the proposed constitution
 and if the constitution is defeated by 1 popular vote means shall be provided
 in the enabling act for neW conven- ton and the drafting of a new consti- tuition. 1 think it is vital that the issue
 as to the merits of the constitution should not be mixed mp with the selec- | ton of state officers and that no cleo | ton 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 l Alaska. recommend legislation
 which shall provide for the appoint
 ment by the president of a 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 to It's pres ent growth. I strongly deprecate leg islation looking to the election of a ter ritorial legislature in that vast district
 The lack of permanence of residence of 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 it's vast expanse and the variety of the interests that have to be subserved make it altogether unfitting in my judgment 10 provide for a popular cleo tion of a legislative body. The present system is not adequate and does not furnish the character of local control that ought tO be there. The only com promise. it seems to me. which may give needed local legislation and se- cure a conservative government is the one I propose.
 Conservation of National Resources.
 In several departments there is pre- sented the necessity for legislation looking to the further conservation of our national. resources and the subject is one of such importance as to require a more detailed and extended discus sion than can be entered upon in this communication. For that reason 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, semi-arid and swamp lands: upon the preservation of our forests and the re-foresting of suitable areas: upon the reclassification of the public domain with view of separat- ing from agricultural settlement min- eral. coal and phosphate lands and sites belonging to the government bor- dering on streams suitable for the util- ization of water power.
 Department of Agriculture.
 I commend to your careful consider ation 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 farmers of this country in the crops of the country.
 Department of Commerce and Labor.
 The lighthouse board now discharges iNS Ncpdi N4htiN OA commerce and labor For upward of forty eears this board has been con- stituted of military and naval officers and two or three men of science. with with such an absence of duly con stituted executive head that it is mar velous what work has been accomplish ed. In the period of construction the energy and enthusiasm of all the mem- bers prevented the inherent defects of the system from interfering greatly with the beneficial work of the board but now the work is chiefly confined to maintenance and repair. for which purpose the country is divided into six teen districts, to which are assigned an engineer officer of the army and an inspector of the navy. each with a ] lighthouse tender and the needed plant | for his work. It has become apparent l by the frequent friction that arises. due 1 to the necessity for a central, inde- 1 pendent authority that there must be a | complete reorganization of the board, | I cOncede the advantage of keeping in the system the dignity of discipline | that the presence of naval and military officers in charge insures but unless | the presence of such officers on the board can be made consistent with executive head that shall have proper authority. recommend the | transfer of control over the lighthouses to a suitable civilian bureau. This is in accordance with the judgment of persons who are familiar with the workings of the present sys tenn. I am confident that a reorgan- iZation can be effected which shall avoid the recurrence of friction be- tween members instances of which have been officially brought to my at and that by such reOrganiza- tion greater efficiency and substan- tial reduction in the expense of opera ton can be brought about.
 Consolidation of Bureaus.
 I request congressional authority to enable the secretary of commerce and labor to unite the bureaus of manufac- lures and statistics. This was recom- mended by competent committee ap- pointed in the previous administration for the purpose of suggesting changes in the interest of economy and eff ciency. and is requested by the secre- tary
 The White Slave Trade.
 I greatly regret to have to say that the investigations made bv the bureau