The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1909-12-09

Il
second class mail matter at cent a
pound amounts to about SG3.0OO,OOO a
year. The average cost Of the trans
portatlOn Of this matter Is more than
8 cents pound. The statistics Of 1901
show that second class mail matter
constituted GJ0l per cent Of the
weight Of all the mail and yielded
only 519 per cent OF the revenue.
The figures given are startling and
show the payment by the government
Of an enormous subsidy to the news
papers, magazines aud periodicals. \
great saving might be made. amount
Ing TO much more than half OF the loss.
by imposing upon magazines and ? IL
odlcals a higher rate Of postage.
Postal Savings Banks.
believe postal savings banks 10 be
necessary In order 10 offer a proper
lnducement to thrift and saving 10
great many people OF small means who
do not now have banking facilities and
20 whom such system woCld offer IN
opportunity for tie accumulation Of
capital. They will furnish satisfactory
, substitute. based on sound principle
and actual successful trial IN nearly
all the countries Of the world. for the
system of government guaranty Of
deposits now being adopted In several
western states which. with Difference
to those who advocate II. seems TO me
to have IN it the seeds Of demOrallza-
tion TO conservative banking and GER
tain financial disaster.
Ship Subsidy.
Following the course Of my distin-
guished predecessor. earnestly rec
ommend to congress the consideration
and passage Of a ship subsidy bill.
Interior Department-New Mexico and
Arizona.
The successful party in the last cleo
ton in fits national platform declared
in favor Of the admission as separate
states Of New Mexico and Arizona,
and recommend that legislation ap-
propriate TO this end be adopted.
Alaska.
With respect TO the territory Of Alas
ka, recommend legislation which
shall provide for the appointment 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 suihcient
to enable It to give to the territory To-
cal laws adapted to its present growth.
l strongly deprecate legislation looking
to the election Of territorial legisla-
ture in that vast district.
Conservation Of Natural Resources.
In several departments there is pre-
sented the necessity for legislation
looking TO the further conservation OF
our national resources. and the 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 n special message to congress.
The White Slave Trade.
There Is urgent necessity for addi-
tional legislation and greater executive
activity to suppress the recruiting OF
the ranks OF prostitutes from the
streams OF immigration into this coun-
try-an evil which. for want Of bet
ter name. has been called ~the white
slave trade
Bureau Of Health.
There seems to be no reason why all
the bureaus and offices In the general
government which have to do with
the public health or subjects akin
thereto should not be united in bu-
reau to be called the bureau Of pub
lie health"
Political Contributions.
urgently recommend to congress
that law be passed requiring that
candidates in elections Of members OF
the house Of representatives and COM
mltiees In charge Of their candidacy
and campaign file IN proper Office OF
the United States government state
ment Of the contributions received aud
Of the expenditures incurred IN the
campaign for such elections and that
similar legislation be enacted 10 re-
spect to all other elections which are
constitutionally within the control OF
congress.
Conclusion.
Speaking generally, the country Is
in a high state Of prosperity. There 10
every reason to believe that we are on
the eve of substantial business ex-
pansion. and we have just garnered a
harvest unexampled IN the market val
ue of our agricultural products. The
high prices which such products bring
mean great prosperity for the farming
community; but on the other hand.
they mean very considerably lncreas-
ed burden upon those classes In the
community whose yearly compensation
does not expand with the improvement
In business and the general prosperity.
Various reasons are given for the high
prices. The proportionate Increase 10
the output Of gold. which today is The
chief medium Of exchange and Is 10
some respects measure OF value. fur
nishes a substantial explanation OF NJ
least part OF the increase In prizes.
The increase in population and the
more expensive mode Of living ot the
people. which have not been accom-
panied by a proportionate increase III
acreage production. may furnish fur
ther reason. II Is well TO note that the
increase in the cost OF living Is not
confined TO this country. but prevails
the world over. and that those who
would charge Increases In prices to the
existing protective tariff must meet
the fact that the rise in prices has
taken place almost wholly 10 those
products of the factory and farm in
respect TO which there has been either
no Increase IN the tariff 'or in raDy
Instances a very considerable reduc-
ton.