The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1909-12-07

mise 1t seems to me which may give
needed local legislation and secure a
government Is the one |
propose.
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
i'm 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, upon the reclnssifica-
ton Of the public domain with view
of separating from agricultural set
tlement mineral. coal and phosphate
lands and sites belonging to the gov
ernment bordering on streams suita-
BILE for the utilization OF water power.
Department Of Agriculture.
l commend to your careful considera-
ton the report of the secretary Of ag-
riculture 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 current year.
Department. Of cemmsres and Labor.
The Lighthouse Board.
The lighthouse board now discharges
its duties under the department OF
commerce and labor. For upward OF
| forty years this board has been con-
| stituted of military and naval officers
and two or three men Of science. with
such an absence Of n duly constituted
executive head that it Is marvellous
what work has been accomplished. In
the period of construction the energy
| and enthusiasm of all the members
prevented the inherent defects of the
system from interfering greatly with
the beneficial work Of the board, but
now that the work Is chiefly confined
to maintenance and repair, for which
purpose the country is divided into
sixteen districts. to which are assigned
an engineer officer Of the army and an
inspector OF the navy. each with q
lighthouse tender and the needed plant
for his work, 1t has become apparent
by the frequent friction that arises
due to the absence Of any central In
dependent authority, that there must
be q complete reorganization Of the
board. l cOncede the advantage OF
keeping In the system the rigidity Of
discipline that the presence Of nava
and military officers In charge insures
but unless the presence Of such Of
ficers In the board can be made Con
sistent with n responsible executive
head that shall have proper authorit,
l recommend the transfer Of cOntro
over the lighthouses to suitable civil
ian bureau. This Is In accordance will
the judgment Of competent persons
who are familiar with the workings 0l
the present system. am coniiden
that a reorganization can be enecte(
which shall avoid the recurrence o.
friction between members. instances o.
which have been officially brought t.
my attention, and that by such reor
ganization greater efficiency and Z
substantial reduction In the expens,
of operation can be brought about.
Consolidation Of Bureaus.
I request congressional authority Z,
enable the secretary Of commerce IN,
labor to unite the bureaus Of manu-
factures and statistics. This was rec
commended by a competent committe
appointed In the previous administra
ton for the purpose OF suggestin,
changes in the interest Of econ0m,
and efficiency and is requested by tn
secretary.
The White Slave Trade.
greatly regret to have to say tina
the investigations made In the burea,
of immigration and other sources o
information lead to the view tina
there is urgent necessity for addition
, al legislation and greater executiv
activity to suppress the recruiting o
the ranks of prostitutes from th
streams of immigration into this cOun
. try-an evil which. for want Of be.
I, l
slave trade" l believe 1t to be cor
stitutional to forbid under penalty tn
, transportation of persons for purpose
of prostitution across national an
state lines, and by appropriating
fund Of $4,000 to be used by the sex
retary of commerce and labor for tn
: employment of special inspectors 1
will be possible to bring those n
spOnsible for this trade to indictmeu
aud conviction under federal law.
Bureau Of Health.
For a very considerable period
movement has been gathering strength
especially among the members Of tn
medical profession. In favor Of a cor
centration Of the Instruments Of tn
national government which have to d
with the promotion Of public healtt
In the nature Of things the medica
department Of the army and the med
! ical department of the navy must b
kept separate. But there seems to b
no reason why all the other bure n
and offices in the general government
which have to do with the publ
health or subjects akin thereto shoul
not be united in a bureau to be calle
the bureau of public health" Thi
would necessitate the transfer Of tn
marine hospital service to such q bu
{ reau. 1 am aware that there is a wild
field in respect to the public healt
i H<,<l %nHz Tn, .