The state herald., 1910-12-09

to the magazines, costing many mil.
lions In excess Of the compensation
paid An answer was attempted to
this by the representatives of the
magazines, and reply was filed to
this answer by the postoflice depart
ment The utter inadequacy of the
answer, considered in the light of the
reply Of the postofiice department,
think must must appeal to any fair
minded person. Whether the answer
was all that could be said in behalf of
the magazines is another question. !
agree that the question is one of fact;
but insist that II the fact is as the
experts Of the postoffice department
show, that we are furnishing to the
owners of magazines a service worth
millions more than they pay for 1t,
then Justice requires that the rate
should be increased. The increase in
the receipts Of the department result
ing from this change may be devoted
to Increasing the usefulness of the de-
partment In establishing parcels
post and In reducing the cost of first
class postage to one cent. 1t has been
said by the postmaster general that
fair adjustment might be made under
which the advertising part of the
magazine should be charged for at n
different and higher rate from that Of
the reading matter. This would re-
lieye many useful magazines that are
not circulated at a profit, and would
not shut them out from the use OF the
malls by a prohibitory rate.
with respect to the parcels post, |
respectfully recommend its adoption
on all rural delivery routes, and that
made the limit of carriage In such
post"
Abolish Navy Yards.
The president calls attention to GER.
tain reforms urged by the secretary OF
the navy which he recommends for
adoption. and continues:
THE estimates of the navy depart
ment are 100000 less than the ap.
preparations for the same purpose last
| year and included In this is the build
ing program OF the same amount as
that submitted for your consideration
last year. It is merely carrying out
the plan of building two battleships a
year with few needed auxiliary yes.
sells. | earnestly hope that this pro,
gram will be adopted.
The secretary of the navy has
given personal examination TO every
navy yard, and has studied the uses
OF the navy yards with reference 10
the necessities OF our fleet. with a
fleet considerably less than half the
size OF that of the British navy, we
have shipyards more than double the
number. and there are several OF these
shlpyards extensively equipped with
modern machinery, which. after inves
tigatiOn the secretary OF the navy be
lieYes to be entirely useless for naval
purposes. He asks authority to aban
don certain Of them and TO move their
machinery to other places. where #
can be made Of use.
The complete success OF our coun
try in arctic exploration should not re
main unnoticed. The unparalleled
achievement OF Peary In reaching the
north pole. April G, 1909, approved by
critical examination Of the most eX
pert scientists. has added TO the dis
tinotion Of our navy. to which ho be
longs, and reflects credit upon his
country, recommend fitting recogni
ton by congress OF the great achieve
ment OF Robert Edwin Peary."
Conservation.
THE subject OF the conservation OF
the public domain has commanded the
attention OF the people within the last
two or three years.
There is no need for radical re,
form In the methods OF disDosing OF
what are really agricultural lands. The
| present laws have worked well The
enlarged homestead law has encour
aged the successful farming OF lands
In the semlarid regions,
Nothing can be more important In
the matter OF conservation than the
| treatment Of our forest lands II was
probably the ruthless destruction OF
forests In the older states that first
called attention to the necessity for q
halt In the waste Of our resources,
In the present forest reserves there
are lands which are not properly for
est. and which ought TO be subject 10
homestead entry This has caused
some local irritation We are care
fully eliminating such lands from for.
est reserves or whore their elimlna.
lion IL not practical listing them for
entry under the forest homestead act
Congress ought to trust the cXcou.
tive TO use the power OF reservation
only with respect TO land most yalus
able for forest purposes During the
present administration. 60 200. 600
acres Of land largely non.timbofcd.
have been excluded from forest re-.
serves. and 100000 acres Of land
principally valued for forest purposes
have been Included In forest reserves,
making a reduction In forest reserves
Of non,timbered land amounting to
"a Hra uaa go.