The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-06-26
READY FOR ACCOUNTING.

READY FOR ACCOUNTING.
The close OF the long session of the
Sixty-first Congress finds the Repub-
iicans In first-class fighting trim and
ready to render an account OF their
stewardship to the people. For some
years past various reform measures
have been agitated and the Republican
party. always progressive. has written
the necessary laws into the statute
books.
Perhaps the most important piece Of
legislation I'm recent years is the rail-
road bill. drawn by Attorney General
wickersham under direction Of Presi-
dent Taft, an administration measure
pure and simple. A bitter fight was
made upon the principal features or
this bill by both Democrats and in
surgents.
Owing to this opposition the pro-
visions intended to regulate the IS
suance Of stocks and bonds by the
railroad companies were eliminated.
but the bill as finally passed is sub
stantially the one drawn by the attor-
ney general. the court feature so
strongly urged by the President being
retained.
This happy result IS a great victory
for the administration and viii prove
OF inestinable benefit to the people OF
the country. At the next session sn
effort VIII be made to pass the stoci.
and bond provision and otherwise
strengthen the law.
i Next in Importance is the postal
savings bank bill In most OK the
civilized countries postal savings insti-
tutions have been in operation for
many years and have been successful
from every point Of view.
The need Of such government saw
ings banks has not been felt in the
United States until recently, and In
1908 the platforms OF both parties
containing planks promising the peo-
pie that the necessary. law would be
passed.
This pledge has been kept to the
letter by the Republicans, although
the bill was assailed from within ard
without and strong pressure was
brought to bear to encompass its de-
feat In spite OF all opposition the
leaders IN both branches OF Congress
hewed to the line and the postal say
ings bank bill stands as a monument
to their wisdom and integrity.
]
OF prime importance to the min
ing Interests Of the country. and espe-
ciaiiy to the west, Is the creation OF
the bureau OF mines and mining.
While a department OF mines. with a
place in the cabinet. would have bet
ter served the purpose. the bureau will
accomplish great good and is a step in
the right direction
Il was not without great effort that
tho mining bureau bin was put
through. the Representatives from tne
large eastern cities and the agricul-
tural districts falling to realize It's
great need. The western senators and
members Of the lower house. however
= stood by their guns and the mining IN
= dustry in future VIII be given the con-
sideration to which It is Justly en-
titled.
Another measure in which the great
; west is vitality interested is the law Civ
+ Ing the President unlimited authority
to withdraw public lands for conserva-
ton purposes. During the latter part
: OF the preceding administration mil
lions OF acres were Withdrawn with
out such authority, according to The
general view.
when Mr.. Ballinger became secre-
81 tary OF the. interior he reversed the
! policy OF Mr. Garfield and restored
3 much Of this land to entry. declining
to proceed along the lines laid down
D unless his course was marked out by
. the law.
= II the Garfield-Pinchot program
= had been continued not an available
= acre would have been left tor settle.
e ment. many industries would have
: been hopelessly crippled. Il not entire
b " destroyed. and the development Of
e the west greatly retarded
Primarily the Jaw passed IS con-
servation measure. but II will also
= serve the purpose of legalizing the
r Withdrawals already made.
So far as conservation is concerned
D the work will be carried on " Tn,
e present administration for the best In.
Z terest Of all concerned. measures fol