The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1910-12-07


hope that even in the short time o.
the present session consideration NAY
be given to those questions which
have now been much discussed, and
that action may be taken upon them.N
Alaska.
with reference to the government
of Alaska, have nothing to add I'd
the recommendations I made In my
last message on the subject. am
convinced that the migratory chara0
ter Of the population, its unequal dis
tribution, and its smallness of NUM-
Der, which the new census shows I'd
be about $4,000, in relation to the
enormous expanse of the territory
make it altogether impracticable ta
give to those people who are in
Alaska today and may not be there
year hence, the power to elect leg
islature to govern an immense ter
ritory to which they have relation %
little permanent"
Pensions.
The uniform policy of the govern
ment in the matter of granting penn
sions to those gallant and devoted
men who fought to save the life Of
the nation in the perilous days of tho
great civil war, has always been Of
the most liberal character. Those
men are now rapidly passing away
The best obtainable Official statisticA
show that they are dying at the rate
of something over three thousand 2
month, and, in view of their advano,
ing years, this rate must inevitably in
proportion, rapidly increase. To the
man who risked everything on the
field of battle to save the nation In
the hour of it's direst need we owe q
debt which has not been and should
not be computed in a begrudging or
parsimonious spirit"
Bureau Of Corporations.
Referring to the report of the com,
missioner of corporations, the prest!
dent says:
the commissioner finds a condN
ton in the ownership of the standing
timber of the United States other
than the government timber that calls
for serious attention. The direct in
vestigation made by the commissioner
covered an area which contains 80
per cent. of the privately-owned tim
Der of the country.
His report shows that one half of
the timber in this area is owned by
200 individuals and corporations;
that IA per cent. is owned by these
corporations, and that there is very
extensive inter-ownership of stock,
as we'll as other circumstances, all
pointing to friendly relations among
those who own majority of this tim
Der, relationship which might lead
to a combination for the maintenance
of a price that would be very detri-
mental to the public interest, and
would create the necessity of remov-
ing all tariff obstacles to the free i'm
portations of lumber from other coun-
tries"
Bureau Of Labor.
THE commissioner Of labor has been,
actively engaged in composing the DIFF
ferences between employers and en-,
ployees engaged In interstate trans-
9ortation, under the Erdman act, JOINT
y with the chairman of the interstate
commerce commission.
Il cannot speak in too high terms Of
he success of the two officers in con-
citation and settlement Of controver-
,ies which, but for their interposition,
would have resulted disastrously to all
interests.
Civil! Service Commission.
"The civil service commission has
continued its useful duties during the
'ear. The necessity for the mainte-
lance of the provisions of the civil
service law was never greater than to-
lay. Officers responsible for the pol
cy of the administration, and their
immediate personal assistants or depu-
les, should not be included within the
classified service, but in my judg-
nent, public opinion has advanced to
he point where it would support bill
a secure tenure during eff
,iency for all purely administrative.
officials. entertain the profound con,
fiction that it would greatly aid the.
'ause of efficient and economical gov
,rnment and of better politics II con-,
sress could enact bill providing that
he executive shall have the power
o include in the classified service all
ocal offices under the treasury depart
nent, the department Of justice, the,
,ostofice department, the interior de-
)artment and the department Of com.
nerce and labor, appointments to.
which now require the confirmation
If the senate, and that upon such
the advice and consent
If the senate shall cease to be re-
luired in such appointments. By
heir certainty Of tenure, dependent on
good service, and by their freedom
rom the necessity for political activ-
ty, these local officers would be in
luced to become more efficient public
servants.
Economy and Efficiency.
1.-The increase in the activities and
n the annual expenditures of the fed
eral government has been so rapid
md so great that the time has come