The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1910-09-08

- oSA1AbiAtS tilo liltGSklQSuJ OF savings
IN government bonds Of small denomina-
tons, Tor which the bill provides. Like
n tariff bill and the railroad bill, this
Was put through q house OF congress
by g republican president.
The legislation of congres in respect to
me navy department Is a fuil compiiance
form. In spite of a proper desire to keep
down appropriations, congress saw the
necessity for a continuance OF our pres
snt naval a policy and regulats strengthen
more b~attleships. More than this, It has
enabled the secretary OF the navy to car
ry out q reform In the business manage
ton Of the bureaus and staff OF the navy
SO as to contribute materially to its
effectiveness as n Of the military arms
cratic national platform apparently IA
vored the increase in the navy, a large
majority Of the democrats both in the
House and the Senate opposed the policy
when presented in the form of concrete
legislation.
Labor Legislation. !.
The republican party at the last session
ct congress again exhibited It's deep and
the ~orking men and women OF the coun-
try by adding important enactments to its
already long record Of legislation on this
subject Practically all classes of en-
ployes, especially those engaged In ocou-
pations more or less hazardous, are the
benefciaries Of laws which should operate
70 Tighten the burdens which naturally
publican party recognized the necessity
OF reducing the dangers under which nun.
dreds 81 thousands Of miners work by Gre
ating the bureau Of mines. This bill was
passed for the purpose of establishing an
efficient government instrument for IN
~estigation, examination and report to the
world OF the kline Of safety appliances that
VIII prevent the awful losses Of life in the
operation Of mines. and especially OF coal
mines. a second purpose of the bureau
Is to perform the same office in respect to
partment Of agriculture performs in re-
spect to tho farming interests Of the
country; that is, by experiment and inves-
tigation to determine the most effective
methods Of mining and the best means OF
avoiding h d%eplorable waste that now
obtains in the present mining methods.
NO more important legislation in the in.
terest Of human life has ever been enacted
by congress than the laws of the recent
session giving to the Interstate Commerce
commission ample powers to define the
ton of accidents to employees and passen.
gers. and after a hearing, to require their
adoption by Interstate railways. Other
Of locomotive boilers and the removal OF
dangerous overhead distractions, awaits
h consideration of the next session OF
This congress. and I hope that it may
bility act was perfected by needed amend.
ment so as to enable injured employees
more easily to recover just damages.
taken In the interest of the worker was
the creation of q congressional commits.
sion to report a practical bill for the fix
Ing, Of workmen's compensation fol-. in.
5urtes received in the employment Of In.
terstate railways, as risks II
the business, to be fixed by speedy arbi.
tration and to be graduated according. tc
capacity Of the injured person. This 1:
important, not only as affecting Interstate
commerce railways, but If adopted. al
beneficial change in the legal relation be.
tween employee and employer. This re.
form would put an end to the %vexatiou.
and costly litigation through which an In,
jured employee must go In order to recoyel
damages-litigation which OF account O.
the poverty Of the employee frequently
serves to defeat the ends Of Justice, AND
In other instances leads to exorbitant an(
unjust verdicts.
Conservation.
One of the great questions which ha,
been made q national issue and aroused
public interest through the assistance O
President Roosevelt is that OF censerva
ton Of our national %resources. From tn,
federal standpoint, this concerns tn,
preservation Of forests, the reclamation O
arid lands of the government AMI tn,
proper treatment and disposition Of gu
government coal lands, phosphate lands
oil and gas lands, and o. the rands know
as water power sites at the points on tn
streams where the water power must b
converted in order to be useful. Durinj
Mr.. Roosevelt administration millions @
acres of lands included within the classe
described were withdrawn in the Unite,
States proper and in Alaska. In order t
await proper legislation. Doubt arose a
withdrawals. and therefore as to thei
legality, should they be contested in court
executive withdrawals, but suggested, a
a matter of wise precaution, securing fror
congress express power to make them. b.
withdrawal bill for this purpose wa
enacted, and now over 70,000.000 of acre
have been r~e-withdrawn Of lands include
within the classes described. Much of TIL
agriculture, and therefore congress adopt
ed an entirely feasible II useful plan b
which the homestead laws were apple
to the surface OF the land, while the cos
in the ground is still reserved as tn
property of the government. This Is
new departure in our land laws, and
this, it was deemed necessary. in orde
that certain reclamation projects of tn
government should be completed within
reasonable time. that an issue Of s2o,ooo,0
bonds should be authorized with which t
secure water for the settlers Upon gov
lands within the promise of tn
project, the bonds to be redeemed by tn
water rents for the service rendered. !
this way hundreds of settlers who hav
been patiently waiting for the completio
of the projects and suffering great privs
ton will be rehabilitated. At the sam
time, the law authorizing the bond issu
prevents the expenditure of any Of til
proceeds of the bonds in any Of the pro
jects until a board of army engineers sha
report the same as worthy and feasibl,
Moreover, additional provision has bee
made in the appropriation laws for none
with which to carry On surveys Of unsui
veyed public lands, q crying need In Gel
tain states and in Alaska. Thus 1t is nj
too much to say that most important ster
ave been taken toward the proper cor
servation of our resources in the legisls
ton OF the present congress There r.
mains to be considered and settled til
question of the method of disposing {
these lands so that the government ma
retain sufficient control to prevent
monopoly in their use and to secure tt
public against extortion for coal, oil, ga
phosphate and water power on the or
hand, and yet may give to private cal
ital sufficient inducement to bring abol
a normal development Of the wealth col
ing up Of the country. Neither the dem'
Gratis OF the House nor the democrats
the Senate as a body. although their pla
form formally declared in favor of col
seryation. have taken any active part
can be counted upon to assist material
in the solution OF these complicated que
lions.
Another subject OF pressing importan,
is that of the Improvement of our waite
ways. The present congress has enacts
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