davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1910-12-07
4 agricultural Lands.

Trere Is ~ need FOR radical reform in the
methods of dIsDosing Of what are really
szrlolirlrai lands The present laws have
worked well. The enlarged homestead lay
nsF encouraged the successful farming OF
amos n The semi-arid regions
New-York tribune., 1910-12-07
National Parks.

our national parks have become 50
tensive end involve so fnuch de,sii oi a.'.on
in their control that II seems 10 me 80
ought TO be legislation creating pu'e
fer their care and control Inc s'
natural wonder of this COUNTY, $40 the
-,,,,,dtnE territory Should be 1nSiuoea II ~
New-York tribune., 1910-12-07
Abolition OF Navy Yards.

The Secretary Of the Navy has given per-
eoual examination 70 every navy yard and
hsx studied the uses Of the navy yards
-r;rh reference 20 TIE necessities Of our
seef. With 2 feet considerably less than
hsl< the size of that OF the British navy,
ne have shjpvards more than double the
-7lr, Der. and there are several Of these
shipva-ds. extensively equipped with mod
En- machinery. which after investigation
the Secretary Of the Navy believes TO be
entirely useless for naval purposes He
ssgs authority 70 abandon certain OF them
su6 70 move their machinery 20 other
plsces where il can be made Of use
n making these recommendations the
Secretary IS following directly along pro
sressive lines which have been adopted in
our great commercial and manufacturing
consultations IN this country: that is. of
6I5mauting unnecessary and Inadequate
plants and disseminating their existence
where It has been demonstrated that it is
Improbable 70 continue their maintenance
g. an expense not commensurate 20 their
product
The Secretary points out that the most
irpoTtant naval base IN the West Indies is
Guantanamo. In the southeastern part of
C1ba- It's Eeogra phical situation is ad-
r.I-shl- adapted TO protect the commercial
paths - the Panama Canal. and he shows
ira h- the expenditure Of less than half a
million dollars. with the machinery which
Re shall take from other navy Yards. he can
create naval station at Guantanamo of
ErFCient size and equipment TO serve the
purpose q Al emergency naval base. I
earnestly Join n the recommendation that
r. he given the authority which he asks.
- arouse local opposition: but ! conceive
= 20 be automatic that in IeSislating in 7he
:rl-eresr of the navy and for the general
protection cf the country by the navy
mere local pride or pecuniary interest in
the establishment Of 2 nay yard or sta
-7on ought 70 play no part. The recon-
-..endarioH n the Secretary IS based upon
Ire judgment Of impartial naval officers
ertlrelv uuinfueuced hy any graphical
o. sectional considerations
mite with the Secretary in tie recon-
rnendsuou that an appropriation be made
- construct , suitable crypt al ANNAPOLIS
1or th= C1stod~ - tie remains OF Jonn
Paul Jones.
Pesry.
Tre complete success Of our country in
Arctic exploration should not remain M
noticed For centuries there has been
t-iaB6'r rivalry in this field 81 effort be
tween the foremost nations and between The
t-s-est and most accomplished men. Expe-
oitious - the unknown north have been en-
ccuraged f7y enlightened governments and
deserved hcnors have been granted 10 the
daring men Tho have conducted them.
TIE unparalleled achievement of Peary n
reaching the North Pole. April s 1903
approved BY critical examination Of the
most expert scientists. has added TO the
distinction of our navy, 10 which he be-
longs, and reflects credit upon his country
His unique success has received generous
R0kncwiedEnent from scientific hodies and
Institutions Of learning in Europe and
America 7 recommend fitting recognition
r Congress of the great achievement ot
Ronert Edwin Fesry.
New-York tribune., 1910-12-07
Conservation Address.

lr September last a conservation con-
stsss was held at St Paul, az which ce-
af red an address on the subject OF con-
seFvaf1on so far as IL was within the juris-
aletion and possible action Of the federal
soTeTuH8ent In that address I assembled
iroEi Tie official records the statistics and
iacts IS % what had been done in this be-
Aalf in the administration of my predsces-
fHf sRd nv svfn, and indicated the ieglsla-
I've IeazuTes which I believed 10 be wise
New-York tribune., 1910-12-07
Forest Service.

have already referred 70 the forests Of
the United states and their extent, and
have urged as I do again. the removal OF
the iirr1ita ton upon the power of the Ex-
ec1Itive 10 reserve other tracts Of land IN
six Western states in which withdrawal
for this purpose l. nov forbidden me
Serretarz of Agriculture gives a very fun
desrriDtiou of the disastrous fires that oc-
curred during the last summer in the na-
+ioual forests 4 droUth more intense than
env recorded in the history of the West
had introduced q condition into the forests
which made fires almost inevita BILE, and
locomotive sparks. negligent campers and
in some cases incendiaries furnished the
needed Immediate cause. At one time the
fires were so extended that they covered a
range of a hundred miles ard the Secre-
tarv estimates that standing timber Of the
value of S25 900. coo was destroyed. Seventy
six persons in the employ. of the Forest
Service were killed and many more III
ilIret and I regret to say that there IS no
nrovision in the law ny which the expenses
for their hospital treatment or Of their IN
+errnent could be met out OF public funds
The Red Cross contributed $i@o and the
rrn1a incer of the necessary expenses was
made I'D BY private contribution, chiefly
from the force of the Forest Service and
IT'S officials. I recommend that suitable
legislation be adopted to enable the Secre-
tarv Of Agriculture to meet the moral obii-
cations of the government in this respect
The specitfc fund for fighting fires was
only > hour S1S5. .OGO. but there existed dis
erection in the Secretary in case Of an eIner-
gencv 10 apply other funds in his control
n this purpose. and he did 50 to the extent
If nearly S1.GGOG0o. which will involve the
presentation of a deficiency estimate for
the current fiscal year of over Sso0,O00 Ihe
damage done was not therefore due 10 the
Iack of an appropriation by Congress avail
| able to meet the emergency, but the dim
Guilty of fighting it lay IN the remote points
where the hres began and where il was I'M
pcssible with the roads and trails as they
now exist promptly TO reach them. Proper
protection necessitates, as the Secretary
| nojuts out the expenditure OF a good deal
| more money in the development of roads
and trails in the forests. the establishment
| of lookout stations and telephone connec-
/ ton between them and places where as
| sistanee can be secured
The amount of reforestation shown in the
| report of the Forest Service-only about
! Is 900 acres as compared with the 80 900
! of acres OF national forests-seens small,
and I am glad TO note that in this regard
the Secretary Of Agriculture and the chief
| o4 the Forest Service are looking forward
| to far greater activity in the use or avail
able government land for this purpose.
| Progress has been made in learning by
experiment the best methods Of reforestins-
| Congress is appealed 10 now by the Secre-
tary of Agriculture TO make the appro-
/ priations needed for enlarging the useful
ness of the Forest Service in this regard.
hope that Congress viii approve and
adopt the estimate OF the Secretary for
| this purpose.
New-York tribune., 1910-12-07
Conservation.

Tire Esr-ect ~ TIE conservation Of the
f.eI'r domain has commanded the atten-
t'or - t'1e people within the last two or
t-Tre r-ns~x
New-York tribune., 1910-12-07
DEPARTMENT
O. AGHICuL IuRE.

The rep0rt Of the Secretary Of ASr1cult-
,,ra ;nvites attention to the stupendous
value of the agricultural products or TINS
country amounting in all to SS9ce, ,00n oal
for this vear- This amount is larger than
that of 1909 nv s205 08a. 900. The existence Of
s,ch ?. cro, indicates a good prospect for
business throughout the country. a noth-
hIe change for the better is comnented
71por by the Secretary in the fact that the
South, especially in those regions where
the boil weeril has interfered with the
growth of cotton. has given more atten-
ton to the cultivation OF corn and other
cereals. so that there IS a greater diVeFsl-
hcatio1 OF crops IN the South than ever
before-and all to the great advantage or
that section.
The report contains a most interesting
account of the activities of the department
in its various bureaus. sowing how close
" the agricultural progress in this country
IS following along the lines Of Improvement
recommended by the department through
its publications and the results -of its eH-
pertinent stations in every state, ana bF
tie instructions given through the aET1-
cultural schools aided by the federal gov
ernnnent and following the general CIR
ricuum urged by the head and bureau
chiefs OF the department
The activities Of the department have
been greatly increased by the enactment
Of recent legislation, by the pure food act,
the meat inspection act, the cattle trans
rortation act and the act concerning the
interstate shipment of game. This depart
nent is one Of those the scope OF whose
action is constantly widening, and there
fore it is Impossible under existing iegisla-
+ior7 70 reduce the cost and their estiTla tes
beloz those Of preceding years.
An Interesting review of the results Of
an exar1ina tion made by the department
into statistics and prices shows that on
the average since 1891 farm products have
increased in value = per cent while the
things which the farmer buys for use have
increased only = per Cent-sn tnd'cau ton
that present conditions are favorable TO
the farming community.
New-York tribune., 1910-12-07
Permanent In, rroverents.

Among other items for permanent i'm
provements appearing in the District esri-
mates for 1919 is one designed TO substitute
for Willow Tree Alley. notorious in the
New-York tribune., 1910-12-07
Public Utilities

There are sufficient number OF corpora
tons ENJOYING the use of public utilities In
the District Of Columbia 70 justify and re-
c11ire the enactment of q law providing
for their supervision and regulation in the
public interest consistent with the vested
rights secured 10 them by their charters
A part of these corporations, 70 W.T. the
street railways, has been put under the
control of the Interstate Commerce COM
mission but that commission reconnlendS
that the power be taken from 1t, and inti-
mates broadly that it's other and more I'M
portant duties make it impossible for It to
give the requisite supervision 1t seems 10
me wise to place this general power or
supervision and regulation in the Dtstric1
Commissioners II is said that their pres
ent duties are now absorbing, and would
prevent the proper discharge oy them OF
these new functions. but their present Jurls-
diction brings them so closely and fre-
ouentIv in contact with these corporations
and makes them to know in such detail
how the corporations are dischargins their
duties under the law and how they are
serving the public interest that the com
u1issio1ers are peculiarly fitted 70 do this
work. and I hope that Congress VIII I'M
nose IL upon them, by intrustins them with
mowers in respect 10 such corporations
similar to these of the Public Utilities COM
mission of New York City or similar boards
in Massachusetts,
New-York tribune., 1910-12-07
Coast and ceodetio Survey.

The Coast and Geodetc Survey has been
engaged in surveying the coasts OF lhe
Philippine archipelago. This is heaVs
work. because of the extended character OF
tha coast line in these islands, nut am
glad to note that about half of the needed
survey has been completed So large a
mart OF the coast line Of the archipelago
has been unsurveyed as to make navlsa-
tjon in the neighborhood of a number OF tl'e
islands. and especially on the east slde'
particularly dangerous.
New-York tribune., 1910-12-07
MISCELLANEOUS
SUBJECTS.
Bureau Of Health.

IN ny message of last year I recon-
mended the creation of a Bureau of Health,
in which should be embraced all those gov
ernment agencies outside Of the War and
Navy departments which are now directed
toward the preservation of public health or
exercise functions germane TO that subject.
I renew this recommendation I greatly
regret that the agitation in favor of this
bureau has aroused a counter agitation
against its creation, on the ground that the
establishment Of such bureau Is 10 he in
the interest of particular school of nledi-
cine. II seems to me that this assumption
is wholly unwarranted. and that those re-
sponsible for the government can be trusted
to secure in the personnel Of the bureau the
appointment of representatives of all rec
ognized schools of medicine. and in the
management of the bureau entire freedom
from narrow prejudice in this regard.
New-York tribune., 1910-12-07
COMMERCE
AND LABOR.

The Secretary OF the Department of COM
merce and Labor has had under his imme-
diate supervision the application Of the
merit system OF promotion to large num-
ber of employees, and hts discussion of this
method of promotions based on actual ex-
psrience I commend TO the attention OF
Congress.
New-York tribune., 1910-12-07
The imperial Valley Project.

BY an act passed by Congress the Presi-
dent was authorized to expend 100000 TO
construct the needed work 10 prevent in
Jury to the lands of the Imperial Valley
from the overflow of the Colorado River.
7 appointed Il competent engineer to eX-
anime the locality and to report a plan for
construction. He has done SO. In order
TO complete the work it is necessary 10
secure the consent of Mexico. for part of
the work must be constructed in Mexican
territory. Negotiations looking TO the Sc
curing of such authority are quite near
success. The Southern Pacific Railroad
Company proposes 10 assist us in the work
by lending equipment and by the trans
portation of material at cost price. and it
is hoped that the work may be completed
before any danger shall arise from the
spring floods in the river. The work is
being done under the supervision OF the
Secretary of the Interior and his consult
ing engineer General Marshall. late chief
of engineers, now retired.
This leads me to invite the attention of
Congress 10 the claim made by the South
ern Pacific Railroad Company for an
amount expended in a similar work of re-
lief called for by a flood and great emer-
gency. This work, as 1 am informed, was
undertaken at the request Of my prede-
cessor and under promise TO reimburse the
railroad company. II seems to me the
equity of this claim is manifest. and the
only question involved is the reasonable
value of the work done. 1 recommend the
payment of the claim in a sum found to
be Just.
New-York tribune., 1910-12-07
District of Columbia.

The government OF the District of Co
lumbia is a good government. The police
force, while perhaps 1t might be given, or
acquire. more military discipline in bear
ing and appearance, Is nevertheless an eff
cient body CT men, free from graft, and
discharges its important duties In this
capital OF the nation effectively. The parks
and the streets of the city and the Dis
trict are generally kept clean and in ex-
celient condition. The Commissioners of
the District have its affairs well In hand
and, while not extravagant, are constantly
looking to those municipal improvements
hat are expensive. but that must be made
in a modern growing city like Washing
ton While all this is true. neyertheIess
the fact that Washington is governed by
Congress, and that the citizens are not re-
sponsib1e and have no direct control
through popular election in District mat
ters, properly subjects the government to
inquiry and criticism by its citizens. mani
tested through the public press and other
wise; such criticism should command the
careful attention of Congress. Washing
ton is the capital of the nation. and its
maintenance as great and beautiful city
under national control every lover of his
country has much at heart; and il should
present in every way a model in respect
OF economy of expenditure. of sanitation
of tenement reform. of thorough public in
struction, of the proper regulation OF pub
lie utilities, of sensible and extended chari-
ties. Of the proper care OF criminals and OF
youth needing reform. of healthful play
grounds and opportunity for popular rec
reation. and OF beautiful. system oi
parks. I am glad TO think that progress is
being made in all these directions, but
venture 10 point out certain specific TN
provements toward thess ends which Con
gress IN its wisdom might adopt Speak
ing generallv. | think there ought 10 be
New-York tribune., 1910-12-07
The Census Bureau.

The taking of the census has proceeded
with promptness and efficiency. The Sec
retary believes, and I concur. that It VIII be
more thorough and accurate than any CEN
sus which has heretofore been taken. but
IL is not perfect The motive that prompts
men with false civic pride to induce the
padding of census returns in order 10 in
crease the population of a particular city
has bee strong enough TO lead to fraud in
respect TO a few cities In this country. and
have directed the Attorney General 10
rreceea with all the vigor possible against
those who are responsible for these frauds.
They have been discovered and they viii
net interfere with the accuracy Of the csn-
New-York tribune., 1910-12-07
Bureau of Fisheries.

a,a glad to note in the Secretary's re
MORT the satisfactory progress which IS
be;nr made in respect to the preservation
of the seals Of the Pribylov Islands. very
active stems are being taken by the Depart
,,,er,+ of state to secure an arrangement
= bich shall protect the Pribyiov herd from
the losses due to pelagic sealing. Meantime
the government has secured seal peits OF
the bachelor seals (the killing of which does
NOT Interfere with the maintenance or the
herd). from the sale Of which next month
Il is expected 10 realize about stso'ep'
sun, largely in excess of the rental pala ps
The lessee of the government under the
,,-a,-ir.1c contract
New-York tribune., 1910-12-07
The Proposed Law.

The proposed act provides that no la
borer or mechanic doing any part OF the
work contemplated by a contract with the
United States in the employ OF the con-
tractor or any subcontractor shall be re-
CURED or permitted TO work more than
eight hours day in any one calendar day
It seems to me from the past history that
the government has been committed TO a
policy of encoura ging the limitation of the
days work to eight hours IN all works of
construction initiated by itself, and it seems
to me illogical TO maintain a difference be-
tween government work done on govern
ment soil and government work done in a
private establishment, when the work is OF
such large dimensions and involves the ex-
penditure Of much labor for a. considerable
period so that the private manufacturer
may adjust himself and his establishment
TO the special terms of employment that
ne must make with his workmen for this
particular job. TO require, however, that
every small contract of manufacture en-
tered into by the government should be
carried out by the contractor with men
working at eight hours would be TO impose
an intolerahle burden upon the government
by limiting its sources of supply and ex-
cIuding altogether the great majority of
those who would otherwise compete for its
business
The proposed act recognizes this III the
exceptions which IL makes TO contracts
for transportation by land or water, for
the transmission OF intelligence and for
such materials articles as may usually
be bought in the open market, whether
made to conform TO particular specifica-
tions or not or for the purchase of sup
plies by the government. whether manu-
factured to conform to particular speciica-
tons or not
[ recommend that instead OF enacting the
proposed bill, the meaning Of which is not
clear and definite and might be given a
construction embarrassing 10 the public
interest the present act be enlarged ny
providing that public works shall bs con-
New-York tribune., 1910-12-07
The District of Columbia in Virginia

/ have already IN previous communica-
items to Congress referred to the impor-
tance OF acquiring for the District of Co
lumbia at least a part of the territory on
the other side of the Potomac, in Virginia.
which was originally granted for the Dis
trict by the State of Virginia, and then was
retroceded by act of Congress in 1916 1t
is very evident from conferences that I
have had with the Senator's and Repre-
sfntatives from Virginia that there ts no
hope Of a resranting by the state OF the
land thus given back; and I am frank TO
saw that in so far as the tract Includes the
town Of Alexandria and land remote from
the Potomac River there would be no par
ticular advantage in bringing that within
national control. But the land that lies
along the Potomac River above the rail-
read bridge and across the Potomac IN
Guiding Arlington Cemetery. Fort Myers
the government experiment farm, the VII
lage Of Rosslyn. and the Palisades Of the
Potomac, reaching 10 where the old DIS
frict line intersects the river. is very sparse
IL settled and could he admirably utilized
for increasing the system of the parks OF
Washington. II has been suggested 70 me
by the same Virginia Senator'S and Repre-
sentatives that if the government were 10
acquire Tor a SONeIUIIl-tlL pcA n ALi- tNA't-
above described. which is not of very great
value. the present law of Virginia would
itself work the creation Of federal turisdic-
ton over if: ard if that were not complete
enough. the Legislature of Virginia would
in all probability SO enlarge the juriSdic-
ton as TO enable Congress 70 include IL
within the control of the government of the
District OF Columbia and actually make II
part Of Washington. I earnestly recon-
mend that steps be taken TO carry out this
lr,Ia !
New-York tribune., 1910-12-07
Economy ard Efficiency.

The Committees on Appropriations Of
Congress have diligently worked TO reduce
the expenses OF government and havs
found their efforts often blocked by lack
OF accurate information containing a
proper analysis or requirements and OF
actual and reasonable costs. The rssuls
Of this inquiry should enable the F.xecu-
tive IN his communications TO Congress 70
sive information 70 which Congress ts
entitled and which will enable IL - pro-
mote economy
nave requested the head OF each d.
parfment 10 appoint committees On .~cr-
cmy ard ernciency in erder 10 secure fun
New-York tribune., 1910-12-07
Negro Exposition.

also renew NY recommendation tha.
steps be taken looking 70 the holding ce a
negro exposition IN celebration Of the r.
t.eth anniversary OF the issuing tT Mr.
Lincoln % the Emancipation Proclamation
New-York tribune., 1910-12-07
Freedmen's Bank.

renew my recommendation ths- ths
claims Of the deposItors in the F'rset-,ep,s >
Bank be recognized and paid ty the rse-
sage OF the pending bill on ths. subject.