The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1910-12-06
MISCELLANEOUS SUBJECTS.
Bureau of Health-Public Parks.
Imperial Valley Project.

Bureau of Health-Public Parks.
Imperial Valley Project.
In my message Of last year 1 recon-
mended the creation OF Il bureau of
health in which should be embraced
all those government agencies outside
of the war and navy departments
which are now directed toward the
preservation of public health or exer-
else functions Germane to that subject.
renew this recommendation.
greatly regret that the agitation in IA
vor of this bureau has aroused coun-
ter agitation against its creation on
the ground that the establishment OF
such n bureau Is to be in the interest
of particular school of medicine. 1t
seems to me that this assumption is
wholly unwarmuted and that those
responsible for the government can be
trusted to secure in the personnel of
the bureau the appointment of repre-
sentatives of all recognized schools of
medicine and in the management of
the bureau entire freedom from mar
row prejudice in this regard.
The Imperial Valley Project.
By an act passed by congress the
president was authorized to expend
million dollars TO construct the needed
work to prevent injury to the lands of
the Imperial valley from the overflow
of the Colorado river. / appointed
competent engineer to examine the 10
callty and TO report a plan for con-
structIon. BE has done so. In order
to complete the work It is necessary
to secure the consent of Mexico, for
part of the work must be constructed
in Mexican territory.
Negotiations looking to the securing
OF such authority are quite near sue
cess. The Southern Pacific Railroad
company proposes to assist us in the
work by lending equipment and by the
transportation of material ut 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 un-
der the supervision of the secretary of
the interior and his consulting en-
gincer. General Marshall. late chief OF
engineers. now retired.
This leads me to invite the attention
of congress 10 the claim made by the
Southern Pacific Railroad company for
an amount expended III a similar work
of relief called for by . +'0Od and great
emergency This work, ~ | am in
formed. wars undertaken - the request
of my predecessor AID under promise
70 reimburse the railroad company. 1t
teens to me the equity of this claim Is
manifest. and the only question involv-
I'd is the reasonable value of the work
lonc recommend the payment of
tho claim in sum found to be Just.
District of Columbia.
The government of the District Of
Columbia is Il good government. The
police force while perhaps 1t might be
given or acquire more military disci-
pIIne In bearing and appearance. is new
erthelcss an efficient body of men. free
from graft. and discharges its impor-
tant duties i'll this capital of the milton
effectively. The parks and streets of
the city and the District are generally
kept clean and in excellent condition.
Tho commissioners of the District
have its affairs well IN hand and.
while not extra1 agant. are constantly
looking to those municipal improve
mcnts that are expensive, but tha
must he made in II modern growing
city like Washington. While all this
is true. nevertheless the fact that
Washington is governed by congress
and that the cltiZcns are not reSponsi-
bic and have no direct control through
popular election in District matters
properly subjects the government to
inquiry and criticism by its citizens,
manifested :''ryH-'l the public press
and otherwise such criticism should
command the careful attention of con
.sress. washington is the capital of
the nation, ana its maintenance as Il
great and beautiful city under nation
al control every lover of his country
has much mt heart. aud 1t should pre-
sent in every way Il model in respect
OF economy OF expenditure, OF santa
ton. or tenement reform, of thorough
public instruction, of the proper regn'
Iation OF public utilities. OF sensible
and cxtruded charities. OF the proper
cHrc. af'cl ;.r.na's ana of youth needing
rcfr. or iiealthfM Fairgrounds AND