The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-12-07

greatest natural wonder OF TINS country
and the surrounding territory should be
included in another national park. refer
to the Grand Canyon OF the Colorado.
Pensions.
The uniform policy of the government In
the matter OF granting pensions to those
gallant and devoted men who fought to
save the life OF the nation in the perilous
days of the great Civil War. has always
men are now rapidly passing away. The
best obta!nable official Statistics show that
they are diving at the rate OF something
| over 5000 a month, and. in view of their
advancing years. this rate must inevitably.
in proportion. rapidly Increase. To the
man who risked everything on the field
of its direst need. W. owe a debt which
has not been and should not be computed
in a begrudging or parsimonious spirit. But
while We should be actuated by this spirit
erclsed not to go to absurd lengths, OF
! distribute the bounty of the government
to classes of persons who may. at this
late day, from a mere mercenary motive.
seek to obtain some legal relation with
an old veteran now lettering on the brink
of the grave.
Department of Agriculture.
The report of the Secretary of Agrieul-
ture invites attention to the stupendous
/ value of the agricultural products OF this
country, amounting in all to IS, 926, 100000 for
this year. This amount Is larger than that
of 1909 by 1906. 600, 600. The existence of such
M cup IT, lubSdlCo ~ a IL 6Oco
business throughout the country. a notable
change for the better Is commented upon
BY the secretary in the fact that the
South. especially in those regions where
the boil weevil has interfered with the
growth OF cotton. has given more attention
to the cultivation OF corn and other cereals,
crops in the South than ever Beforehand
all TO the great advantage OF that section.
i The activities of the department have
been greatly increased by the enactment
- .--.- t.olaiottoy, Az . fha MI = afnpi nrt
the meat inspection act. the cattle trans
portation act, and the act concerning the in.
~terstate shipment OF game. This depart
ment is one Of those the scope Of whose
action is constantly widening, and there
fore it is impossible under existing legis'
lation to reduce the cost and their esti'
mates below those of preceding years.
Forest Service.
I have already referred to the forests o.
the United states and their extent, and
have urged. as | do again, the removal o.
the Limitation upon tnu power OF tho EN-
ecutive to reserve other tracts of land IL
six western States. in which Withdrawal
for this purpose is now forbidden.
The amount of reforestationF shown II
the report of the Forest Service-only abou
Is, COO acres. as compared with the $50, U0,cn
of acres of national forests-seems small
the. Secretary of Agriculture and the chic
of the Forest Service are looking forward
to far greater activity In the use of avail
able government land for this purpose.
@ EIOHIeSS LIua SGt l&ANA ~ hSot ~.
experiment the best methods of r%eforest
ing. Congress is appealed to- now by Thu
Secretary OF Agriculture to make the ap
preparations needed for enlarging the use
fulness Of the Forest Service in this re
gard. I hope that Congress Will approx
ana adopt the estimate of the secretar!
for this purpose.
Department of Commerce and Labor.
The Secretary OF the Department OF Com
merce and Labor has had under his I'm
i mediate supervision the application of tn
merit system Of promotion to a large nun
Der OF employees. and his discussion OF thi
method of promotions based on actual eX
perience, I commend to tho attention o
Congress-. &
The Census Bureau.
The taking OF the census has proceede'
with %pronrptness and efficiency. Tho secrc
tary believes. and ] concur. that 1t vii
census which has heretofore been taken
but it is not perfect. The motive tina
prompts men with a false. civic pride t
Induce tho padding of census returns l
ticular city has been strong enough to len,
to fraud in respect to n few cities In TIL
country, aud | have directed tho Attorney
Il General to proceed With all the yigorS Jos
sible against those who are responsible 10
these frauds. They have been discovers
curacs of the census. but II Is OF tn
highest fimportance that official inquiry o
this sort I. should not bef embarrassed b
fraudulent consplracies in some private o
Bureau Of lighthouses.
The reorganization OF tho I.ighthous
Hoard has effected "a very considerable say
ing In the administration. and the est
mates forSthat service for#the present yea
are si2S, 700 less than for the presiding yea
In addition, three tenders. for which az
/ organizations were made, are not being hui
because they are not 5at present needed8 a