Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1910-12-15

, fair adjustment might be made under which
the advertising part or the magazine shoult
be charged for at different and higher
rate than that from the reading matter
this would relieve many useful magazine,
} that are not circulated at a profit, and
would not shut them out from the use oi
the mails by prohibtory rate.
With respect to the parcels post, l re-
spectfully reeommend its adoption on all
the international limit--be made the limit OF
carriage In such post, and this with a view
to its general extension when tho income
OF the postofflee Will permit 1t and the pos
Etal savings bank shall have been fully estRb-
ushed.. The same argument is made against
the parcels post that was made against the
POSTAL savings bank-that II Is introducing
the government into business that ought
to be~conduct6d by private persons. and is
paternalism. The Postoffice Department has
great plant and great organization, and,
with this machinery, II is able TO do a great
many things economically that II new
organization were necessary 1t would be Inn
possioleste do without extrayagent. expendi-
fsawngs ibaaE can bea carried on at a small
,ad!dittlonRl cost, an why It, is possible to
incorporate at a. very inconsiderable ex-
nense . parcels, post in the rural delivery
system 4 general parcels post will in
| Volvesa much greater loGtlay. 4 ,.e.s'.yfN
X. With referencela to the government of
Alaska J have nothing to add to the recon-
mendatfohs made in my last message
on the subjeets Il amsconvlnced. that tine
| migratory character OF the population, its
UNEQUAL distribution" and its smalness OF
number, which the new CENSUS shows to be
about $4,000, in relation to the enormous
expanse of territory. make 1t altogether i'm
practicable to give to those people who are
m Alaska today and may not be there
year hence the power to elect a Legislature
to. govern az immense territory to which
they have relation so little permanent.
Il as FAR better for the, development. Of the
territory that 1t be committed to COM
mission TO be appointed by the Executive
with limited legislative powers sufficiently
broad to meet the local needs than to con
unue the present insufficient government
with few remedial powers. to make
popular government where there is not
proper foundation on which to rest 1t.
The suggestion that the appointment of
commission will lead to the control of
the government by corporate or selfish and
exploiting interests has not the slightest
foundation in fact Such a government
worked well in the Philippines and would
work well In Alaska, and those who are
really Interested In the proper development
OF that >. territory for the benefit of the
people who 1--we In It and the benefit of
the people Of the United States. who own
it. should support the institution of such
a government.
have been asked to recommend that the
credit of the Government be extended to
aid the construction of railroads in Alaska.
| am not ready to do so. A great
many millions of dollars have been already
expended in the construction of at least
viding for the proper development OF the
resources of Alaska, especially for the open
ing up of the coal lands, l believe that the
capital already invested will induce the
investment of more capital, sufficient to
complete the railroads building and to fur
nish cheap coal not only to Alaska but to
the whole Pacific Coast The passage Of a
law permitting the leasing of Government
coal lands in Alaska after public competi-
tion and the appointment for the govern
ment of the territory of commission with
enabling powers to meet the local needs |
will lead to an improvement in Alaska and
the development of her resources that is |
likely TO surprise the country.
1 have already referred to the forests of
the United States and their extent. and |
have urged, as l do again. the removal of |
the limitation Of the power upon the Ex-
ecutive to tracts of land in six |
Western States in which withdrawal for this /
purpose is now forbidden. The Secretary Of |
Agriculture gives very full description of
the disastrous fires that occurred during the
last Summer in the National forests The
Secretary estimates that standing timber
Seyenty-six persons in the employ OF the
Forest Service were killed and many more
injured, and regret to say that there is no
provision in the law by which the expenses
for their hospital treatment Of their in
lerment could be met out Of public funds.
The Red Cross contributed $1,000 and the
was made up by private contribu-
don, principally by the Forest Service and
It's officials. l recommend that suitable
legislation be adopted to enable the secre-
tary Of Agriculture to meet the obligation
of the Government in this respect.
Proper protection necessitates, as the Sec
,stary points out. the expenditure CT a good
deal money In the development OF
roads and trails in the forests. the establish
nent of lookout stations and telephone con-
1ection between them and places where as
iistance can be secured.
The amount of reforestation shown in tie
'eport Of the Forest Service-only about
L5 900 acres az compared with the 160 00O.-
700 acres Of National forests-secns small,
md / glad to note that in this regard
he Secretary Of Agriculture and the chief OF
he Forest Service are looking together to
he further forestation Of Government land.
Progress has been made In learning by ex-
pertinent the best methods Of reforOstation.
Congress is appealed to now by the Secre
airy Of Agriculture to make the appropria-
Service in this regard. l hope that Con-
,ress will approve and adopt the estimate OF
he Secretary for this purpose.
The taking OF the census has proceeded
With promptness and efficiency. l concur
With the Secretary in that it will be more
borough and accurate than any census ,
yhch has heretofore been taken, but 1t is
lot perfect. The motive that prompts men
With a false civic pride to induce the pad '
ling OF census returns in order to increase
he population OF particular city has been
trong enough to lead to fraud in respect ,
0 few cities in this country, and have
irected the Attorney General to proceed
With all the vgor possible against those
Who are responsible for these frauds.
They have been discovered and they will
ot interfere with the accuracy Of the CEN
us, but 1t is OF the highest Importance
hat official inquiry Of this sort should not
e embarrassed by fraudulent conspiracies [
n some private OF local interest q
The Commissioner of Corporations has .
lst completed the first part Of report on I
he lumber industry in the United States
his part does not treat OF the question J.
trust or combination in the manufac- II
ire Of lumber subject to be dealt with g
tier The Commissioner does find. however,
change in the ownership Of the standing U
mber Of the United States other than the c
overnment timber. that calls for serious at n
ntion. =
The direct Investigation made by the Com II
ssioner covered area which contains n
per cent Of the privately owned tim
sr Of the country. His report shows that n
le-haf Of the timber in this area Is owned a
Y 200 individuals and corporations; that =
per cent is owned by three corporations
i'd that there Is very extensive inter-
OF stock, well as other cir
instances, all pointing to friendly rela-
ons among those who own majority OF
lis timber. relationship which might n
ad to a combination for the maintenance n
price that would be very detrimental -
the public interest and would create n
10 necessity Of removing all tarin OBJ G
acles TO the free lumber importation from =
her countries. 81
The making Of matches from phos- "
lorus should be discouraged BY the i'm q,
,sition Of a heavy federal tax, the
resident believes, because OF the fright
4 diseases incident to the process, and h
cause matches can be made OF ma m
rials wholly innocuouS -
rha neesaea recommends a law pro- -