Norwich bulletin., 1910-12-07
not proper foundation upon which to

not proper foundation upon which to rest it.
 The suggestion that the appointment of commission will lead to the con- trol 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 i'll Alaska, and those who are really interested in the proper development of that territory for the benefit of the people who live 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 extend ed to aid the construction of railroads in Alaska. l am not ready now to dc so. A great many millions of dollars have already been expended in u construction of at least two railroads and if laws be passed providing for the proper development of the resources of A1asa-a, especially for the opening up of the coal lands, l believe that the capital a9ready invested will induce the investment of more capital, suffi- cient to complete the railroads building and to furnish 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 competition and the appointment of commission for the government of the territory with %o needs will lead to an improvement ta Alaska and the development of her Ess sources that is likely to surprise the country.
 National Parks.
 Our national parks have become so extensive and involve so much detail of action in their control that it seems to me there ought to be legislation ere ating a bureau for their care and con- troI. The greatest natural wonder of this couutrT and the surrounding terri tory should be included in another na- tional park. refer to the Grand Can yon of the Colorado.
 Pensions.
 The uniform policy of the govern ment in the matter of granting pen sions 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 been of the most liberal character. Those men are now ranidly Dassing away
 The best obtainable official statistics show that they are dying at the rata of something over 5000 a month, and in view of their advancing years this rate must inevitably in proportion rap, idly increase. To the man who risked everything on the field of battle to save the nation in the hour of it's direst need we owe & debt which has not Leen and should not be computed in a begrudG- ing or parsimonious spirit, But while we should be actuated by this spirit to the soldier himself care should be ex- ercised not to go to absurd lengths or distribute the bounty of the govern, ment to classes of persons who may at this late day from a mere mercenary motive seek to obtain some legal rela- tion with an old veteran now tottering on the brink of the grave.
 The true spirit of the pension laws is to be found in the noble sentiments expressed by MT. Lincoln in his last inaugural address, wherein 4.. speak ing of tue nations duty to it's soldiers when the struggle should be over be said we should "care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his wid- ow and orphans"