The new era., 1910-12-15

operation than any similar system
abroad. Arrangements have been per-
fected 80 that savings banks will be
opened In some cities and towns on
the LIST of January. and there will be
gradual extension of the benefits of
the plan to the rest of the country"
ut is gratifying" says the president,
that the reduction in the postal
deficit has been accomplished without
any curtailment of postal facilities.
On the contrary. the service has been
greatly extended during the year In
all its branches"
second-class Mall.
"In my last annual message 1 In
vited the attention Of congress to the
inadequacy of the postal rate imposed
upon second class mail matter in SO
far as that includes magazines, and
showed by figures prepared by experts
of the postofiice department that the
government was rendering a service
to the magazines. costing many mil
lions in excess of the compensation
paid. An answer was attempted to
this by the representatives of the
magazines, and reply was filed to
this answer by the postofflce depart
ment. The utter inadequacy Of the
answer, considered in the light of the
reply of the postoffice department,
think must must appeal to any fair
minded person. Whether the answer
was all that could be said In behalf of
the magazines Is another question.
agree that the question is one of fact;
| but l insist that If the fact is as the
| experts of the postofflce department
show, that we are furnishing to the
owners of magazines service worth
millions more than they pay for It,
| then Justice requires that the rate
should be increased. The increase in
the receipts of the department result
| ing from this change may be devoted
| to increasing the usefulness Of the de-
| partment in establishing a parcels
post and in reducing the cost of first
class postage to one cent. 1t has been
said by the postmaster general that a
| fair adjustment might be made under
which the advertising part Of the
magazine should be charged for at a
different and higher rate from that of
|
lieve many useful magazines that are
not circulated at profit, and would
not shut them out from the use Of the
malls by prohibitory rate.
with respect to the parcels post. l
respectfully recommend its adoption
on all rural delivery routes, and that
| II pounds-the international limit-be
| made the limit of carriage In such
| post"
Abolish Navy Yards.
The president calls attention to GER
tain reforms urged by the secretary OF
the navy which he recommends for
| adoption, and continues:
"The estimates of the navy depart
ment are s5,000,000 less than the ap-
propriations for the same purpose last
year, and included in this is the build
ing program of the same amount as
that submitted for your consideration
last year 1t is merely carrying out
the plan of building two battleships a
year, with few needed auxiliary yes
sells. earnestly hope that this pro
gram will be adopted.
| ue SeCItldIy VI luc navy Ads
given personal examination to every
| navy yard, and has studied the uses
of the navy yards with reference tc
the necessities of our fleet. With a
fleet considerably less than half the
size of that of the British navy. we
have shipyards more than double the
number, and there are several Of these
shipyards expensively equipped with
modern machinery. which, after inves
tigation the secretary of the navy be
lieves to be entirely useless for naval
purposes. He asks authority to aban
don certain of them and to move their
machinery to other places, where IT
| can be made of use."
THE complete success Of our coun-
try In arctic exploration should not re,
| main unnoticed. The unparalleled
achievement of Peary in reaching the
north pole, April 6. 1909, approved by
critical examination of the most ex-
| pert scientists. has added to the dis
tinction of our navy, to which he be-
longs, and reflects credit upon his
country. l recommend fitting recogni-
ton By congress of the great achieve
ment of Robert Edwin Peary."
Conservation.
| "The subject of the conservation of
the pubic domain has commanded the
attention of the people within the last
| two or three years.
There Is no need for radical re-
form in the methods Of disposing of
what are really agricultural lands. The
| present laws have worked well. The
enlarged homestead law has encour-
aged the successful farming of lands
in the semi-arid regions.
Nothing can be more important in
the matter Of conservation than the
treatment of our forest lands. 1t was
probably the ruthless destruction of
forests in the older states that first
called attention to the necessity for
halt in the waste of our resources.