Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1911-12-28


having met the approval Of a great pre-
ponderance Of the practical ana profess
sional opinion of the country. likely
to meet equal approval in congress-
Tho War Department
There is now before congress a bill.
the purpose OF which is to increase the
efficiency and decrease the expense of
the army 1t contains four principal fea-
lures: First, a consolidation of the gem
eral staff with the adjutant generals
and the inspector generals department.:
second, consolidation of the quarter
masters department with the subsistence
and pay department.; third. the creation
OF an army service corps, and fourth
extension of the enlistment period from
three to five years.
With the establishment of an army
service corps, proposed in the bill,
1 am thoroughly in accord and am con-
WINGED that the establishment OF such
a corps will result in a material econ
omy and very great increase of eff
cheney in the army. 1t has repeatedly
been recommended by and my
predecessors also believe that a
consolidation of the staff corps can bs
made with a resulting increase in ef-
ficiency and economy. but not along
the lines provided in the bill under
The army of the United States is in
good condition
The Panama Canal.
The very satisfactory progress made
on the Panama canal last year has
continued, and there is every reason
to believe that the canal will be COM
pleted early the LIST OF July. 1913.
unless something unforeseen occurs
This is about Is months before the
time promised by the engineers
Waterway From Lakes to the Gulf.
The project for a nrvigable water
way from Lake Michigan to the mouth
OF the Illinois river. and thence via
the Mississippi TO the Gulf of Mexico.
ia one of national Importance. In view
of the work already accomplished By
the sanitary district of Chicago.
agency of the state of Illinois. which
has constructed the most difficult and
costly stretch of this waterway and
made it asset of the nation. and
in view of the fact that the people OF
Illinois have authorized the expendi-
ture OF 100000 to carry this water
way 62 miles farther to Utica 1 feel
that IT is fitting that this work should
be supplemented by the government.
and that the expenditures recommend
ed by the special board of engineers on
the waterway from Utica to the mouth
of the Illinois river he made upon lines
which while providing waterway for
the nation. should otherwise benefit
that state to the fullest extent
The Limitation of the liability of the
| master to his servant for personal in
juries to such are occasioned by his
fault has been abandoned in most civ
| ilized countries and provision made
whereby the employee injured in the
course of his employment is compen-
| stated for his lois of working ability
irrespective of negligence. The prin-
ciple upon which such provision pro-
ceeds is that accidental injuries to
| workmen in modern industry. with its
vast complexity and inherent dangers
| arising from complicated machinery
and the use of the great forces OF
steam and electricity. should be re-
| garded as risks of the industry and
| the loss borne in some equitable pro-
| portion by those who for their own
profit engage therein. In recognition
of this the last congress authorized
| the appointment OF commission to
invest gate the subject of employers
liability and workmen's compensation
and to report the result of their inves-
legations. through the president. to
congress. This commission was ap-
pointed and has been at work, holding
hearings, gathering data and consider
ing the subject. and it is expected will
be able to report by the first of the
year in accordance with the provi-
sions OF the law.
Parcel Post
Steps should be taken imm ediately
for the establishment of a rural parcel
post. In the estimates OF appropria-
lions needed for the maintenance of
the postal service for the ensuing ifs
cal year item of $4,000 has been
inserted to cover the preliminary ex-
pense OF establishing a parcel post on
! TuTdl mali IOutts, rs well as TO COVER
an investigation having for it's object
the final establishment of a general
parcel post on all railway and steam
boat transportation routes.
The suggestion that have a gen.
erel parcel post has awakened great
opposition on the part of some who
think that it will have the effect To
destroy the business of the country
| store keeper. Instead OF doing this
think the change will greatly increase
business for the benefit of ALL The re-
duction in the cost of living it will
bring about ought to make its coming
certain.
The Navy Department
on the I'd of November last 1 re-
viewed the fighting fleet of battleships
and other vessels assembled in New
York harbor. consisting of "a battle
ships. . armored cruisers. 2 cruisers
% destroyers. II torpedo boats. sub
marines. and other attendant vessels
making 9s vessels of all classes OF a
tonnage of 1868 tons.
, The fleet was deficient in the num-
Der of torpedo destroyers. in cruisers
and in golfers. we'll as in large
battleship cruisers. which are now be-
coming a very important feature OF
foreign navies. notably the British
German and Japanese.
, The building plan for this year con-
! templates two battleships and two
GOLFERS. This is because the other
and smaller vessels can be built mucf
more rapidly in case of emergency
than the battleships, and we certainly
ought to continue the policy of two
battleships = year until after th'
Panama Canal is finished and until il
our first line and in our reserve lin,
: we can number 40 available vessels o
proper armament and size.
I wish to renew again my recon-
mendation that all the local offices
throughout the country. including col
lectors of internal revenue. collector
4 of customs. postmasters of all foul
classes. immigration commissioner
and marshals. should be by law GOV
cred into the classified service. tn,
h necessity for confirmation by the sen
n ate be removed. and the presiden
= and the others. whose time is now TAX
5 en- up in distributing this patronag
& under the custom that has prevailed
= since the beginning OF the government