The Chanute times., 1911-12-29

master to his servant for personal In
| turtles to such as are occasioned by his
| fault has been abandoned in most oiv-
| ilized countries and provision made
| whereby the employe injured in the
course of his employment Is compen-
stated for his loss 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 it's
| vast complexity and inherent dangers
arisin@ 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 a commission to
| investigate 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 1t is expected will
| be able to report by the first of the
| year, in accordance with the provi-
| sions of the law.
Measures to Prevent Delay and Un-
necessary Cost of Litigation.
In promotion of the movement for
| the prevention OF delay and unneces-
sary cost, in litigation, I am glad to
| say that the Supreme court has taken
| steps to reform the present equity
rules of the Federal courts, and that
we may in the near future expect a
revision of them which will be a long
step in the right direction.
Postal Savings System.
On January 3, 1911. postal savings
repositories were established expert
mentally in 48 states and territories.
After three months successful opera
| ton the system was extended as rap
| idly as feasible to the 1900 postoffices
| Of the first, second and third classes
constituting the presidential grade.
BY the end OF the year practically all
| of these will have been designated and
| then the system will be extended to
| all fourth class postofflces doing
| money order business.
The deposits have kept pace with
| the extension of the system. Amount
| ing to only S60652 at the end of the
| first months operation in the expert
mental offices, they increased to S679.-
| $40 by July, and now after II months
| OF operation have reached a total of
| s11,O00,000. This sum is distributed
among 2710 banks and protected un-
| der the law by bonds deposited with
the treasurer Of the United States
Parcel Post.
Steps should be taken Immediately
for the establishment of a rural parcel
post. In the estimates of appropria-
| tions needed for the maintenance OF
| the postal service for the ensuing fis-
cal year an item of $4,000 has been
| inserted to cover the preliminary eX-
| pense of establishing a parcel post on
rural mail routes. as we'll as to cover
| an investigation having for its object
| the final establishment of general
| parcel post on all railway and steam
boat transportation routes The de-
partment believes that after the initial
| expenses of establishing the system
| are betrayed and the parcel post is in
full operation on the rural routes Il
will not only bring in sufficient rev.
enue to meet its cost but also a sur
plus that can be utilized in paying the
expenses of parcel post in the city
delivery service.
The suggestion that we have a gen.
eral parcel post has awakened great
opposition on the part of some who
think that 1T will have the effect to
destroy the business of the country
store keeper. Instead of doing this, l
think the change will greatly increase
business for the benefit of all. The re-
duction in the cost of living 1t will
bring about ought to make its coming
certain.
The Navy Department.
On the I'd of November last I re-
viewed the fighting fleet of battleships
and other vessels assembled in New
York harbor, consisting of "a battle-
| ships, armored cruisers. cruisers,
22 destroyers, IL torpedo boats, sub
marines and other attendant vessels,
making SO vessels of all classes, of q
| tonnage of 676.634 tons.
The fleet was deficient in the num-
Der of torpedo destroyers, in cruisers,
and in colliers, as well 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 much
more rapidly in case of emergency
| than the battleships, and we certainly
ought to continue the policy of two
battleships a year until after the
Panama Canal is finished and until in
our first line and in our reserve line
we can number 40 available vessels OF
proper armament and size.
Like the Treasury Department and
partment has given much attention to
economy in administration, and has
cut down a number of unnecessary ex-
penses and reduced its estimates ex-
| cept for construction and the increase
| that that Involves.
1 urge UPON congress the necessity
for an immediate increase OF 1000
men in the enlisted strength OF the
navy, provided for in the estimates.
Four thousand more are now needed
to man all the available vessels.
Departments of Agriculture and Com
merce and Labor.
For the consideration of matters
which are pending or have been dis
posed of in the agricultural depart
ment and in the department OF COM
merce and labor. l refer to the very
excellent reports of the secretaries of
| those departments. l shall not be able
| to submit to congress until after the
| Christmas holidays the question or
| conservation of our resources arising
| In Alaska and the west and the ques-
| tion of the rate for second-class mail
matter in the postoff1ce department
Elimination Of All Local Offices From
Politics.