Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1911-12-27

R-St-A-S~S " embrace. main features that.
having met the approval OF a great pre-
ponderance OF the practical and profess
sionai opinion OF the country. are likely
TO meet equal approval in congress.
The 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. It contains four principel fea-
lures. First. consolidation of the gem
eral stan with the adjutRnt general ;
and tbs inspector generals department;
second. consolidation of the quarter
masters department with the subsistence
ana pay department: third the creation
or an army service corps, and fourth an
extension OF the enlistment period from
three to I'VE years.
with the establishment of an army
service corps. as proposed in the bill
am thoroughly in accord and am con-
WINGED that the establishment of such
corps will result in material econ
ony and very great increase of efl-
cheney in the army. 1t has repeatedly
been recommended by me and my
predecessors 1 also believe that a
consolidation OF the stan corps can be
made with resulting increase in ef-
hctency and economy. but not along
the lines provided in the BIZ, under
consideration.
The army OF the United States is IN
BooO ConultioN.
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 as early as the LIST OF July, 1918.
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 navigable water
way from Lake Michigan to the mouth
OF the Illinois river. and thence via
the Mississippi TO the Gulf of Mexico,
Is one of national Importance In view
OF the work already accomplished b.
the sanitary district OF Chicago. an
agency of the state of Illinois. which
has constructed the most difficult and
costly stretch of this waterway and
made II an asset of the nation, and
in view of the fact that the people OF
Illinois have authorized the expendi-
tuFe of $40. goo 900 to carry this water
way SO miles farther to Utica, l feel
that 1t 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 10 the mouth
of the Illinois river be made upon lines
which while providing a waterway for
the nation. should otherwise benett
that state to the fullest axtent.
The Limitation of the liability of the
master to his servant for personal in
Juries to such as 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 loss of working ability
irrespective of negligence. The prin-
ciple upon which such provision pro-
do Hu F,l
workmen ia modern industry. with its
vast complexity and inherent dangers
arising from complicated machinery
and the use of the great forces or
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 workmens compensation
and to report the result OF their inves-
LEGATIONS. through the president. to
congress. This commission was APP
pointed and has been at work, holding
hea -'ings. gathering data and consider
ing the subject and IL 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 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 well as to cover
an investigation having for its object
"a hi feI, -
parcel post on all railway and steam
boat transportation routes
The suggestion that we have a gem
eral 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 ii VIII
bring about ought to make its coming
certain.
The Navy Department.
On the I'd of November last l re-
viewed the lighting fleet of bAttIeships
and other vessels assembled in New
York harbor. consisting of "a battIe-
ships. armored cruisers. cruisers.
% destroyers. u torpedo boats. s sub
marines, and other attendant vessels.
making SO vessels Of all classes, OF a
tonnage or 976,634 tons.
The fleet was deficient in the num-
Der OF torpedo destroyers. in cruisers.
and in colliers, as well as in large
hattleship 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 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 or
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 collectors
of customs. postmasters of all four
classes. immigration commissioners
and marshals should be by law COW
cred into the classified service, the
necessity for confirmation by the SEN
ate be removed. and the president
and the others. whose time is now tax
en- up in distributing this patronage
under the custom that has prevailed
since the beginning of the government
in accordance with the recommended
ton of the senators and congressman
of the majority party should be re-
lieved from this burden. ] am conf
dent that such a change would greatly
reduce the cost of administering tho
government. and that IL would add
greatly to its efficiency.
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