Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1911-12-22

sional 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. 1t contains four principal fea-
lures: First, 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. an
extension of the enlistment period from
three to five 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
a corps will result in material econ
omy and very great increase of effi-
cheney in the army. 1t has repeatedly
been recommended by me and my
predecessors. l also believe that
consolidation of the staff corps can be
made with a resulting increase in ef-
fciency and economy, but not along
the lines provided in the bill under
consideration.
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 as the 1st 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 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. I'm 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 it an asset of the nation. and
lin view of the fact that the people of
Illinois have authorized the expendi-
ture of $40. 10000 to carry this water
way So miles farther to Utica. I 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 be 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 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 suoh provision pro-
ceeds is that accidental injuries to
workmen in modern industry, with it's
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
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 APP
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 provt-
sions of the law.
Parcel Post.
Steps should be taken imm ediately
for the establishment of rural parcel
~
tons 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, well as to cover
an investigation having for it's object
the final esta blishment of general
parcel post on all railway and steam
boat transportation routes.
The suggestion that we have a gen
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 it will
bring about ought to make it's coming
certain.
The Navy Department.
On the I'd of November last l 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, u torpedo boats, sub
marines, and other attendant vessels,
making 98 vessels of all classes, of
tonnage of 5T6,634 tons.
The feet was deficient in the mum
Der of torpedo destroyers, in cruisers,
and in golfers. as 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 battleshfps 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 of
proper armament and size.
wish to renew again my recon-
mendation that all the local offices
throughout the country including coll
Iectors 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 recommends
ton of the senators and congressman
of the majority party should be re-