The Forrest City times., 1912-02-09

"hsninston, Feb. 2.-TNe presidents 6 special message on the work of the in- today.
 There Is no branch of the Federal Jurisdiction which calls more imperative y Tor Immediate legislation than that "hlch concerns the public domain. and especially the part of that domain which is in Alaska
 The progress under the reclamation act mas made clear the defects Of it's Iinits- tons. which should be remedied The rules governing the acquisition of home steads, or land that is not arid or semi arid, are not ~eii adapted to the perfect ing Of title 10 land made arabic by gov ernmeut reclamation work.
 concur with the secretary of the In- terior in his recommendation that, after entry is made upon land being reclaimed actual occupation as a homestead of tho same be not required until two years aft CT entry. but that cultivation of the same shall be required, and that the present provision under which the land Is 10 be paid for In ten annual installments shall be so modified as to allow patent issue for the land at the end of five yeary' cultivation and three years occupation with reservation of a government lien Tor the amount of the unpaid purchase money. This leniency to the reclamation
 
 lion at time when the condition of the land makes it most burdensome and dif- hcult. and at the end of five years will furnish him with a title upon which he can borrow money and continue the lm- proyement of his holdings
 l also concur in the recommendatio Of the secretary of the interior that all of our public domain should be classl fed and that each class should be disposed or or administered in the manner most appropriate to that particular class
 The chief change, however, which ought to be made, and which I have already recommended in previous messages and communications to congress, Is that by which government coal land and phos- phate and other mineral lands containing non-metall!ferous minerals, shall be leased by the government. with restrie- tons as to size and time. resembling those which now obtain throughout the country between the owners in fee and the lessees who work the mines, and in leases like those which have been most successful In Australia, New Zealand and Nova Scotia. The showing made by in- Yesugations into the successful working of the leasing system leaves no doubt as 10 It's wisdom and practical utility Re- quirements as to the working of the mine during the term may be so framed as to prevent any holding of large mining prop critics merely for speculation while the royalties may be made sufficiently low, not unduly to increase the cost of the coal mined, and at the same time suff- cient to furnish a reasonable income for the use of the public in the community where the mining goes on. Tn Alaska, there Is no reason why a substantial in. come should not thus be raised for such public works may be deemed neces- sary or useful.
 There Is no difference between the req sons which call for the application of the leasing system to the coal lands still re- tained by the government in the United States proper and those which exist in Alaska
 l am not in favor of government owner ship where the same certainty and eff cieney of service can be had by private enterprise, but I think the conditions presented Tn Alaska are of such a char acter as to warrant the government, for the purpose of encouraging the develop ment of that vast and remarkable terri tory. to build and own trunk line rail- road, which IL can lease on terms which may be varied and changed to meet tht growing prosperity and development oi the territory.
 For some years past the high and stead fly increasing cost of living has been A matter of such grave public concern that
 
 International conference be proposed at this time for the purpose of preparing plans. 10 be submitted to the various gov garments. for an international inquiry n- to the high cost of living, its extent cause. effects. and possible remedies. therefore recommend that. to enable the president to invite foreign governments to such a conference to be held at Wash ington or elsewhere. the congress provide an appropriation. not 10 exceed s9Q 600. to defray the expenses of preparation and Of participation by the United States.
 The magnitude and eompeXity of mod ern Industrial disputes have puc upon some of our statutes and our preser mechanism for adjusting such differences where we can be said 10 have any mechanism nt ala strain they were never intended to bear and for which they are unsuited What is urgently need ed today Is re-eNamlnatioa of our laws bearing upon the relations of employer and employe and a careful and discrim- mating scrutiny or the various plans which are being tried in several of our own states and in other countries. This would seem to be the first natural step In bringing about an adjustment of these relations better suited to the newer con- ditions of industry.
 My attention has been called to the in- justice which is done in this country by the sale of articles in the trade purport- ing to be made in Ireland when they are not so made, and 1t Is suggested that the justice of the enactment of a law which, so far as the Jurisdiction of the federal government can go. would prevent continuance of this misrepresentation to the public and fraud upon those who are entitled to use the statement in the sale of their goods, l think 1t to be greatly in the interest of fair dealing, which ought always to be encouraged by law, for congress to enact law making 1t q misdemeanor, punishable by fine or Imprisonment to use the mails or to put into Interstate commerce any articles of merchandise which bear upon their face a statement that they have been manu- factured in some particular country when the fact Is otherwise.