Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1912-01-04


jurisa to such - Are coca .6nel ~ his
FAULT has been abandoned IN most ely--'
ifiEod countries and p-osibion made
whereby the employe injured IN the
course OF his emploHme1t Is compen-
stated for his loss OF working ability
Irrespective Of negiigence. The prin>
ciplo upon which such provision pro-
Workmen in modern industry. with lta
vast complextty and inherent dangers
arssfrr frnfn cono1icated machinery
and the uBe OF the great forcee Of
steam and electricity, should be re-
garded as risks Of the Industry and
portion by those who for their own
pront engage therein In recognition
of THE the last congress authorized
the appointment Of commission to
Investigate the subject OF employers.
liability and workmen's compensation
and to report the reeult Of their inves-
tisations through the president to
congrens. This commission WAS APP
pointed ana has been at work, holding
hearings. gathering data and consider
ing the subject. and It Ii expected will
be able to report by the hrst 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, 1 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 q
revision of them which will be long
step In the right direction.
Postal Savings System.
On January 3. 1911, postal savings
repositories were established expert
mentally In 4S states and territories-
After three months successful opera
ton the system was extended as rap
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
Z all fourth-class postofilces doing q
meney-oFder business.
The deposits have kept pace with
the extension OF the system, Amount
Ing to only $60,652 at the end of the
frst months operation In the expert
mental Offices, they increased to $67y.-
80 by July, and now after IL months
of operation have reached totaIef
81, 100000. This sum is distributed
among 2,710 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 rural parcel
post. In the estimates of appropria-
lions 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 operatio on the rural routes it
will not only bring in sufficient rev
enue to meet its cost, but also SUR
plus that can be utilized in paying the
expenses of parcel post in the city
delivery service.
The suggestion that we have 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. it will
wv about ought to make it's coming
certain.
The Navy Department.
On the I'd Of November last | re-
viewed the fighting feet OF battleships
and other vessels assembled in New
York harbor. consisting Of "a battle--
ships, armored cruisers. 2 cruisers,
20 destroyers. IL torpedo boats. SUBJ,
marines, and other attendant vessels,
making 50 vessels. of all classes, @of a
tonnage Of 516.e34 tons.
- az oct n ~,
Der of torpedo. destreyers, in cruisers,
and in golfers. as we'll as in large
battleship cruisers. which are now he
coming 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 OF
proper armament size.
Like the Treasury Department and
the War Department. the Navy De-
apartment has given much attention to
economy In administration and has
cut down number of unnecessary ex-
penses and reduced its estimates ex-
cept for construction and the increase
that that involves.
l 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.
nerce 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. / refer to the very
excellent reports of the secretaries of
those departments. i shall not be able
to submit to congress until after the
Christmas holidays the question of
conservation of our resources arising
in Alaska and the west and the ques-
ton of the rate for second -c1ass mail
matter In the postohice department.
Elimination Of All Local Offices From
Politics.
I wish to renew again my recon-
mendation that all the local Offices
throughout the country. including coll
lectors of internal revenue collectors
of customs. postmasters of all four
classes. immigration commissioners
and marsha1s should be by law Cow
erred into the classified service, the
necessity for eonfirmation blythe SEN
ate be removed and the president
and the others, whose time is now TAX
zen up in distributing this patrona Sc
under the custom that has prevailed
st hoo Inc nf ha pF-T1f 1s5,1 r