Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-01

tension of acreage are filing up and the
supply of foodstuffs as compared with
the demand is growing less each year.
Congress has sought to encourage the
| movement toward eight hours a day for
all manual labor by the recent enact
| ment of new law on the subject more
stringent in its provisions regarding
works on government contracts.
'One of the grea. defects in our pres
ent system of government is the delay
and expense of litigation which. OF
course, works against the poor litigant
The Supreme Court is now engaged in a
/ revision of the equity rules TO accom-
plish this purpose as to half our federal
litigation, The workmen'S compensation
act will relieve our courts OF law OF a
very heavy part of the present dOckets
on the law side Of the court and give the
court more opportunity to speed the re-
manning causes. The last Congress codi-
fled the federal court provisions. and
we may look for and should insist upon
a reform in the law procedure as to
promote dispatch of business and reduc-
ton in costs.
Postal Banks.
I'VE have adopted in this administra-
ton, after very considerable opposition.
the postal savings banks, which work di-
rectly in the promotion of thrift among
the people. BY payment of only per
cent interest on deposits they do not
compete with the savings banks. But
they do attract those who fear banks
and are unwilling 10 trust their funds
except TO a governmental agency. En-
perience. however. leads depositors to
knowledge of the Importance of interest,
and then seeking higher rate they
transfer their accounts to the savings
banks. In this way the savings bank de-
posits. instead of being reduced. are in
creased and there is thus available a
much larger fund for general investment.
For some years the administration has
been recommending the parcels post, and
probably be adopted by Congress au-
thorizing the government to avail itself
of the existing machinery of the Post
Office Department to carry parcels at a
reasonably low rate. so that the COM
munication between the city and the
country in ordinary merchandise will be
prOpOrtionately as cheap and as prompt
as the newspaper and letter delivery
through the post offices now. This must
contribute greatly to a reduction in the
cost and comfort of living.
Conservation of Lands.
I'VE are considering the changing needs
public lands and their conservation. AS
those lands owned by the government
and useful for agricultural purposes
sirable as homesteads than those which
have been already settled, 1t has been
properly thought wise to reduce the time
for perfecting a homestead claim from
five years to three. and this whether on
land within the rain area or in those
arid tracts within the reclamation sys-
tenn
Again a bill has passed the Senate and
is likely TO pass the House which will
not compel the settlers on reclamation
f,r1l
payment of what they owe the govern
ment before they receive a title. but
which gives title after three years with
a first government lien.
"On. the other hand the withdrawal of
coal lands. phosphate lands and oil lands
and water power sites is still maintained
until Congress shall provide on the prin-
ciples of proper conservation a system
OF disposition which will attract capital
on the one hand and retain sufficient
control by the government on the other
TO prevent the evil of concentrating an
soiute ownership in few persons of
those sources for the production of neces-
sites
Popular Unrest.
In the work OF rousing the people TO
the danger that threatened our ciyiliza-
ton from the abuses of concentrated
wealth and the power ii was likely TO
exercise, the public Imagination was
wrought upon and a reign of sensational
journalism and unjust and unprincipled
undertaking has followed in which much
injustice has been done to honest men,
Demagosues have seized the opportunity
iurther 10 infiame the public mind and
nave sought to turn the peculiar condi-
lions TO their advantage.
We are living In an age in which by
eXasseration of the defects of our pres
ent condition. by false charges of re-
sponsibiiity for IL against individuals and
classes, by holding up to the feverIsh
imagination of the less fortunate and the
discontented the possibilities of a millen-
mum. a condition of popular unrest has
oeeh produced. New parties are being
formed with the proposed purpose Of
satlsfNlng this unrest by promising q
panacea. In so far inequality of condi-
uon can De lessened and equality Of op-
pofiuhitN can De promoted by improve
ment or our educational system the bet
terfnent of the laws 10 insure the quick
administration of Justice and BIZ the
prevention OF the acquisition of privilege
the adoption OF the legislation above re-
cited and laws of a similar character
may aid the less fortunate in their strug-
gle with the hardships of life all are in
sympathy with continued effort to rem
tuS injustice and 10 aid the weak and
venture to say that there is no national
administration in which more real steps
OF such progress have been taken than in
'He present one. But In far the
propaganda for the satisfaction OF I'M
rest involves the promise Of a millennium
a condition in which the rich are to be
made reasonably poor and the poor rea-
sohab!y rich by Law. We are chasing a
PHANTOM. we are holding out 10 those
whose unrest we fear a prospect and q
dream. vision OF the impossible
In the ultimate analysis. l fear. the
equal opportunity which those seek who
proclaim the coming OF so-called social
justice involves forced division OF prop
erty, and that means socialism. In the
abuses or the last two decades il is true
that ill-gotten wealth has been concen-
trated in some undeserving hands, and
that II II We're possible to redistribute 1t
on any equitable principle to those from
Whom II was taken without adequate or
proper compensation il would be a good
result TO bring about. But this is obvious
~ Impossible and Impractical BILE All that
can be done Is TO treat this as one in
ment In the material progress of the
world. and TO make sure that there will
be no recurrence of such evil In this re-
gard We have made great progress and
REFORM, as In respect to secret rebates in
railways. the improper comforting of pub
lie franchises and the immunity OF monop-
olfzing trusts and combinations The mis-
fortunes OF ordinary business. the division
or the estates of wealthy men at their
| death. the chances of speculation which
undue good fortune seems often to stimu-
late operating as causes through n gen
Grafton, VIII do much TO divide up such
/ large fortunes. IL is far better to await
| the dfminution of this evil by natural
| causes than to attempt what would soon
1 take on the aspect of confiscation or to
abolish the principle and institution of
n 10 orfxy 1vxI 30 che 80 rfal