Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1912-12-13

tary purposes. The officers and men are
ambitious and eager to make themselves
thus available and to become an efficient
national reserve of citizen soldiery. They
are the only force of trained men, other
than the regular army upon which we
can rely. The so-called military pay BILL
In the form agreed on between the au-
thorities of the war department and the
representatives of the national guard, in
my opinion adequately meets these con-
ditions and offers proper return for the
pay which 1t is proposed to give to the
national guard I believe that Its enact
ment into law would be a very long step
toward providing this nation with first
line OF citizen soldery, upon which Its
main reliance must depend in case of any
national emergency. Plans for the or
ganization of the national guard into tao
tical divisions on the same lines as those
adopted for the regular army, are being
formulated by the war college division
OF the general staff.
Porto Rico. Mr.. Taft says continues
to show notable progress and he urges
the senate to pass the bill granting the
Porto Rtcans American citizenship.
Philippines.
A bill is pending in congress, con-
tinues the message. which revolution
lies the carefully worked out scheme
or government under which the Philip
pine islands are now governed and
which proposes to render them virtu-
ally autonomous at once and absolutely
Independent in eight years Such n
proposal can only be founded on the
assumption that we have now dis
charged our trusteeship to the Filipino
people and our responsibility for them
to the world, and that they are now
prepared for self-government as we'll
as national sovereignty. A thorough
and unbiased knowledge OF the facts
clearly shows that these assumptions
are absolutely with justification. AS
to this. 1 believe that there is no sub
stantial difference of opinion among
any of those who have had the respon-
sibility of facing Philippine problems
In the administration of the islands
and L believe that no one to whom the
future of this people is a responsible
concern can countenance n policy
fraught with the 1irest consequences
to those on whose behalf 1t is osten-
sibly urged.
Our true course is to pursue steadily
and courageously the path we have thus
far followed; to guide the Filipinos into
self-sustaining pursuits; to continue the
cultivation of sound political habits
through education and political practice;
TO encourage the diversification of indus
tries, and to realize the advantages of
their industrial education by conserva-
lively approved cooperative methods, at
once checking the dangers of concentrat-
ed wealth and building up a sturdy, inde-
pendent citizenship
Regulation of Water Power.
There are pending before congress a
large number of bills proposing to grant
privileges of erecting dams for the pur-
pose of creating water power in our navi-
gable rivers. The tendency of these bills
has brought out an important defect in
the existing general dam act. That act
does not, In my opinion, grant sufficient
power to the federal government in deal
ing with the construction of such dams to
exact protective conditions in the interest
of navigation. 1t does not permit the
federal government. as condition of its
permit. to require that part OF the
value thus created shall be applied to the
further general improvement and protec-
ton of the stream. ! believe this to be
one OF the most important matters of
Internal improvement now confronting
the government. Most OF the navigable
rivers of this country are comparatively
long and shallow. In order that they
may be made fully useful for navigation
there has come into vogue method of
Improvement known as canaliZation, or
the slack-water method, which consists
In building n series of dams and locks
each of which will create a long pool OF
deep navigable water. At each of these
dams there is usually created long pool
OF deep navigable water. At each of these
dams there Is usually created also water
power of commercial value. II the water
power thus created can be made available
for the further improvement of naviga-
tion in the stream, 1t is manifest that the
improvement will be much more quickly
effected on the one hand, and on the
other. that the burden on the general tax
payers of the country will be very much
reduced. Private interests seeking per-
mits to building waterpower dams in
haf hax
! thus improve navigation, and that IL they
! do not impair navigation they should be
| allowed to take for themselves the en-
| tire profits OF the water-power develop
ment. Whatever they may do by way OF
| relieving the government OF the expense OF
| improving navigation should be given due
consideration, but 1t must be apparent
| that there may be profit beyond rea-
| sonably liberal return upon the private
| investment which is a potential asset OF
! the government in carrying out COM
prehensiVe policy of waterway develop
ment. 1t is no objection to the retention
and use OF such an asset by the govern
ment that comprehensive waterway
policy will include the protection and de-
! Nelopment of the other public uses OF
| water, which cannot and should not be
! ignored in making and executing plans
! for the protection and development OF
| navigation. 1t is also equally clear that
ated is or may be an incident of a gen
| eral scheme of waterway Improvement
| within the constitutional jurisdiction OF
the federal government, the regulation OF
ruch water power lies also within thai
jurisdiction, In my opinion constructive
craftsmanship requires that Legislation
should be enacted which will permit thc
development of navigation in these great
rivers to go hand In hand with the utlI
i2ation of this by-product of water pow.
er, created In the course or the same i'm
provement, and that the general dam act
should be so amended as to make this DOS
slble ] deem 1t highly important tha
the nation should adopt n consistent anc
harmonious treatment OF these water
power projects. which will preserve fol
this purpose their value to tho govern
ment whose right II il TO grant the per
nit Any other policy is equivalent L
throwing away most valuable natluna
asset.
The Panama Canal.
During the past year the work of con
structon upon the canal has progresset
most satisfactorily. About 81 per cent o
the excavation work has been completed
and more than 90 per cent. OF the con
| nrafa for nil fhn lOcka is In DIarp I,