The Ronan pioneer. [volume] (Ronan, Mont.) 1910-1970, 1913-03-28

Montana upon being interviewed
concerning the Improvements to
be brought about on the Flathead
by the reclamation service said
that the Montana delegation in
congress would fight like trojans
to- get sufficient money to carry
on the work continuously until
the plan outlined by the recama-
ton service shall have been COM
pleted. He was of the opinion
that the failure of congress to
make adequate appropriations
has been entirely a mistaken
policy, as it has entailed needless
expense occasioned by the OPEN
ing and closing of the works
when each small appropriation
was exhausted. Just enough
money has been appropriated
from time to time to COM
mence the work fairly, and
then the appropriation would be
exhausted and the work closed
down. The working force would
be disorganized, and at the end
of a few months or a year
another small appropriation
would be made, the whole force
reorganized only to be disorgan-
lied when the appropriation be-
came exhausted.
1T will be the policy of the
Montana delegation to get
through sufficient appropriations
to carry on the work in a bust
ness like manner to completion,
comprehensive plan having al
ready been outlined for the recla-
nation of the reservation.
Judge Evans said that the
government could not lose any
thing by putting the work
through expeditiously as the
money used for the reclamation
work and appropriated by con-
gress is only borrowed from the
government to be reimbursed
out of the sales of the Indian
lands, timber and other assets
on the reservation. An effort
will be made to persuade con-
gress to make adequate appro-
priations to carry on the work
expeditiously for the benefit not
only of the white settlers on the
reservation but for the Indians
who are paying for the work.
He predicted that if adequate
appropriations can be made to
carry on the work in a business
like manner, in all probability
the work could be accomplished
for twenty five per cent less than
what it is now costing under the
present mistaken policy in vogue
by congress.
1AD\Co ~ ! w L W LolLkp.
Representatives Evans and
Stout have tentatively agreed to
divide the state into an eastern
and western district, so far as
postofices are concerned, Mr..
Stout taking the eastern district
and Mr.. Evans the western. The
state was divided as near as pos
sible along the same lines as that
outlined in the bill introduced in
the last session OF the legisla-
ture
Representative Evans said
that he would use his very best
endeavors to recommend men
for the position of postmaster
who will be satisfactory to the
people. That the first requisites
for office should be efficiency and
qualifications to serve the people.
That | look upon a postoffice
like an extensive mercantile
house where thousands of people
are dealt with every day, and
that postmasters should not be
appointed solely because of their
politics; but the prime requisite
should be ability and politics
should be a secondary considera-
ton The policy of the new ad-
ministration seems to be in ac-
cord with this theory because
they have agreed to leave all
fourth class postoffices in the
classified service, evidently with
the intention of securing more
efficient officers for the service;
and it is generally believed that
the order heretofore issued, plac-
ing fourth class offices under the
civil service regulations, will not
be disturbed, and that parties
looking for fourth class postof-
fees will be required to undergo