The Glenwood post., 1922-11-02
uacle Teds Bed Time Stories
Current Events for the Children
and Grown-ups, Too
INTERIOR DEPARTMENT ON
EFFICIENT BASIS UNDER FALL

about" said Jack as he and Ruth
were talking about the department Of
the interior. | know that the patent
office is part of that department be-
cause Dad had something he invented
patented, and he did it through that
department.
Uncle Ted walked ino the room at
this point in the conversation, and
both kiddies made a grand rush for
"Well, well, you children act as if
you were glad to see me. What's up
now?" Uncle Ted smiled as he waited
for an answer.
''We were just talking about the
interior department of the government
at Washington" replied Jack, "and
was saying that didn't know much
about it. Won't you tell us story
about it before we have to go to bedf"
"Sure I will, kddies. There are
some very interesting things done by
the interior department. Albert Bacon
Fall, former U. S. senator from New
Mexico, took charge Of that depart
ment as secretary of the interior in
March, 1921, as member of President
Harding's official family. Owing to
the war, Secretary Fall faced some
serious problems in the various bu
reaus. First of all, let me tell you
just what this department does. There
flee, having charge of all public
lands; the Indian office, which has to
do with all affairs of the Indians;
the pension bureau which looks after
pensions for veterans for all wars in
which the United States has taken
part; the patent office, where patents
on inventions are granted; the bureau
of education, from where educational
matters in federal territory are han
died and surveys made for the benefit
of our entire school system; and the
geological survey, one of the most i'm.
portant bureaus. From this bureau
mineral and land investigations are
made in every part of the United
States and possessions. Then there is
the reclamation service. This bureau
does some wonderful work in reclaim
ing waste and desert land and making
1T fit to live upon and to grow crops.
The bureau of mines is another. Dur
ing the recent terrible mine disaster
in California, the bureau of mines had
men there, experts in their line, to as.
sist in every way. This bureau over
sees the entire mining industry of the
country. The national park service di
rects all of the work in connection with
the upkeep of the national parks. In
addition to these bureaus, the interior
department runs the Howard university
at Washington, college for colored
men and women, and st. Elizabeth q
hospital, a national hospital for those
who are Ill mentally.
When Secretary Fall took over
this work he was not content to sit
back in his chair and let the depart
ment run any old way. He got on
train and he went all over the United
States so that he might get into per,
sonal touch with all the land and re-
clamation projects. During the war
the attention of the department was
naturally focused upon war time pro
jects 80 that the development of pub
lie lands was neglected. This made it
necessary for the department, not only
to keep up with the days work but tc
work very hard to make for lost time
When he went into office, Mr.. Fall
found that hundreds of people were re
questing their land patents and that
these cases dated way back. He cut
the red tape at once in this matter so
that the homestead division is now
handling the work of today and not of
yesterday or last year, as X was in
the past administration. Because
these people couldn't get their land
patents they were unable to get loans
of money so that they could buy live
stock and implements to work their
lands. By getting speedy action, Mr.
Fall Dlacad ossata in tho h,pJs ~
these people amounting to about $40,-
OOO,oOO."
"What has he done in the pension
Officer" asked Jack.
"In that office, Jack, q compar son
Of the work done in 1921 with the
years 1920 and 1919, when the depart.
ment was under Democratic control
is rather interesting. Mr.. Fall dis.