The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-07

production as can be used by the government, though not sold, to the public in competition with private business, for all prisoners who can be placed at work, and for which they should receive reasonable compensation, available for their dependents.
 Two independent reformatories are needed; one for the segregation of women, and another for the seg- regation of young men serving their first sentence.
 The administration of justice would be facilitated greatly by in- cluding in the bureau of investiga- tion of the department of justice a division of criminal Identification. where there would be. collected this information which Is now indispens- able in the suppression of crime.
 The prohibition amendment to the constitution requires the Congress and the President to provide adequate laws to prevent it's violation. It Is my duty to enforce such laws. For that purpose a treaty Is being nego- tiated with Great Britain with re- spect to the right of search of how ering vessels. To prevent snug gling. the coast guard should be greatly strengthened, and a supply of swift power boats should be pro- vided.' The major sources of produc- tion should be rigidly regulated and every effort should be made to sup press interstate traffic. With this action on the part of the national government, and the cooperation which is usually rendered by munich pal and state authorities, prohibition should be made effective Free gov ernment has no greater menace than disrespect Of authority and continual violation of law. It Is the duty of a citizen not only to observe the law but to let 1t be known that he is opposed to it's violation.
 The Negro. ~A'l
 Numbered among our population are some 12,oO0.o0o colored people. Under our constitution their rights are just as sacred as those of any other citizen. :, It is both a public and a private. duty. to protect those rights. The Congress ought to exercise all us pOWcTS OI PIeNtnllOIl anu PuA ishment against the hideous crime of lXnching, of which the negros are by. no means the sole sufferers, but for which they furnish a majority of the victims.
 ; Already a considerable sum, is ap- propriateds to give the negroes vo- .cational training in agriculture About half a million dollars is rec commended for. medical courses at Enxx o,-H- ,fVo fxr f0 ha1n cont rtDnte to the education of 500 colored doc tors, needed each year. On account of the emigration of large numbers into industrial centers, 1t has been proposed that a commission be ere ated. composed of members from ley Tor mutual understanding ana confidence. Such an effort is to De commended. Everyone would rejoice in the accomplishment of the results which 1t seeks. But 1t Is well to rec ognize that these difficulties are to a large extent local problems which must be worked out by the mutual forbearance and human kindness or each community. Such method gives much more promise of a. real remedy than outside interference.
 O O
 Civil Service.
 The maintenance and extension ot the classified civil service is exceed ingly important. There are nearly 550,O00 persons in the executive civil service drawing about $700,000, 900 or yearly compensation. Four-fifths or these are in the classified service, This method of selection of the em- ployes of> the United States Is espe- cially desirable for the post office department. The civil service com . mission has recommended that post masters at first, second and third class offices be classified. Such ac- tion. accompanied by a repeal of the four-year term of office, would un- doubtedly be an improvement. l also recommend that the field force Tor prohibition enforcement be brought within the classified civil service without covering in the present mem bership. The best method for se. 'lecting public servants is the merit system.
 A 0 o o
 Public BuildinEs.
 Many of the departments in Wash ington need better housing facilities. Some are so crowded that their work Is impeded others are so scattered that they lose their identity. While I do not favor at this time a general public building law, I believe 1t Is now necessary, in accordance with plans already sanctioned for uni fled and orderly system for the de- 'velopment of this city. to begin the carrying out of those plans by au-