Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-03
Farm Situation Held
to Be Improving
Over Nation.
TOUCHES ON TARIFF
Economic Shifts Require
Changes, President
Tells Congress.

position to review the entire subject
We are also confronted with ma jor problem in
The effect of overgrazing (Which has now become
generaD Is not only to destroy the ranges but by
impairing the ground coverage seriously TO menace
the water supply in many parts of the West through
quick run-of, spring floods, and autumn drought.
= Reclamation Policy.
We have third problem of major dimensions in
the reconsideration of our reclamation policy The
inclusion of most of the available lands of the pub
nc domain In existing. or planned reclamation prof.
ects largely completes the original purpose of the
Reclamation Service. There still remains the me-
cessity for extensive storage of water in the arid
states which renders 1t desirable that we should
give wider vision and purpose to this service
To provide for careful consideration of these
questions and also of better division of responsible
ties in them as between the State and Federal
Governments, including the possible transfer to the
states Tor school purposes of the lands unreserved
LOT !oreSts, parks, power, minerals etc, have
appointed Commission on Conservation of the
Public Domain, with membership representing the
major public land States and at the same time
the public at large. recommend that Congress
should authorize a moderate sum to defray their
expenses.
Social Service.
The Federal Government provides for an ex.
tenSlVe and valuable program of constructive social
service in education. home building protection to
women and children, employment public health,
recreation, and many other directions.
!. IN broad sense Federal activity in these direc-
lions has been confined to research and dissemna-
ton OF information and experience and at most to
temporary subsidies to the States in order to secure
ANY other attitude by the Federal Government win
undermine one Of the most precious possessions of
sne american people that Is, local and individual
Federal officials can however, make a further
and most important contribution by leadership in
stimulation of the community and voluntary agen-
ces, and by extending Federal assistance in orrani-
cation OF these forces and bringing about co-opera-
ton among them.
Child Health Conference.
AS an instance of this character have recently,
IN cooperation with the Secretaries of Interior and
Labor laid the foundations of an exhaustive inquiry
into the facts precedent to a nationwide White
House conference on child health and protection.
Inns cooperative movement among interested aRen-
ces will impose no expense upon the Government
Similar nation wide conferences will be called in
a later date. ~
In view of the considerable difference of opinion
as 10 tne policies which should be pursued by the
FEDERAL Gov rnment with respect to education /
have appointed committee representative of the
important educs onal associations and others to IN
VeStlgate and present recomm noations In Coop
Grafton with the Secretary of the Interior have
also appointed voluntary committee of distin-
gulshed membership to assist in a nationwide
movement for abolition of illiteracy.
have recommended additional appropriations
it may more fully cover its coHoperape work With
state and local services have also recommended
additional appropriations for the Women's and
Children's Bureaus for much-needed research as to
facts which feel will prove most helpful
Public Health. o
The advance in scientific discovery as to disease
ana health imposes new considerations upon us
The Nation as whole is vitality interested in the
health OF all the people, IN protection from spread
OF contagious disease; in the relation of physical
and mental disabilities to criminaty and in the
economic and moral advancement which is funda-
mentally associated with sound body and mind. The
organization of preventive and health ed
ucation in its personal application is the province
of public health service Such organization should
be as universal as public aducation Its SUPPORT
Is proper burden upon the taxpayer 1t cannot be
organized with success either in its sanitary or
educational phases, except under public author
1ty. 1t should be based upon local and State re-
sponsibility. but consider that the Federal Gov
eminent has obligation of contribution to the
establishment OF such ag zncies.
Local Health Units.
In the practical working out of organization,
exhaustive experiment and trial have demonstrated
that the base should be competent organization
Of the municipality county, or other local unit
Most of our municipalities and some 400 rural com
ties out OF 5000 now have some such unit orranZa-
ton. Where highly developed, health unit COM
priseS at least physician sanitary engineer and
community nurse with the addition, in some cases
OF another nurse devoted to the problems of mater
nlty ana children. Such organization gives at
once fundamental control of preventive measures
and assists in community instruction. The Federal
Government, through its interest in control of con-
tagion, acting through the United States Public
Health Service and the State agencies has in the
past ana should In the future concern itself with
TINS development, particularly in the many rural
sections which are unfortunately far behind in prog
reSs. Some parts of the funds contributed under
the sheppard Towner Act through the Chfdren's
Bureau of the Department Of Labor have also
found their way into these channels.
l recommend to the Congress that the purpose
OF the Sheppard-Towner Act should be continued
through the Children's Bureau for limited period
OF years and that the Congress should consider the
desrability of combining the use of Federal funds
by the States to the building up of such county or
other local units; and that such outlay should be
positively co-ordinated with the funds expended
through the United States Public Health Service
directed to other phases of the same county or
other local unit organization. All funds appro-
priated should of course be applied through the
States, that the public health program of the
county or local unit will be efficiently co-ordnated
with that of the whole State.
Federal Prisons.
Closely related to crime conditions is the adj
miniStration of the Federal prison system Our
Feoeral penal institutions are overcrowded and this
condition is daily becoming worse. The parole and
probation systems are inadequate. These condi-
lions make 1t impossible to perform the work of per-
sonal reconstruction of prisoners so as to prepare
them for return to the duties Of citizenship In or
DER to relieve the pressing evils have directed the
temporary transfer of the Army Disciplinary Bar
racks at Leavenworth to the Department Of Justice
Tor use as a Federal prison. Not only is this tenn
porary but 1t Is inadequate for present needs
We need some new Federal prisons and reor-
ganlzation OF our probation and parole systems and
there should be established in the Department of
Justice Bureau of Prisons with suficient force
TO deal adequately with the growing activities OF cur
prison institutions Authorization for the improve
ments should be given speedily with initial appro-
priations to allow the construction of the new in
stitutions to be undertaken at once.
immigration.
Restriction OF immigration has from every asnect
proved sound national policy. Our pressing prob
lem Is TO formulate method by which the limited
number OF immigrants whom we do welcome shall /,
De adapted to our national setting and our national
needs
have been opposed to the basis ~ the c,,o,..