I further commend to the Congress the consideration of the Postmaster-General’s recommendation for an extension of the parcel post, especially on the rural routes.  There are now 38,215 rural routes, serving nearly 15,000,000 people who do not have the advantages of the inhabitants of cities in obtaining their supplies.  These recommendations have been drawn up to benefit the farmer and the country storekeeper; otherwise, I should not favor them, for I believe that it is good policy for our Government to do everything possible to aid the small town and the country district.  It is desirable that the country merchant should not be crushed out.

The fourth-class postmasters’ convention has passed a very strong resolution in favor of placing the fourth-class postmasters under the civil-service law.  The Administration has already put into effect the policy of refusing to remove any fourth-class postmasters save for reasons connected with the good of the service; and it is endeavoring so far as possible to remove them from the domain of partisan politics.  It would be a most desirable thing to put the fourth-class postmasters in the classified service.  It is possible that this might be done without Congressional action, but, as the matter is debatable, I earnestly recommend that the Congress enact a law providing that they be included under the civil-service law and put in the classified service.

Oklahoma has become a State, standing on a full equality with her elder sisters, and her future is assured by her great natural resources.  The duty of the National Government to guard the personal and property rights of the Indians within her borders remains of course unchanged.

I reiterate my recommendations of last year as regards Alaska.  Some form of local self-government should be provided, as simple and inexpensive as possible; it is impossible for the Congress to devote the necessary time to all the little details of necessary Alaskan legislation.  Road building and railway building should be encouraged.  The Governor of Alaska should be given an ample appropriation wherewith to organize a force to preserve the public peace.  Whisky selling to the natives should be made a felony.  The coal land laws should be changed so as to meet the peculiar needs of the Territory.  This should be attended to at once; for the present laws permit individuals to locate large areas of the public domain for speculative purposes; and cause an immense amount of trouble, fraud, and litigation.  There should be another judicial division established.  As early as possible lighthouses and buoys should be established as aids to navigation, especially in and about Prince William Sound, and the survey of the coast completed.  There is need of liberal appropriations for lighting and buoying the southern coast and improving the aids to navigation in southeastern Alaska.  One of the great industries of Alaska, as of Puget Sound and the Columbia, is salmon fishing.  Gradually, by reason of lack of proper laws, this industry is being ruined; it should now be taken in charge, and effectively protected, by the United States Government.