The herds have been reduced to such an extent that the question of profit has become a mere incident, and the controlling question has become one of conservation.

The present lease will expire on the 30th of April, 1910, and it is important to determine whether or not changed conditions call for a modification of the policy which has so far been followed.

The rapid depletion of these herds is undoubtedly to be ascribed to the practice of pelagic sealing.

I transmit herewith, for the information of the Congress, a report of the International Waterways Commission, dated January 8, 1910, on the regulation of Lake Erie, together with the appendix, tables, and plates.

It is hereby ordered that all lands within the Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation, N. Mex., embraced in small holdings claims Nos. 484 and 486, T. 13 S., R. 12 E., New Mexico principal meridian, as shown on the records of the General Land…

The proposed legislation has my hearty approval and I commend it to the careful consideration of the Congress.

Every one must admit the wisdom of providing for the payment of the canal expenditure by bonds.

By a budget system I mean a reference of proposed expenditures and receipts to some one authority or tribunal, which, after determining what the revenues are to be, must also determine what the expenditures can be, and make a budget…

Not only is the application of such a principle just and right in the case of an enterprise like the Panama Canal, but it seems to me wise and appropriate to adopt it with reference to other projects which commend themselves to Congress.

That the Secretary of the Interior is hereby authorized and directed to make practical and exhaustive investigation of the character, extent, and value of the coal deposits in and under the segregated coal lands of the Choctaw and…

The effect of the proposed measure would be to promote officers to the grade of captain at an average age of 46 or 47, and to make the average age of all the captains about 50.

The creating of higher ranking flag officers is a military necessity.

Considerations of proper military efficiency, as well as a due sense of national dignity, and self-respect, as befitting this great nation, urge that the existing situation shall cease.

I earnestly urge upon the Congress the passage of suitable personnel legislation.

The effect of the proposed measure would be to promote our officers to the grade of rear-admiral at an average age of 54 to 55, and to make the average of all the rear-admirals about 58.

The ultimate personnel would reach 3,000 line officers and midshipmen and 60,000 enlisted men; but under the measure as drawn, the full authorized strength of officers and men can not be reached for a number of years to come; nor, in any…

I commend to the Congress with my approval and the request that action should be taken accordingly.

The one substantial defect in compliance with the promise of the platform was the failure to reduce woolens.