ITEMS OF INTEREST December 11, 1909 Issue

ITEMS OF INTEREST

Secretary Ballinger of the Interior Department has made public a definite policy which is dependent for its execution upon comprehensive legislation by Congress. He wants enactments by which title to the soil can be separated from the right to mine, and old and obsolete land laws replaced by modern statutes, under which the Government can retain ownership in the vast deposits of coal and oil and the enormous horse-power on streams and rivers, and exercise a more perfect control over timber tracts on the public domain.

President Taft has issued an order prohibiting any bureau officer or division chief, or any officer of the army or navy or the marine corps stationed in Washington, from divulging official information to any committee of the House or Senate, "or any member of Congress," except as authorized by the head of the department in which such officials serve. Senators and representatives declare that it abridges rights and privileges that members of Congress have been conceded for fifty years or more.

Edwin G. Cooley of Boston, formerly superintendent of the public schools of Chicago, as one of the chief speakers at the recent annual meeting of the Massachusetts Teachers' Association, declared his firm belief that the time had come when it was important that political economy and civics should be taught in the public schools, as it would enable the high school youth and girl to look upon the questions of the present era in a much clearer light.

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