The Progress., 1898-12-10

Details and methods for the accomplish
ment of this purpose are discussed in the
report OF the secretary of the treasury 10
which the attention of congress is respect
fully invited
YELLOW FEVER COMMISSION.
In my last annual message l recommend
ed that congress authorize the appoint
ment Of commission for the purpose Of
making systematic investigations with ref
erence to the cause and prevention Of yell
low fever. This matter has acquired an
increased importance as a result OF the
military occupation Of the island Of Cuba
and the commercial intercourse between
this island and the United States which we
nave every reason to expect The sanitary
problems connected with our new relations
with the island Of Cuba and the acquisition
OF Porto Rico are no less important than
those relating to finance. commerce and adj
ministratiOn. 1t is my earnest desire that
these problems be considered by competent
experts and that everything may be done
which the most recent advances in sanitary
science can offer for the protection of the
health Of our soldiers in those islands and
or our citizens who are exposed to the dan
gers of the infection from the importation
Of yellow fever | therefore renew my re-
commentator that the authority of con-
grcSS may be given and a suitable apprO-
pratiOn made to provide for commission
of experts, to be appointed for the purpose
Indicated
TO MUSTER OUT VOLUNTEERS.
1t is my intention to muster out the
entire volunteer army as soon as con-
gress shall provide for the increase Of
the regular establishment This will
be only an act Of justice, and will be
much appreciated by the brave men
who left their homes and employments
to help the country in it's emergency.
POSTAL SERVICE.
q The postal service Of the country adj
vances with extraordinary growth.
Within twenty years both the revenues
and the expenditures of the postoffice
department have multiplied threefold.
In the last ten years they have nearly
doubled. Our postal business grows
more rapidly than our population. It
now involves an expenditure of $780,
100000 year, numbers $4,000 postOffices
and enrolls 100000 employees. This re-
markable expansion Of service which
is an accurate index of the public con-
ditions, presents a gratifying evidence
Of the advancement Of education, of the
increase of communication and bust
ness activity and of the improvement
of mail facilities leading to their con-
stantly augmenting use.
The war with Spain laid new and ex-
ceptional labors in the pOstoffice de-
partment. The mastering Of the mill
tary and naval forces Of the United
States required special mail arrange
ments for every camp and every cam
paign. The communication between
home and camp was naturally eager
and eXpectant. In some Of the larger
places of rendezvous as many as $4,000
letters day required handling. This
necessity was met by the prompt de-
tail and dispatch of experienced men
from the established force and by d.
recting all the Observation-Disclosures of the
railway mail and pOstoffice service so
far as necessary to this new need.
Congress passed an act empowering
the postmaster general to establish Of
fees or branches at every military
camp or station and under this author
ity the postal machinery was speedily
put into effective operation.
Under the same authority when our
forces moved upon Cuba. Porto Rico
and the Philippines they were attended
and followed by the postal service.
Though the act of congress authorized
the appointment Of postmasters where
necessary, it was early determined that
the public interests would be best sub
served not by new designations, but by
the detail Of experienced men Of the
military or navy, familiar with the SER
vice and this policy was steadily follow
ed. When the territory which was the
theatre of conflict came into our pos
session it became necessary to re-es-
tablish mail facilities for the resident
population as we'll as to provide them
for our forces of occupation, and the
former requirement was met through
the extension and application of the lat
ter obligation. I gave the requisite au-
thority and the same general principle
ches Of civil administration, under
military occupation. The details are
more particularly given in the report
If the postmaster general and while the
work is only just begun it is pleasing
to be able to say that the service in the
territory which has come under our
control is already materially improved.
NAVAL INCREASE.
The following recommendation of the
secretary Of the navy relative to the
increase of the navy have my earnest
approval:
First-Three sea-going' sheathed and
coppered battleships of about 1880
tons trial displacement, carrying the
heaviest armor and most powerful ord
nance for vessels Of their class and to
have the highest practicable speed and
great radius Of action. Estimated cost
exclusive of armor and armament 3d.
100000 each.
Two-Three sheathed and coppered
armored cruisers Of about $4,000 tons
trial displacement, carrying the heav-