The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-12-06


ministration. 1t is my earnest desire
thet these problems may be considered
by experts. and that everything may
be done which the most recent ad-
vanoes in sanitary science can offer for
the protection of the health OF our SOL
diers in those islands. and of our citi-
Zene who are exposed to the dangers
Of infection from the importation of
yellow fever.
therefore renaW my recommends
ton that the authority Of congress may
be given and a suitable appropriation
made TO provide for q. commission Of
experts to be appointed Tor the pu=-
pose indicated
THE ARMY.
Under the act of congress- approved
April 26, 1898, authorizing the president
in his discretion, Under a declaration
Of war by congress, for q declaration
by congress that war exists, 1 directed
the increase of the regular army to the
ma.Einum of $1,000, authorized in said
act.
There are now in the regular army
1882 officers and men. In said act it
was provided chat at the end of any
war in which the United States may
duced to q. peace basis by the transfer
in the same arm of the service or alb
sorpt1on by promotion or honorable dis
charge, under such regulations as the
secretary of war may establish Of su-
peruunderary commissioned officers,
and the honorable discharge or transfer
Of supernumeraFy enlisted men, and
nothing contained in this act be con-
strued as authorizing the permanent
increase of the commissioned or enlist
ed force of the regular army beyond
that now provided by the law in force
prior to the passage of this act, except
as to the increase of Is majority, pro-
vided for in section / hereof.
The importance of legislation for the
permanent increase of the army is
therefore manifest, and the recommen-
dalton of the secretary Ofwar for that
purpose has my unqualified approval.
There can be no question that at this
time, and probably for some time in the
future, 100, 900 men will be none too
many to meet the necessities of the
situation At all events whether that
number shall be required permanently
or not, the power should be given to the
president to enlist that force, IT, in his
discretion, it should be necessary, and
the further direction should be given
him to recruit for the army within the
above limit from the inhabitants of the
islands with the government of which
We are in charge.
1t is my purpose to muster out the
entire volunteer army as soon as the
congress 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 its emergency.
THE UNION PACIFIC.
In my last annual message I stated:
THE Union Pacific railway, main line,
was sold under the decree of the United
States court, for the district of Ne
braska, on the first and second of No
vember Of this year. The amount due
the government consisted OF the princi-
pal of the subsidy bonds, $27. 236, SIP,
and the accrued interest thereon, $31,
211,71T0, making the total indebted
ness 1858, 448 223.75. The bid at the sale
covered the first mortgage lien and the
entire mortgage claim of the govern
ment, principal and interest
This left the Kansas Pacific case IN
concluded. BY a decree eff the court
in that case, an upset price for the
property was fixed at a sum which
$2500,000 upon its lien. The sale, at
the instance of the government, was
postponed, first TO December Is, 1891
and thereupon the application of the
United States was postponed to the
18th day of February, 1898.
Having satisfied myself that the in
terests of the government required
that an effort should be made to obtain
a larger sum. l directed the secretary
of the treasury, under the act passed
March 3, 1887. to pay out OF the treas
ury to the persons entitled to receive
the same, the amounts due upon all
prior mortgages upon the eastern and
middle divisions of said railroad out Of
any money in the treasury not other
wise appropriated. Whereupon the at
torney general prepared a petition, to
be presented to the court. Offering to
redeem said prior Zines in such manner
as the court might direct and praying
that thereupon the United States might
be held to be subrogated to all the
rights of said prior lien holders, and
that a receiver might be appointed to
take possession of the mOrtgaged
premises, and maintain and operate
the same until the court of congress
otherwise directed.
Thereupon the reorganization com
mittee agreed that if said petition was
Withdrawn, and the sale allowed to pro-
Ceed on the lblN OF FeDTudIy, 1880, IleS
would bid a sum at the sale which
would realize to the government the
entire principal of it's debt, $6,393,000
Believing that no better price could
Ne obtained and approaching the diff
ficulties under which government would
labor if it should become the purchaser
of the road at the sale at the absence of
any authority by congress 70 take
charge of and operate the road, ] dir
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minimum bid which should give the
government the principal of its debt,
the sale should proceed. By this tran
saction the government secured an
advance of SO, SOB 600 over and above
the sum which the court had t&ed as
the upset price and which the reorg2n-
ization committee had declared was
the maximum that they would pay for
the property.
1t is a gratifying fact that the result
Of these proceedings against the Union
Pacific system and the Kansas Pacific
line is that the government has re-
ceived on account of its subsidy claim
the sum of S64, I51 ,22315 an increase of
SIS, 997, 1876 over the sum which me
reorganization committee originally
agreed to bid for the joint properly,
the government receiving ITS whole
claim, principal and interest on
the Union Pacific and the prin-
, cipal of its debt on the Kan
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