Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-02
These Questions Are Handled in Vigorous
Style with Recommendations,
TELLS WHAT IS BEING DONE IN CUBA
Making Rapid Progress in Paving Way for
Independent Government
PROPOSES RADICAL CHANGES IN ARMY
Thorough Reorganization is Ncces-
sary TO Make the Army as Effective
ns 1t should BE to Meet Mod
ern Requirements and Needs.

WASHINGTON, Dec. dealing, as 1t
does, with questions OF insular policy, OF
army reorganization, of the future OF Cuba
and OF the campaign in the Philippines, the
first annual report of Secretary Root just
made public is of exceptional interest.
The report begins with recital Of the
policy followed in reorganizng the army in
accordance with the necessities arising in
the discharge of the state volunteers and
OF the men enlisted for the Spanish Amer
lean war and gives statistics of the past and
present strength of the organization, COW
ering in that respect matters dealt with in
the reports of the major general command
ing and of the adjutant general.
1t is stated that at present all the new
regiments of volunteers in the Phil
ippines, on their way there. The opar-
ations in those islands are next taken
up and the report again points out that the
outbreak of last February was provoked by
the insurgents themselves, and was, from
our standpoint, unavoidable.
Frequent reference is made to the reports
of General Otis to show the magnitude of
the task set for him with the inadequate
forces at his command when the outbreak
came, and a high tribute is paid to the
courage Of the troops which, in the face Of
great hardshps, voluntarily consented to
forego an immediate return to their homes
upon expiration Of their terms of service.
Outlines Plans of Campaign.
The history of the operations of the last
season is recounted, and the secretary out
lines the plans of the present campaign
which began in October. This involved the
movement of three forces One was to pro-
ceed up the Rio Grande along the north
eastern borders of the plains and strike
across to the gulf Of Lingayen. Another
was to land on the gulf shores by trans
ports and proceed along the coastroad to
unite with the first. The third column
was to move along the railroad to Dagupan.
The secretary says these movements were
executed with energy, rapidly and success,
notwithstanding deuges of rain. 1t is
stated that wherever the permanent occu-
patton of troops has extended civil law has
been put in operation. Education has been
introduced until at present in Manila there
are now better facilities for primary ed
ucation than ever before.
A chapter tells of what has been done in
Cuba by the army during the past year.
Order has been maintained. social distress
has been alleviated, sanitation has been in
stituted and In all respects satisfactory pro-
gTess has been made and the part played by
our troops now is but the restraining infu-
of their presence. The revival of in
uuSlTy mas Deen SLOW, out nus also maze
gratifying progress and the reconcentrados
have returned to the cultivation of their
lands, though the complete restoration of
the sugar industry has been seriously hamp-
cred by the lack of capital. AS order has
been restored the force of troops has been
reduced and orders have been recently given
for the withdrawal of eight companies of in
fantry and eight troops of cavalry.
In Porto Rico the year has been devoted
to administering and improving the civil
government of the island and instructing
the people in the rudiments of self govern
ment at every step in conference with the
leading citizens. This work has been re-
tarded by the unfortunate industrial condi-
tions, owing to lack of markets for the
islands products and to the distress caused
by the great hurricane. Nevertheless much
has been done to correct abuses. the courts
have been reorganzed, the writ of habeas
corpus has been established and arrange
ments have been made for taking the census.
compliment is paid to General Ludding-
toms administration of the quartermasters
department and II is said that owing to
the experience acquired the entire move
ment involved in the transportation of
large army to the Philippines has been ac-
complished practically without loss of life.
disease or injury to health. The clothing of
the army, too. was satisfactory and the food
of good quality furnished promptly. The
health of the army has been remarkably
good and the report shows that the death
rate among the soldiers in the Philippines
from disease is only 1920. considerably
less than in Washington, Boston, San Fran
cisco, New York and Baltimore. The SOL
diers killed in battle and dying of wounds
numbered Az, and the entire mortality was
S43 for the past ten months.
The secretary deals at great length with
the problem OF insular government He
recalls the fact that the treaty of Paris
places In congress alone the determination
of the civil rights and political status OF
the native inhabitants in territories ceded
to the United States. He argues that this |
limitation completely depriyes these people !
OF the right TO have the islands treated as
states, or even to assert legal right under !
the provisions OF the constitution, which !
was established for the people of the United |
States themselves
Nevertheless. he assumes that the inten- |
tion les to give TO them to the greatest ex- !
tent individual freedom, self government in |
accordance with their capacity, an oppor-
tunity for education, for profitable industry |
and for development and civilization. He |
takes up Porto Rico first as presenting the |
simplest problem, and after discussing the |
present conditions there, emphasizing the |
ignorance of the people of any modern sys-
tenn of government, he holds that they |
should be provided with the kind of ad- |
mlnistration TO which we have been accus- !
toned with just as much participation on |
their part as is possible, without enabling |
their inexperience to make it ineffective and |
with opportunity for them to increase their !
capacity for government. The secretary lays |
stress on past failures because OF the re. |
fusal OF a defeated minority to participate !
further in government which he says is
precisely the cause of the continual revolu- |
tions in the West Indies and Central America !