Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-12-06
.sP]E'lRl'.E!.'sS'.lIDENI M'klNLEY'S
MESSAGB TO- CONGRESS.
Continued from Page. 81
$ CUBA AND 4. PORTO RICO

SIS SIS CUBA AND PORTO RICO. e IS
s}ss During the past year we have reduce
ed our force In Cuba and Porto Rico.
Il IN Cuba weYnow have 1874 officers and
sello,I96 enlisted men \ In Porto Rico 81
5&ofiicers and 1855 enlisted men and q
battalion Of 400 men composed Of ma
4 tive Porto Rlcans, While stationed
throughout the United States are $40
4offi GERS and 1917 men. and in Hawaii
: IL officers and 453 enlisted men.
The operations OF the army are, fully
presented in the report OF the Secretary
fof War. cannot withhold from off,
GERS and men the highest commenda-
tion for their soldierly conduct in try
1ng situations, their willing sacrifices
. Tor their. country, and the integrity and
{ ability with which they have performed
unusual and difficult duties in our is
Sand possessions.
In the organization Of the volunteer
regiments authorized by the act OF
March 2. 1899, 1t was found that no pro-
vision had been made for chaplains.
his omission was doubtless from mad
y Vertence. recommend the early au-
S.tnorization for the appoin tment Of one
Z chaplain for each of said regiments.
5Ihese regiments are now in the Philip
pines, and it is important that tmme.
date action be had.
IN restoring peaceful conditions, or
derly rue and civic progress in Cuba,
forto Rico and, SO far as practicable,
IN the Philippines. the rehabilitation of
Inc postal service has been an essential
ana important part of the work 1t be-
came necessary to provide mail facill-
Ties both for our forces OF occupation
and for the native population, To meet
Inns requirement has involved a sub
stantial reconstruction. The existing
systems were SO fragmentary, defective
ana inadequate that new and COM
prehensive organization had to be
created. American trained officials have
been assigned to the directing and
executive positions, while natives have
the body of the force. In working out
this plan the merit rule has been rigor-
ously and faithfully applied.
OUR NEW NAVY.
The navy has maintained the spirit
and high efficiency which have always
characterized that service, and has los
none of the gallantry IN heroic action
which has slgnallzed it's brilliant and
glorious mast. The nation has equal
pride in It's early and later achieve
ments. Its habltual readiness for every
emergency has won the confidence and
admiration of the country The people
tion and prestige, of the navy and Will
Justify liberal appropria tons for Its
maintenance and Improvement The
officers have shown peculiar adaptation
for the performance of new and delicate
duties which our. recent war has i'm
posed,
1t cannot be doubted that Congress
VIII at once make necessary provision
Tor the afmor plate for the vessels now
under contract and building. It's atten-
ton lis respectfully called to the report
of the Secretary OF the Navy. In which
the subject Is fully presented. unite
In his recommendation that the Con-
gress enact such special legislation as
may be necessary to enable the depart
ment to make contracts early In the
coming year for armor of the best
quality that can be obtained In this
country for the Maine, Ohio and Mis-
souri,. and that the provision of the
act of March 3, 1899, limiting the price
of armor to 5000 per ton, be removed.
In the matter Of naval construction
Italy and Japan. of the great powers,
laid down less tonnage in the year 1899
imam this country. and Italy alone has
less tonnage under construction. I
heartily concur in the recommendations
for the increase of the navy, as sug-
gested by the Secretary
PENSIONS.
With the approval of the Secretary
of the Interior, the Commissioners or
Pensions recommends that in order to
make the practice at all times uniform
and to do Justice to the dependent
widow. the amount of income allowed.
independent OF The proceeds of her
daily labor, should be not less than
$3.50 per annum, and he urges that the
Congress shall so amend the act as to
permit the Pension Office to grant pen
sionable status to widows under the
terms of the Sd section of the act OF
June II, 1880, whose income, aside from
the proceeds of daily labor, is not In
excess of $3.50 per annum. 1 believe
this to be a simple act of Justice and
heartily recommend 1t.
THE PHILIPPINES.
A considerable portion of the mes
sage is devoted to the Philippine ISL
ands The President reviews the man
ner in which we acquired possession of
these islands, and says he had every
reason to believe and still believes that
this transfer of sovereignty was in ac-
cordance with the wishes and asplrn-
/ lions of the great mass Of the Philin.
pine people. From the earliest moment
no opportunity was lost Of assuring the
people of the islands of our ardent de-
sire for their welfare and of the inten-