Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1899-11-29
M'KlNLEY'S MESSAGE.
AN OUTLINE OF WHAT THE PRES
ISENT WILL SAY.
Peace Committees Report the Basis for
His Philippine Suggestions Cuba,
Porto Rico and Hawaii The Army
ami Navy Currency Reform.


The Washington correspondent of the
New York World gives what pnrports
to be an accurate outline Of the main
points ir President Mckinleys forth
coming message To Congress.
The concentrations OF the Philip
pine peace commission. this correspondent
says, will form the basis of the sugges-
tions relative to, the Philippines. He will
urge their retention as an integral part
of the United States. The present sue
cess of the army in the Philippines, il
continued, will influence the President
to make recommendations at this time
which would have otherwise heen resery-
ed for q special message A form of
government will not be recommended,
but the President will suggest that it be
learned what will be best for the natives
of the Philippine Archipelago. The Phil
ippine situation viii also be treated his
torically.
The substitution % civil for military
government in Cuba and the appointment
of civil governor. He may recommend
the appointment of chief justice and
the election of u native Legislature, but
coupled with This will be suggestion
that congressional committee be sent
to Cuba to ascertain 10 what extent local
offices may be filled by natives, the Pres
ident believing that the customs and
postal service may be filed by CsIbans
with beneficial results. A military force
to be retained there only for the preser-
vation Of pacific conditions.
For Porto Rico the President will rec
ommend a territorial form of government
when he believes the natives can conduct
their own affairs. Reports give the Pres
ident little encouragement to recommend
change at an early date from military
to civil government on this island. But
he will make suggestions relative to tariff
laws which should apply to Porto Rico.
The establishment and maintenance of
schools there viii be urged.
For Hawaii legislation is needed which
will give tie islands a status, and it will
be recommended that laws be enacted
along the lines of the report of the spe-
cial commission sent by the President to
Honolulu.
The arrangement by which the United
States secured one of the most important
islands of Samoa, with its harbor, Pago-
Pago, win be pointed to with some pride
as q most satisfactory settlement of what
has been a vexatious question heretofore.
1t is not expected that the President
will dwell TO any extent upon the stand
ing army. 1t will be difficult to make
suggestions as to the physical strength
required until il is determined what
force will be needed permanently in the
Philippines. Ther too, the present force
of 100000 can be maintained ltutil 1901,
and no legislation is necessary until the
next session.
AS the expenses of maintaining the
army and navy will remain at the present
| figures. the President must suggest the
maintenance of the present war revenue
law until conditions in the Philippines
permit of the reduction of the forces
there.
Secretary Longs recommendations will
be embraced within the. message, which
will include suggestion that the maxi
mum price for armor must be increased
to enilble the Nayy Department to sue
cessfully construct warships. The chief
recommendation by the Secretary of the
Navy will be the great need Of dozen
light-d-aught gunboats, such as are being
used to advantage in the Philippines at
present, and the addition of such other
vessels as the naval board viii decide to
be needed.
Recommendation for currency reform
will closely follow the lines adopted by
the special joint committee which deyot-
ed a greater part of the summer to a
consideration of finance legislation. In
addition TO providing additional protec-
tion for the gold reserve. the establish
meat of national banks with small cap
ital and the issue of national bank cir
culaton TO the full value of the bond de-
posit, the committee will recommend the
refunding of the entire national debt at
lower rates of interest than now paid.
This would save the Government $1,000
600 to 100000 annually.
Congress will again be advised of the
urgent need Of the construction of a wat
erway across the Isthmus of Panama or
some other desirable route, providing the
Nicaragua Canal Commission will have
given the President something tangible
upon which to base recommendations,
which IT does not now appear win be
done. Special recommendations in this
event will be reserved for special mes
sage.
Attention win be called to the tempo
rary arrangement between the United
States and Great Britain relative TO the
Canadian boundary, with remarks to the
effect that the prosp, cts for the solution
of all differences between the United
States and Canada are bright
Reference to the war in South Africa
will be couched in language which can
give no offense to Great Britain.
If the Chinese question develops sufii-
ciently to warrant it, an announcement
will be made of the protection TO be- af
forded to American trade in that quar-
ter, but until the assurances asked by
this Government are given in writing the
information which could be impaired TO
Congress would not be sufficiently def
mite to require treatment at this time.