The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1899-12-08

hasty experiment bearing within itself the eIe-
mentS of failure. Our mission, to accomplish
which We took up the wages Of battle. is not TO
be fulfilled by turning adrift any loosely framed
10 face the vicissitudes which
too often attend weaker states whose natural
wealth and abundant resources are Offset by the
inconsruities of their political organization and
the recurring occasions for internal rivalrteS to
sap their strength and dissipate their energies
The greatest blessing which can come to Cuba
is the restoration of her agricultural and indus
trial prosperity. which wiu give employment to
idle men and re-establish the pursuits Of peace.
This is her chief and immediate need
By the treaty Of peace the Spanish people on
the island have until April IL, 1870. to elect
whether they will remain citizens Of Spain or
become citizens Of Cuba. Until then it cannot
be definitely ascertained who shall be entitled
to participate in the formation Of the gov
eminent Of Cuba BY that time the results OF
the census win have been tabulated. and we
shall proceed to provide for elections which
will commit the municipal governments Of the
island to the officers elected by the people. The
experience thus acquired will prove of great
value in the formation Of q representative con-
vention Of the people to draft a constitution
and establish general system Of Independent
government for the island. In the meantime
and SO long as We exercise control over the
island the products of Cuba should have
market in the United States on as good terms
and with as favorable rates Of duty as are given
to the w est India islands under treaties Of re-
ciprocity which shall be made.
ConceIning Our Soldiers and Sailors.
Since my last annual message and in obedi-
ence to the acts Of the congress Of April p and
26, 1893. the remaining volunteer force enlisted
for the Spanish war; consisting Of 81 1874 regulars
and Ill, 2u2 volunteers with over 500 volunteer
nff haC n he mil tar
service. OF the volunteers. 667 officers and H.
1871 men were serving in the Philippines and L.
$50 OF the regulars, who were entitled to be mus
tered out after the ratification of the treaty Of
peace. They voluntarily remained at the front
until their places could be filled by new troops.
They were returned home in the order in which
they went to Manila, and are now all Of them
out OF the service and in the ranks of citizen
ship. I recommend that the congress provide
a special medal of honor for the volunteers.
regulars sailors, ana marines on duty in the
Philippines, who voluntarily remained in the
service after their terms of enlistment had ex-
pred.
By the act Of March 9, 1899, congress has au-
thority to increase the regular army to q maxi
mum not exceeding 5000 enlisted men and to
enlist force Of IS 0OD volunteers, to be recruited
from the country at large. By virtue Of this au-
thority the regular army has been increased to
the number of 81 ,999 enlisted men and 248 OIL
GERS and new volunteer regiments have been or
ganized aggregating 33,050 enlisted men and
1924 officers. Two Of these volunteer regiments
are made up Of colored men, with colored line
officers. The new troops to take the place Of
those returning from the Philippines have been
transport to Manila to the number Of 58l off,
GERS and e, 322 enlisted men of the regular army
and 594 officers and IL, 388 enlisted men of the
new volunteer force, while 504 officers and A.
1l9 men of the volunteer force are on the ocean
en- route to Manila. The force now in Manila
consists Of COS officers and O,508 regulars and
594 officers and Is 3S8 Of the volunteers, making
an aggregate of 1899 officers and 1896 men.
When the troops now under orders shall reach
Manila, the force in the archipelago will COM
prise 2,05l officers and IS, 483 men.
During the past year we have reduced our
force in Cuba and Porto Rico. In Cuba we now
have 34 officers and 10 6o6 men; in Porto Rico.
81 officers and Z, S55 enlisted men and battalion
while stationed throughout the United States
are 9l0 officers and 1887 men and in Hawaii, II
officers and 453 enlisted men.
The operations of the army are fully present.
ed in the report Of the secretary OF war. can
not withhold from officers and men the highest
commentator for their soldierly conduct in
trying situations, their willing sacrifices for
their country and the interest and ability with
which they performed unusual and difficult du-
ties in our island possessions.
The Question of Pensions.
On the 3oth Of June. 1899, the pension roll Of
clude the pensioners Of the army and navy in
all our wars. The number added to the rolls
during the year was ,99l The number dropped
by reason Of death, remarriage, minors by legal
limitations, failure to claim within three years
and other causes was 43, 1856, and the number Of
claims disallowed was l07,97. During the year
Sc, U54 pension certificates were issued, Of which
37,077 were for new or original pensions. The
amount disbursed for army and navy pensions
during the year was Si38. 1855, o52. 95, which was
81 ,65l 45l.6l less than the Of the appropria-
lions.
The Grand Army Of the Republic at its re-
cent national encampment held at Philadelphia
has brought to my attention and to that of con-
gress the wisdom and justice of modification
of the third section Of the act Of June q, $780,
which provides pensions for the widows Of
officers and enlisted men who served 90 days or
more during the war of the rebellion and were
honorably discharged. provided that such
widows are without other means Of support
than their daily labor and were remarked to
the soldier, sailor or marine ON account Of
whose service they claim pension prior to the
date of the act.
The present holding Of the department is that
II the widows income aside from her daily labor
does not exceed In amount what her pension
would be, to wit: 500 per annum, she would be
deemed to be without other means of support
than her daily labor, and would be entitled to q
pension under this act, while if the widows in
come, independent Of the amount received by
her as the result Of her daily labor exceeds e06.
she wou d not be pensionable under the act
am advised by the commissioner of pensions