Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1899-12-14

OF 400 men. composed of native Porto Ricans:
while stationed throughout the United States
are go officers and 1917 men and in Hawaii, II
officers and 453 enlisted men
The operations OF the army are fully present
cd In the report OF the secretary of war. I 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 dificult du-
ties in our island possessions.
In the organization of the volunteer regiments
authorized by the act of March 2, 1899, it was
found that no provision had been made for
chaplains. This omission was doubtless from
inadvertence. 1 recommended the early au-
thorization for the appointment OF one chap
lain for each of said regiments. These regi-
ments are in the Philippines and it is important
that immediate action be taken.
Postal Affairs In the Colonies.
In restoring peaceful conditions, orderly rule,
and civic progress in Cuba. Porto Rico, and, so
far as practicable, in the Philippines. the re-
Mobilization OF postal service has been an i'm
portant part of the work. Tt became necessary
to provide mail facilities both for our forces of
occupation and for the native population. To
meet this requirement has involved sub
Stantial reconstruction. The existing systems
were so fragmentary, defective and inadequate
that new and comprehensive organization had
to be created. American trained officials have
been assigned to the directing and executive
possessions, while natives have been chiefly
employed in making up the body of the force.
been vigorously and faithfully applied.
Domestic Postal Service.
The domestic postal service continues to grow
with extraordinary rapidity. The expenditures
and the revenues will each exceed So, 00O, 900
during the current year. Fortunately, since the
revival OF prosperous times the revenues have
grown much faster than the expenditures and
there is every Indication that short period will
witness Obliteration of the annual deficit. In
this connection the report of the postmaster
general embodies a statement of some evils
which have grown up outside of the contempla-
ton of law in the treatment of some classes of
mail matter which wrongly exercises the privi-
1ege of pound rate, and shows that if this mat
ter had been properly classified and had paid
the rate which it should have paid, instead of d
postal deficit the last fiscal year of $685. 900
there would have been on one basis a surplus Of
SI7, 637 $40, and another of s. 733 S36. The re-
form thus suggested, in the opinion of the
postmaster general would not only put the
postal service at once on a self-SuStaining
basis, but would permit great and valu-
able improvements, and I commend the sub
ject to the consideration of congress.
The Question of Pensions.
On the Both of June, 1899, the pension roll OF
the United States numbered 991, 519. These in
clude the pensioners of the army and navy in
all our wars. The number added to the rolls
during the year was 1891. 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 107,9I7. During the year
5000 pension certificates were issued, of which
7,077 were for new or original pensions. The
amount disbursed for army and navy pensions
during the year was SI38, $50, O52. 95, which was
81 ,651, 451.6l less than the of the appropria
tions.
The Grand Army of the Republic at it's 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 81, 1890,
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 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
if the widows income aside from her daily labor
does not exceed in amount what her pension
would be, to wit: S96 per annum, she would be
deemed to be without other means of support
than her daily labor, and would be entitled to
pension under this act, while if the widows in
come independent of the amount received by
her the result of her daily labor exceeds 800.
she would not be pensionable under the act
am advised by the commissioner Of pensions
that the amount of the income allowed before
title to pension would be barred, has varied
widely under different administrations of the
pension office, as well as during different periods
of the same administration, and has been the
cause of just complaint and criticism. With the
commissioner of 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 congress
shall so amend the act as to permit the pension
Office to grant penSiOnable status to widows
under the text of the third section OF the act of
June q, 1890, whose income aside from the pro-
ceeds of daily labor is not in excess of $3.50 per
annum. believe this to be a simple act of JUS
tice and heartily recommend it.
Favors a Larger Navy.
I heartily concur in the recommendations for
the increase Of the navy, as suggested by the
secretary.
Protecting the Forests.
Protection of the national forests, inaugu-
rated by the department of the interior in 1897.
has been caused during the past year and much
has been accomplished in the way of preventing
forest fires and the protection of the timber
There are now large tracts covered by forests
which will eventually be reserved and set apart
for forest Until that be done con-
greSs should increase the appropriations for the
work of protecting the forests.
Markets for Farm Products.
Markets are being sought and opened up for
surplus farm and factory products in Europe
and in Asia. The outlook for the education of
young farmers through agricultural college ex-
pertinent stations, with opportunities given to
specialize in the department. of agriculture, is
very promising. The people of Hawaii, Porto
Rico and the Philippine islands have been
helped by the establishment of experiment sta
tions to a more scientific knowledge of the pro-
duction of coffee, India rubber and other trop-
icaI products, for which there is demand in
the United States.
There is widespread interest in the improve
ment of our public highways at the present
time, and the department OF agriculture is CO.
operating with the people in each locality in
making the best possible roads from the local
material and in experimenting with steel
tracks.
The AIl-Absorbing Philippine Question.
On the 10th of December. 1898, the treaty of
peace between the United States and Spain
that Spain should cede to the United States the
archipelago known as the Philippine islands;
that the United States should pay to Spain the
sum of $50 600 OOO and that the civil rights and
political status of the native inhabitan is of the