The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1899-12-01
Most Important Features of the
Presidents Message to
Congress.
Sovereignty in the Philippines
Should Be Established and
Maintained.
Military Governments in Porto
Rico and Cuba Should BE
Replaced.

President McKinley's third annual
message to congress IL now practically
completed. The most important feat
ures Of the message relate to the new
dependencies and to the financial ques-
ton. The essential features these topics
were thus outlined to me by a member
Of the cabinet:
Sovereignty Is to be established
throughout all the Philippine islands,
and to bepermanently maintained. Civil
government ID to be extended through
out the islands az rapidly as possible,
on lines somewhat similar to the ar
rangements affected for the govern
ment Of the island Of Negroes. Atten.
ton Is invited to the report of the Phil
ippine commission rs to why it Is
impossible for the United States to part
with the islands, and as to the great
commercial advantage in holding them.
Government of Cuba.
Civil government In Cuba under mil
itary control Is recommended until
some substantial progress has been
made through the establishment Of an
independent form Of government.
Attention is called to the fact that
the census will not be completed until
Dec. l, and as the Spaniards have, un-
der the treaty, until April next to de-
eide whether they will become citizens
Of the island, 1t will not be possible un.
til that time to hold general elections
to determine upon the future govern
ment Of the island. The question of
annexation Is therefore left open.
Great stress is laid upon the improve.
ment IN the island during the year, not
only commercially and agriculturally,
but also in the sanitary condition Of the
cities and towns.
President Mckinley recommends
that civil government Immediately re-
place the military in Porto Rico-a
civil governor to be appointed and a
council or Legislature to be elected by
the people, property and educational
qualifications to be prescribed for
voters.
As to Hawaii, the president suggests
immediate legislation to put in effect a
territorial form OF government and the
modification Of the pending bills to cor
respond more nearly with the present
government Of the island.
Pleased with Ths Hague Conferenos.
The Hague conference Is to be pointed
to with satisfaction, and q statement
made that the treaty agreed to at this
conference will be submitted at once to
the senate. Qualification is expressed
over the final settlement Of the Ven.
ezuelan boundary controversy. Samoa
comes in for q large share Of attention,
the exciting events Of the year are re.
viewed and the statement made that q
new treaty will soo be sent to the SEN
ate for the partition Of the islands,
The president refers to the trade situa.
tion In China. and the verbal assurance
received by CHS government from pow
ers having spheres Of influence in that
empire that American trade rights will
be respected. He will also announce
that he has requested that these verbal
assurances be placed In writing. but
beyond stating that favorable answe"
are expected, he will be unable to in.
form congress that he has received the
formal communications desired.