Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1899-12-07
EcRETARY ROOTS FIRST REPORT

CuV!lnc OIL what Has Been Done in
Cuba and Puerto Rico..Thc
Future Government
of Cuba.
Washington, Dec. 4.--Dcalihg as it
does with large questions of insulas
policy; of army reorganization of
the future of Cuba and the campaign
in the Philippines, the first annual re-
port OF Secretary Root, just made pub
lie, is of exceptional interest.
The report begins with recital of
The policy followed in reorganizing
the army in accordance with the ne
cessities arising from the discharge of
the state volunteers and from the men
enlisted in the Spanish American war
and gives statistics of the past and
present strength of the organization,
covering in that respect matters dealt
with i'm the reports of the major gem
eral commanding and of the adjutani
general. 1T is stated that Mt present ali
the new regiments of volunteers are
in the Philippines or on their way
there.
The operations in the island of LII
ION are next taken up and the report
again points out that the outbreak of
last February was provoked by the
insurgents themselves, and from
our standpoint was unavoidable. Ere
quent reference is made in the report
to general orders to show the magni-
tude of the task set for the American
commander with the inadequate forces
at his commund when the outbreak
came, and Il high tribute is paid to
the courage of the troops, who in the
face of great hardship voluntarily con-
sented to forego immediate return to
their homes upon the expiration of
their terms of service. The history OF
the operations of the past season is
recounted, and the secretary outlines
the plan of the present campaign,
which began in October. This in
yolved the movement of three separate
forces. One was to proceed up the
Rio Grande, along the northeastern
borders of the plains. and strike
across to the gulf of Lingayen. An
other was to land on the gulf shores
by transports and proceed along the
coast road to unite with the first
force. A third column was to strike
straight along the railroad to Dagu-
pan. The secretary says these move
ments We're executed with energy,
rapidity and success Notwithstanding
deluges of rain. 1t is said that wher-
ever the permanent occupation of our
troops has extended in the Philip
pines civil law has been put i'm oper-
alton, courts have been established
and education introduced until in Ma
Mia there are now better facilities for
primary education than ever before.
Army's Work in Cuba.
A chapter tells of what has been
done i'm Cuba by the army during the
past year. Order has been maintained
social distress has been alleviated,
sanitation has been instituted and i'm
all respects satisfactory progress has
been made and the part played by o,lr
troops now is but the restraining in
fuence of their pre- sence. The re-
vival of industry has been slow, but
has also made gratifying progress, and
the reconcentrados have returned to
the cultivation of their lands. though
the complete restoration OF the sugar
industry has been seriously halnpercd
by the lack of capital. AS order has;
been restored the force of troops has
been reduced and orders have recently
been given for withdrawal of eight
companies of infantry and eight
troops OF cavalry.
In Puerto Rico the year has been
devoted to administering and improv-
ing the civil government of the island
and instructing the people in the rudi-
ments of self government, at every
step in conference with the leading
citizens. This work has been retard-
ed by the unfortunate Industrial con-
ditions, owing to the lack of markets
for products and to distress caused by
the great hurricane. Nevertheless
much has been done to correct abuses:
the courts have been reorganized. the
writ OF habeas corpus has been re-
stored and arrangements have been
made for the taking of a census
A compliment is paid 10 General
Ludington's administration of the
quartermaster's department, and it is
SAID that owing to the experience ac-
CURED, the entire movement involved
in the transportation of large army
to the Philippines has been accom-
plishcd practically without loss of life.
disease or injury to health. The
clothing of the army, too, was salts
factory, and the food of good quality
and furnished promptly. The health
OF the army has been remarkably
good, and the reports show that the
death rate among the soldiers in the
philippines from disease is only 1920.
considerably less than in Washington.
Boston, San Francisco. New York and
Baltimore. The soldiers killed in bat
tie and dying of wounds numbered Az
and the entire mortality was 4s3 for
the past ten months.
The secretary deals at great length
with the problem of insular govern
ment. He recalls the fact that the
treaty OF Paris vests in congress alone
the determination of the civil rights
and political status of the native in
habitants of the territories ceded to
the United States. He argues that this
completely deprives these
people of the right to have the islands
treated as states or as territory pre-
viously acquired has been treated, or
even to assert legal right under the
provisions of the constitution, which,
was established for the people OF the
United States themselves. Neverthe-
less, he assumes that the intention is
to give them, to the greatest possible
extent, individual freedom. self gov
ernment in accordance with their ca
pacity, Just and equal laws, an oppor-
tunity for education for profitable in
sustry and for development and civil
iZation.