Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1899-12-08

deposit his arms with the authorities
designated by the United States. The sum
thus disbursed aggregated s2.d175O, which
was paid from the emergency FUND pro-
vided by the act OF January ., 1899 for that
out of the Cuban island revenues during
the six months ending June 80, 1899. 81.
7l2,0l420 was expended for sanitation,
1928 ,sSl. q. for charities and hospitals and
SIS. 9ii.0 % for aid TO the destitute.
He says that peaceful relations nave again
been resumed with Spain, and recommends
that legislation that will permit the carry
ing out of that part OF the peace treaty
which provided for the settlement Of ella inns
OF American citizens against Spain by this
government be enacted.
The Peace Congress.
Our connection with the peace congress
Ia reviewed at length. and the president
says that the results Of the conference
meets the realization Of earnest desires on
the part of many Of the American people.
or our particular part in this conference
/ the president says:
While earnestly promoting the idea Of
fTbuna TIE of tbe ned
States was not unmindful OF the incon-
veniences which might arise from an OBJ
ing the convention carefully guarded the
historic position of the United States by
the following declaration:
Nothing contained in this convention
shall be so construed as 70 require the
United States OF America TO depart from
it's traditional policy Of not intrudng upon
interfering with. or entangling itself in
the political questions or policy or inter
nal administration Of any foreign state:
nor shall anything contained In the said
convention be construed to imply a re
lnquishment by the United States Of
America OF it's traditional attitude toward
purely American questions.
Thus interpreted, the convention for the
pacific settlement OF intern tional conflicts
may be regarded as realizing the earnest
desire of great numbers Of American CT
liens whose deep sense Of justice, eX-
pressed innumerous resolutions ard memo
rails, has urged them to labor. fer this
ter Of this convention, already signed by
the delegates Of more than 20 sovereign
states, further commends 1t TO the favor
able action OF the senate OF the United
States. whose ratification il still awaits
The War Department..
A history of the operations Of the war
department. is given, inGlgiding the work oE
Spanish war and the organization OF new
troops In compliance with legislation enact
ed by the last congress lie commends
NAMED in service after the conclusion of
the treaty Of peace with Spain, and says Of
our army now IN the Philipplnes: 49,
officers and 3057s regulars, and 594 officers
and 1888 Of the volunteers, making an
aggregate of l,499 officers and a., 966 men
When the troops now under orders shall
reach Manila, the force in the archipela 20
will comprise 2,o51 officers and 63.4s3 men.
The muster out Of the great volunteer
army organized for the Spanish war and
the creation Of a new army, the transpor-
tation from Manila 10 San Francisco Of
those entitled to discharge, and the trans
portation OF the new troops to take their
places have been a work of great magni-
tude we'll and ably done. for which too
much credit cannot be given the war de-
partment.
or that portion Of the army now serving
in Cuba and Porto Rico he says:
During the past year we have reduced
our force in Cuba and Porto Rico. In
Cuba, We now have 334 officers and ~, 40
enlisted men; in Porto Rico, 81 officers and
1855 enlisted men and n battalion Of 400
men cOmposed Of native Porto Pfrare.
while stationed throughout the United
States are go officers and 1871 men, and in
Hawaii - officers and 455 enlisted men
Tne Postal service.
The work Of the postal service both at
home and in the colonies is spoken Of at
length, and the operations of the depart
ment in both places pronounced satisfac-
tory OF the service in the colonies he SAYS:
The appointment of director general of
posts of Cuba, was given to an expert who
had been chief post office inspector and as
large experience with administrative ca
pacity. For the postmastership a. HaV-
ana. the range of skilled and available men
was scanned, and the choice fell upon one
deputy postmaster and postmaster OF a
large city; This principle governed and
officials sent not only 20 Cuba. but to Porto
Rico and the Philippines, and they were
instructed 20 Apply II so f9r q Dra ct'c9 hl r.
in the employment Of the natives as minor
postmasters and clerks. The postal sys
TEN in Cuba. though remaining under the
general guidance Of the postmaster gen
eral, was made esse ntially independent. 1t
was felt that it should not be burden
upon the postal service Of the United States
and provision was made that any deficit in
the postal revenue should be charge
upon the general revenues of the island
Though Porto Rico and the Philippines
held a different relation 10 the United
tration. the same principle OF IN autono-
nous system has been extended to them;
the ISLANDS has been rapid and success
full. 1t has moved forward on American
lines. with free delivery. money order and
registry systems. and has given the peo-
pie mail facilities far greater and more re-
liable than any they have ever before en-
joyed II is thus not only a vital agency
OF industrial. social and business progress
but an important influence in diffusins a
just understanding or the true spirit and
character of American administration.
Domestic Postal Service.
The domestic postal service continues to
grow with extraordinary rapidity. The
expenditures and the revenues will each
exceed 800 COG, 900 during the current year.
Fortunately. since the revival OF prosper
Gus times the revenues have grown much
faster than the expenditures, and there
is every indication that a short period
Will witness the obliteration of the annual
deficit. In this connection the report of
the postmaster general embodies a state
ment of some evils which have grown
up outside of the contemplation of law
i'm the treatment of some classes of mail
matter which wrongly exercise the privi-
lege OF the pound rate, and shows that II
-. $500 - Ncc0 rr0Tr~'-' &c
and had paid the rate which 1t should
have paid, instead of a postal deficit for
the last fiscal year OF $6,6l0000. there would
have been on one basis surplus Of ST.
637, $40. and on another OF $57S2,s26. The
reform 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 valuable improvements. and | com
mend the subject 10 the consideration OF
the congress
The Navy.
He concurs in the recommendations made
by the secretary OF the navy for the in
crease of that branch of the public service
and legislation that will provide for armor
plate for the vessels now building, and says:
Ii cannot be doubted that congress will
at once make necessary provision for the
armor plate for the vessels now under
contract and building. Its attention is re-
spectfully called to the report Of the sec
rotary of the navy, IN which the subject is
fully presented. ! unite in his recon-
dol ha