Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-12-05

vcntion. already signed by the delegates
Of mere than twenty sovereign states. fur
Their commends it 10 the favorable action
OF the Senate of the United States. whose
ratification it still awaits
The United States Army.
The pres.uent speaks of the dischar2ing
of the last OF the volunteers enlisted in the
war with Spain, of the increase in the
regular army in conformity with the act
of March End. 1899. to 81 800 enlisted
men and 2.243 officers, and the organiza-
ton OF new volunteer regiments gr2gat-
ing 33.050 enlisted men and 52i Officers.
The new troops to take the places Of
those returning from the Philippines have
been transported to Manila to the numbe.
OF ISL officers and 26.322 enlisted men of
the regular army and 594 officers and
lj.5SS enlisted men OF the new volunteer
force while :5O4 officers and l4.lls men
of the volunteer force are on the ocean
Ell route to Manila. The force now in
Manila consists of 9O5 officers and 30,57S
regulars. and 594 officers and l5.3Ss of
the volunteers. making an aggregate OF
] 400 Officers and A. 900 men. When III,
troops now under orders shall reach Ma
nila. the force in the Archipelago will
During the past year we have reduced our
| force in Cuba and Porto Rico. In Cuba.
we now have 334 officers and 1896 en-
| listed men; in Porto Rico, 81 officers and
SO enlisted men and battalion of 400
men composed of native Porto Ricans:
while stationed throughout the United
States are 80 officers and 1877 men and
in Hawaii II officers and 453 enlisted
men.
The president refers TO the report of
| the secretary of war as detailing the Oper-
ations of the army fully but adds words
| OF highest praise for the conduct of Of
ticers and men. He takes up the postal
service in the islands of the east and west
under the jurisdiction or control CT the
United States. and Of the course necessary
to put it on a self-sustaining basis. lie
speaks of the improvement and develop
ment of the navy, and urges upon con-
IgreSS the continuation of naval construc-
ton.
| Pension Matters.
Speaking of pensions the president
says: On the Both of June. 1859, the
pension roll of the United States number
ed 99l $40. These include the pensioners
| OF the Army and Navy in all our wars.
The number added to the rolls during the
| year was 40.99l. The number dropped by
| reason of death, re-marriage, minors by
| legal limitation, failure to claim within
| three years, and other causes, was 43.l.G
and the number of claims disallowed was
| 1923 During the year 1864 pension
| certificates We're issued, of which 1907
were for new or original pensions. The
amount discussed for army and navy pen
| sions during the year was Sl3S, .Oj2 %.
| which WIS 1861 ,46l.6 I'll less than the sum
Of the appropriations"
lie refers to the action OF the Grand
Army of the Republic in calling his at
| tentioE 10 the desired modificati N Of t Z
act which provides pensions for the
| widows of officers and enlisted men who
served ninety days OF more during the
war of the rebellion and were honorabIy
discharged and impressed upon congress
the wisdom and justice of such modihca-
tons. The president takes up in success
sion the settlement OF the indebtedness
lOf the government growing out of the C5n-
OF bonds for the construction of the Cen
trail Pacific and Western Pacific railroads,
| the preparation for the twelfth census.
the forest reservation. the improvement #
Ipublic highways. etc.