The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-12-02


icy, of army reorganization, of the fu-
ture of Cuba and OF the campaign in
the Philippines. the first annual report
OF Secretary Root, just made public.
IS of exceptional interest Frequent
reference is made to the report Of Gen.
eral Otis to show the magnitude
of the task set for him in the Philip
pines with the inadequate forces at
his command when the outbreak came,
and high tribute is paid to the cour-
age of the troops. who, in the face of
great hardships, voluntarily consented
to forego an 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 sec
retary outlined the plan Of the present
campaign, which began in October.
This involved 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. Another was
TO land on the gulf shores by trans
ports and proceed along the coast road
TO unite with the first force. A third
column was to strike straight along
the railroad to Dagupan. The secre-
tary says these movements were exc
cuted with energy, rapidity and sue
cess, Notwithstanding deluges of rain.
Work of Army In Cuba.
A chapter tells of what has been done
IN Cuba by the army during the past
year. Order has been maintained, So
cial distress has been allcviated, sani-
tation has been instituted, and in all
respects satisfactory progress has been
made. and the part played by our
troops now is but the restraining inf1u-
ence OF their presence. AS order has
been restored the force of troops has
been removed, and orders have recent
" been given for the withdrawal of
eight companies of infantry and eight
troops OF cavalry.
In Porto Rico the year has been de-
voted TO administering and improving
the civil government of the island and
instructing the people in the rudiments
OF self-government at every step in
conference with leading citizens.
compliment is paid to General Lud-
ineton's administration of the quarter
masters department, and it is said
that owing TO the experience acquired,
the entire movement involved in the
transportation of a large army to the
Philippines has been accomplished
practically without loss of life, dis
ease or injury to health.
Health of the Troops.
The clothing of the army. too. was
satisfactory and the food of good quail
ity and furnished promptly. The
health of the army has been remark
ably good, and the report shows that
the death rate among the soldiers in
the Philippines from disease is only
1920 considerably less than in Wash
ington, Boston. San Francisco. New
York and Baltimore. The soldiers
killed in battle and dying of wounds
numbered Az. and the entire mortality
was S4S 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 places in congress alone
the determination of the civil repre-
sentatives and political status of the
native inhabitants of the territories
coded to the United States.
He argues that this limitation COM
pletely deprives these people of the
right to have the islands treated as
states or as territory previously ac-
quired has been treated, or even to as
sert a legal right under the provision
of the constitution which was estab
lished for the people of the United
States themselves.
Nevertheless lie assumes that the in
teEtion is to give them TO the greatest
possible extent Individual freedom, self
government in accordance with their
capacity, just and equal laws. an OPP
portunity for education, for profitable
industry and for civilization
Simple Problem In Porto Rico.
He takes up Porto Rico first. as pre-
senting the simplest problem, and after
discussing the present conditions there.
emphasizing the Ignorance OF the, peo-
pie of any modern system of govern
ment, he holds that they should be
provided with the kind of administra-
ton TO which we have been accustom-
ed, with just as much participa ton on
their part as is possible without eDab-
ling their ineXperience to make il in
effective, and with opportunities for
them to increase their capacity for
government.
The secretary lays stress upon past
failures because of the refusal OF
defeated minority to participate fur
Their in government. which, he says, is
precisely the cause of the continual
revolutions in the West Indies and
Central America, a.v marks a rudi-
menIary stage of political development.
To meet the case he suggests a stat
utory declaration as TO what laws shall
be extended TO the Porto Ricans. with
provision for federal officers TO execute
them, and for a federal judiciary with
appeal to the United States supreme
court.
Government Suggested.
There should be form OF local insu-
lar government, subject u congress
sioaal limitation, a governor appointed
by the president and confirmed by the
senate, the chief officers appointed in
like manner. and a legislative council
composed of the chief officers of The
state and a minority selected by the
president from the citizens OF the
island The municipalities are 10 be
governed by mayors and councils elect
ed by them, with officers subject TO re-
moval by the governor.
II would be better TO wait for time
before an elective legislature is per-
mitted. Suffrage should be limited to
those who read and write or own a
small amount OF property. Porto isica1s
should be chosen for offices which they
are able TO iii. American officials
should be limited in number to the bar
est necessities, and should then be
chosen by civil service methods.
Education should be at the cost of the
community, betrayed from the insular
treasury, and. If necessary, assisted by
the United States. The Spanish civil
code should be continued in force with
such radical notifications as exper-
fence suggests
Laws Not Fairly Administered.
The secretary says the trouble has