Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1899-12-11

| U VI OAAAOlC the DISARMAMENT OIL Tie
Cuban volunteer army and in the inter-
est of public peace there was disbursec
$2,547, $50, paid from the emergency fund
provided for that purpose. Out of the
Cuban island revenues during the six
months ending June 80, 1899. $1,712, 014.2o
was expended for sanitation; 1928, SS1.70
for charities and hospitals, and $SS, .03
for aid of the destitute.
THE PEACE CONFERENCE.
In response to the invitation of his
majesty the Emperor of Russia a COM
mission from the United States attended
the peace conference at The Hague.
| The occasion seemed opportune for the
serious consideration of a plan for the
pacific adjustment of international diff
| ferenceS and a definite project for
| permanent international tribunal The
final act of that conference, in short pro-
vided for maintenance of general peace,
the exercise of good offices and media
| ton, formation of commissions of in
qury and international arbitration. The
| mediation provided for is purely volun-
| tary and advisory.
THE ARMY.
Since my last message and in obedi-
ef1ce to acts of congress the remaining
volunteer force enlisted for the Spanish
war has been discharged. OF the Volun-
teers 667 officers and 14,831 men serving
in the Philippines and 1850 of the regu-
| lars, who We're entitled to be mustered
| out voluntarily, remained at the front
until their places could be filled by new
! troops. By virtue of the authority of
/ congress the regular army has been in
| creased to 81 999 enlisted men and 2243
| officers, and new volunteer regiments
hRpn inc
| men and 1924 officers. The force in Ma
Mia now consists of 1889 officers and
! 1896 men. When the troops now under
| orders shall reach Manila the force will
comprise 2O51 officers and 63,4S3 men.
| The muster out of the great volunteer
army and the creation Of a new army
has been the work of great magnitude,
we'll and ably done, for which too much
credit can not be given the war depart
ment During the year past the force
in Cuba ana Porto Rico has been re-
duced to a total of 421 officers and 1901
men.
THE NAVY.
The message refers to the spirit and
high efficiency which has characterized
the service and the pride of the nation
in it's achievements. The president says
the people will justify liberal appropria-
tons, and he unites with the secretary
in recommending that congress enact
such special legislation as may be neces-
sary to enable the department to make
contracts early in the coming year for
armOr plate of the best quality that can
be obtained in this country for the
Maine, Ohio and Missouri, and that the
act limiting the price of armor to $500
per ton be removed.
PENSION DEPARTMENT.
The pensioners of the United States in
all wars, June -, 1899, numbered 991, 519.
The number added during the year was
1891; the number dropped from all
causes was 43.1S6. Claims disallowed
numbered 1G1 ,919. The amount disbursed
for army and navy pensions during the
year was $l3S 355, 052. 50, which was 1,651,-
461.61 less than the appropriations. The
president, in accordance with the wish
OF the national encampment, @. a. r.,
recommends the modification of the act
of June p, 1890. which prescribes the
amount Of income that determines pen
sionable status of a dependent widow.
The president recommends that the
amount of income allowed independent
of the proceeds Of her daily labor should
not be less than $3.50 per annum, and he
urges that the congress shall so amend
the act as to make this provision.
THE PHILIPPINES.
The president introduces the subject
with d reference to the treaty of peace
between Spain and the United States
under the provision of which the Philip
pine archipelago was ceded to the United
States for $4,000, 600, and says: L have
every reason to believe, and I stiT be
Heve, that this transfer of sovereignty
aspirations of the great mass Of the
Filipino people. From the earliest mo-
ment opportunity was lost of assur-
ing the people of the islands of :ur
dent desire for their welfare AMI OF he
intention OF this government to DO every
thing possible to advance their interests.
The president quotes from various
orders issued to those in command of
the United States military and naval
forces at Manila to show that it was the
object of the United States to protect
the people and to establish a beneficent
government, even before the treaty Of
peace was signed. After the treaty had
been ratified, the message says, orders
were sent to the commander to proclaim |
the kindly intention of the government |
and saying it was most important that |
there should be no conflict with the in |
surgents." The president then gives an |
account of the appointment of the Philip |
pine commission who, assisted by Ad-
miral Dewey and General Otis, were to
facilitate the most humane and e:fec- |
tive extension of authority throughout |
the islands," and says: But before their
arrival in Manila the sinister ambition |
of few leaders of the Filipinos had !
created a situation full of enbarrass- |
ment for US and most grievous in it's cor |
sequences to themselves. The clear an
impartial preliminary report of tIse CON-