The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-12-06

for which too much credit cannot be
given the war department.
During the past year we have re-
duced our force in Cuba and Porto Ri
co. In Cuba we now have 1874 officers
and 1876 enlisted men; in Porto Rico,
81 officers and 1855 enlisted men and a
battalion of 400 men composed of native
Porto Ricans; while stationed through
out the United States are $40 officers
and 1917 men, and in Hawaii IL Of
ficers and 453 enlisted men.
REWARDS FOR GOOD WORK.
The operations of the army are fully
presented in the report of the secretary
of war. I cannot withhold from Off
GERS and men the highest commenda-
ton for their soldierly conduct in try
ing situations, their willing sacrifices
for their country, and the integrity and
ability with which they have performed
unusual and difficult duties in our
island possessions. In the organiza-
ton of the volunteer regiments author
lied by the act of March 2, 1899, 1t was
found that no provision had been made
for chaplains. This omission was
doubtless from inadvertence. re-
commend the early authorization for
the appointment of one chaplain for
each of said regiments. These regi
ments are now in the Philippines, and
it is important that immediate action
be had.
POSTAL SERVICE EXPANSION.
In restoring peaceful conditions, orderly
rule and civic progress in Cuba, Porto
Rico, and so far as practicable, in the
Philippines, the rehabilitation of the pos
tai service has been an essential ana I'M
oprfnr ,aVtn - fHa
essary to provide mail facilities both for
our forces of occupation and for the ma
tive population. To meet this require
ment has involved a substantial recon-
struction. The existing systems were so
fragmentary, defective and inadequate
that a new and comprehensive organlza-
tion had TO be created; American trained
officials have been assigned to the direct
ing and executive positions, While natives
have been chiefly employed in making up
the body Of the force; In working out
| this plan the merit rule has been rigor-
! ously and faithfully applied. The APP
| pointment of director general of posts OIL
| Cuba was given to an expert VINO mas
| been chief post office inspector and assist
ant postmaster general, and who united
| large experience with administrative ca
pacity. For the postmastershtp at Ha-
vana the range of skilled and available
men was scanned, and the choice fell
| upon one who had been twenty years in
the service as deputy postmaster of a
large city. This principle governed and
determined the selection OF the American
officials sent not only to Cuba, but to
/ Porto Rico and the Philippines; and they
were instructed to apply 1t SO tar as
practicable in the employment of the ma
tiVes as minor pOstmasters and clerks.
INDEPENDENT SERVICE FOR CUBA
The postal system in Cuba, though re.
naming under the general guidance Of
the postmaster general, was made essen
TALLY independent 1t was felt that Il
should not be a burden upon the posta
service of the United States, and provi
sion was made that any deficit upon th'
postal revenue should be a charge upor
the general revenues of the island.
Though Porto Rico and the Philippines
hold a different relation to the United
| States, vet, for convenience of admins
tration, the same principle of an autono
nous system has been extended to them
The development of the service in all o
the islands has been rapid and success
full. 1t has moved forward on American
lines, with free delivery, money order ant
registry systems, and has given the peo
pie mail facilities far greater and NOR
enjoyed. 1t is thus not only vita
agency of industrial soc N and business
progress, but an Important influence IL
diftusing a just understanding. of the tru
| spirit and character of American admin
istration.
CHANGEE IN CLASSIFICATION
The domestic service continues to grow
ditures and the revenues will each ex
coed 500, 900 during the current year
Fortunately, since the revival of pros
porous times the revenues have grow
much faster than the expenditures, am
there is every indication that a shor
period will witness the obliteration o
the annual deficit. In this connection
the report of the postmaster general EN-
bodies a statement of some evils which
have grown up, outside of the contempla
ton of law, in the treatment of som'
classes of mail matter which wrongly
exercise the privilege of the pound rate
and shows that if this matter had beer
properly classified and had paid the rate
/ which it should have paid, instead of &
postal deficit for the last fiscal year oil
/ Sc, $4,000, there would have been on one
basis a surplus of $17, 637,57O, and on an
other of 49, 733, $50. The reform thus sug-
geSted, in the opinion of the postmaster
| general, would not only put the postal
| service at once on self-sustaining basis
but would permit great and valuable
| improvements. and l commend the sub
| ject to the consideration of the congress
AN EFFICIENT NAVY.
The navy has maintained the spirit and
| high efficiency which have always char
acterlzed that service and has lost none
! of the gallantry in heroic action which
| has signalized it's brilliant and glorious
| past. The nation has equal pride in its
| early and later achievements Its habit
ual readiness for every emergency has
won the confidence and admiration of the
| country. The people are interested in the
| continued preparation and prestige OF
the navy and will justify liberal appro-
| priations for its maintenance and i'm
| provement. The officers have shown
| peculiar adaptation for the performance
| of new and delicate duties which our
recent war has imposed.
| 1t can not be doubted that congress
| will at once make necessary provisions
| for the armor plate now under contract
and building. It's attention is respectful
| ly called to the report of the secretary
| Of the navy in which the subject is fully
presented. / unite in his recommends
! ton that congress enact such special
| legislation as may be necessary to en-
| able the department to make contracts
| early in the coming year for armor OF
| the best quality that can be obtained In
| this country for the Maine, Ohio and
| Missouri, and that the provision of the
act of March 3, 1899 limiting the price of
| armor to $500 per ton, De removed. In
the matter of naval construction, Italy
| and Japan, of the great powers, laid
| down less tonnage in the year 1899 than
| this county, and Italy alone has less
| tonnage unler construction l heartily
concur in the recommendations for the
! increase of the navy, as suggested by the
| secretary.
PENSION LAW CHANGES.
On the 30th of June, 1899, the pension
| roll Of the United States numbered 991, 519
| These INCLUDE the pensioners of the
| army and navy in all our wars The num-
| Der added to the rolls during the year
| was 40, 1891. The number dropped by rea-
son Of death, renarriage, minors by legal
| limitation, failure to claim within three
| years and other causes, was 1876, and
| the number of claims disallowed was
| 107,919. During the year S9,054 pension
certificates were issued. of which 1907
were for new or original pensions. The
| amount dlsbursed for army and navy
| pensions during the year was $138, 355,
052 50, which was $1,651, 461. 81 less than
the sum of the appropriations.
WIDOWS INCOME CLAUSE.
The Grand Army of the Republic, at
its recent national encampment, held in