Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1899-11-30
M'KINLEY'S MESSAGE.
AN OUTLINE OF WHAT THE PRES.
iDENT WILL SAY.

Peace Com mittee's report the Basis for
His Philippine Suggestions = Cuba,
Porto Rico and Hawaii-The Army
and Navy-C Currency Reform.
The Washington correspondent Of the
New York World gives what purports
to be an accurate outline OF the main
points in President McKinley's forth
coming message to Congress.
The recommendations of the Philip
pine peace commission this correspondent
says, will form the basis Of the sugges-
tions relative to the Philippines. He will
urge their retention as an integral part
OF the United States. The present sue
cess of the army in the Philippines, If
continued, will influence the President
to make recommendations at this time
which would have otherwise been reserv-
ed for special message. A form OF
government will not be recommended,
hut the President will suggest that it be
learned what will be best for the natives
of the Philippine Archipelago. The Phil
ippine situation will also be treated his
torically.
government in Cuba and the appointment
of a civil governor. He may recommend
the appointment of chief justice and
the election of native Legislature, but
coupled with this will be suggestion
that a congressional committee be sent
to Cuba to ascertain To what extent local
Offices may be filed by natives, the Pres
ident believing that the customs and
- ll.l hxyN hn ne
with beneficial results. \ military force
to be retained there only for the preser-
vation of pacific conditions.
For Porto Rico the President will rec
ommend a territorial form of government
when he believes the natives can conduct
their own affairs. Reports give the Pres
ident little encouragement to recommend
a change at an early date from military
to civil government on this island. But
he will make suggestions relative to tariff
laws which should apply to Porto Rico.
The establishment and maintenance OF
schools there will be urged.
For Hawaii legislation is needed which
will give the islands n status, and it will
be recommended that laws be enacted
along the lines of the report Of the spe-
cial commission sent by the President to
Honolulu.
The arrangement by which the United
States secured one of the most important
islands of Samoa, with its harbor, Pago-
Pago, will be pointed TO with some pride
as most satisfactory settlement of what
has been a vexatiops question heretofore.
1t is not expecte~ hat the President
will dwell to any ext.Me upon the stand
ing army 1t will be difficult to make
suggestions as to the physical strength
required until it is determined what
force will be needed permanently in the
Philippines. Then, too, the present force
OF 100000 can be maintained until 1901,
and no legislation Is necessary until the
next session.
Secretary Roots suggestions along the
lines of reform in tie organization Of
staff departments, which will tend to pre-
clude evils resulting during the war with
Spain, will be embodied in the message.
As the expenses of maintaining the
army and navy will remain at the present
figures, the President must suggest the
maintenance of the present war revenue
law until conditions in the Philippines
permit of the reduction of the forces
there.
Secretary Longs recommendations will
De embra ced within the message, which
will include a suggestion that the maxi
mum price for armor must be Increased
to enable the Navy Department to sue
eessfully construct warships. The chief
recommendation by the Secretary of the
Navy will be the great need of dozen
light-draught gunboats. such as are being
used to advantage in the Philippines at
present and the addition of such other
vessels as the naval board will decide to
be needed.
Recommendations for currency reform
will closely follow the lines adopted by
the special joint committee which devot-
ed a greater part Of the summer to q
consideration of finance legislation. In
addition to providing additional protec-
tion for the gold reserve, the establish
ment Of national banks with small cap
ifal and the issue Of national bank cir
culation to the full value Of the bond de-
posit, the committee will recommend the
refunding of the entire national debt at
lower rates of interest than now paid.
This would save the Government 81 ,OOO,-
600 to $14,0OO.0O0 annually.
Congress will again be advised of the
urgent need OF the construction of a wat
erway across the Isthmus of Panama or
some other desirable route, providing the
Nicaragua Canal Commission will have
given the President something tangible
upon which to base recommendations
which il does not now appear will be
done. Special recommendations in this
event will be reserved for a special mes
sage.
Attention will be called to the tempo
rary arrangement between the United
States and Great Britain relative to the
Canadian boundary, with remarks to the
effect that the prospects for the solution
of all differences between the United
States and Canada are bright.