The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-12-06

! ance ~ new and delicate duties which our
recent wa has IMPOSED.
ARAlOR FOR VESSELS.
ut cannot be doubted that Congress
VIII at once make necessary provision
/ for the armor plate for the vessels no"
under contract and building. us atten-
ton is resDectfully called TO the report
of the Secretary OF the Navy in which the
subject is fully presented. | unite In MS
| recommendation that the Congress en-
| act such special legislation as may be ne
| ceseqrv 10 enable the Department 10
make contracts early in the coming year
for arnor of the best quality that can be
| obtained I'm this country for the Maine,
Ohio and Missouri and that the plovi-
| sion Of the act Of March 3, lN9'' lmltns
! The price OF armor to 500 per ton be re-
moved.
"In the matter Of naval construction
| Italy and Japan Of the great powers laid
down less tonnage in the year 1879 than
| this country. and Italy alone has less
TONNAGE under construction | heartily
concur i'm the recommendations for the
| increase Of the navy as suggested by the
| Secretary
"Wuh the approval Of the Secretary
OF the Interior. the Commissioner Of PEN
| si0ns recommends that. in order TO make
| the practice at all times uniform and 10
DO Justice to the dependent widow, the
amount Of income allowed Independent
Of the proceeds of her daily labor should
be not less than $50 per annum. and he
urges that the Congress shall so amend
the act as 20 permit the pension office TO
grant pensionable statutes 10 widows UNI
der the terms of the third section Of the
act oil June g. 1890 whose income aside
from the proceeds OF daily labor IS not m
excess of $50 per annum, / believe this
10 Dee "a simple act of justice and heartily
recommend 10.
a considerable portion Of the message
is devoted TO- the Philippine Islands. The
President reviews the manner In which
we acquired possession of these Islands
and says he had every reason TO believe
and still believes that the transfer of the
sovereignty was I'm accordance with the
desire OF the great mass of the Filipino
people From the earliest moment no
opportunity was lost of assuring the peo-
pie of the islands of our ardent desire for
their welfare and the intention of this
government 10 do everything possible TO
advance their interests.
The President quotes from his early
orders 60 the commanders OF the forces
of occupation to impress this fact upon
the people ana reviews at some length the
appointment aud work o. the Philippine
a copy of the report is transmitted TO
Congress THE claim of the rebel leader
who was promised independence by amy
officer of the United States in return for
bis assistance has no foundation in fact
and is catee0ri'y denied by witnesses who
were called tO prove. The most the Inc
urgont leader hoped for when he came
| back 10 Manila was the liberation Of the
islands from the Spanish control which
they had been iaborirg for years without
| success tp throw Off.
PUT DOWN REBELLION.
Continuing the President says. 1.-The
rebellion must Doe put DOWN. Civil gov
eminent cannot he thoroughly estab-
Ishoi until order is restored with a dee
y0ti0n and glllautry worthy Of lbs most
! brilliant history. the army. ably and 10y
auy assisted 10y the navy. has carried
ON this uuwoicome bur most righteous
campaicn with richly deserved success.
| The noble ~of-sacrihcc with which our
| soldiers and sailors whose terms of ser-
vice had expired refused 10 avail them
selves of their right 10 return home as
long as they We're needed at the front
forms one of the brightest pages in our
annals.
Although their operations have been
somewhat interrupted and checked by
rainy season of unusual violence and du-
ration. they have gained ground stead
.Iy in every direction and now look for
ward confidently 60 d speedy completion
| " fhcir task.
"The wfy0rable circumstances cone
uocfcd with au active campaign have not
| been permitted to interfere with the
equally important work of reconstruction.
| Again Z invite your attention 20 the re-
| port of thc commission for the interesting
..tH ..f.f. IL
ready accomplished in the establishment
1f peace and order ana the Inauguration
" solf-governing municipal life ion many
portions of the archipelago. a notable
ginning has been made Don the establish
melt OF government in the island of
NegrOs which s deserving of special con-
s.der4ton This was the first island 20
accept American sovereignty. Its people
uureserycd'y proclaimed allegiance 20 the
United States and adopted constitution
looking tO the establishment OF pOpu-
.4r government II was impossible 10
artutee to the people of Negroes that
.he constitution $50 adopted should Doe the
ultimate form 0f government such
question. under the treaty with Spain and
.n accordance with Our constitution and
laws. came exclusively within the iuris-
I.etion of he Congress. The government
actually set up by the inhabitants OF Ne
-ros eventually proved unsatisfactory 10
The natives Themselves
SULU'S SUBMIT.
a new system was put into force by or
der OF The AIajor-General commanding The
Department This system has been pre-
yiously published)
The authorities of the Sulu Islands
have accepted the succession of the Unit
ed states 10 the rights of Spain. and our
flag floats over that territory on the
10th OF August 1899 Brigadier- General j.
g. Bates. T. S. Volunteers. negotiated an
agreement with the Sultan and his prlnci-
rI chiefs. which ] transmit herewith.
1857 Article The sovereignty of the United
States over the whole Archipelago of Jo-
lO. and ifs dependencies is declared and
acknOW .ed-cd.
"The United States flag will be used I'm
the Archipelago and i.s dependencies. on
land and -es piracy IS TO- De suppressed
and the Sultan agrees 10 cooperate heart
iv with The United States authorities 10
that end and 90 make every possible eff
fort TO arrest and bring 20 justice an per-
sons engaged in piracy. All trade in do
nestle products of the Archipelago of Jolo
when carried ON with any part OF the
Philippine Islands and under the Ameri-
can flag shall be free. unlimited. and un-
dIti1be The United States will give fun
protection tO the Sultan I'M case any for
e.sn nation should attempt 10 impose upon
him. The United States will not sell the
island of Joio or amy other island .of the
Jolo Archipelago 10 any foreign power
without tho consent of the Sultan. Sala-
ries for the Sultan and his associates i'm
the administration Of the island shall be