The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1899-12-15
OF American citizens "a gainst Spain by this
government be enacted.
The Pence COumreaR

says that the results of the conference
meets the realization Of earnest desires on
the part of many of the American people
or our particular part in this conference
the president says:
While earnestly promoting, the idea of
establishing a permanent international
tribunal, the delegation Of the United
states was not unmindful of the incon-
veniences which might arise from an OBJ
ing the convention carefully guarded the
historic position of the United States by
the following declaration:
Nothing contained in this convention
shall be so construed as to require the
United States of America to depart from
It's traditional policy of not intruding upon,
the political questions or policy or inter-
nal administration of any foreign state:
nor shall anything contained in the said
convention be construed to imply a re-
linquishment by the United States of
America of its traditional attitude toward
purely American questions
pacific settlement of international conflicts
may be regarded as realizing the earnest
desire of great numbers of American cit
liens whose deep sense of justice, ex-
pressed in numerous resolutions and memo
rails, has urged them to labor for this
noble achievement. The. general charac-
the delegates of more than 20 sovereign
states, further commends it to the favor
able action of the senate of the United
States, whose ratification it still awaits.
A history of the operations Of the war
department is given, including the work
of mastering out the volunteers of the
Spanish war and the organization of new
troops in compliance with legislation enact
ed by the last congress. He commends
highly the action of the volunteers who re-
manned in service after the conclusion of
the treaty of peace with Spain, and says of
our army now in the Philippines:
The force now in Manila consists of 9O5
officers and sO,57S regulars. and 594 officers
and 1888 of the volunteers, making an
aggregate of 1,499 officers and 1896 men.
When the troops now under orders shall
reach Manila, the force in the archipelago
will comprise 2,051 officers and 63,4S3 men.
The muster out of the great volunteer
army organized for the Spanish war and
the Great ton of a new army, the transport
tation from Manila to San Francisco Of
those entitled to discharge, and the trans
portation of the new troops to take their
places have been a work of great magni-
tude well and ably done, for which too
much cSedit cannot be given the war de-
partment.
OF that portion of the army now serving
in Cuba and Porto Rico he says:
our force in CUBA and Porto S' Rico e'f In
Cuba, we now have 1874 officers and 1926
enlisted men; in Porto Rico, 81 officers and
1855 enlisted men and a battalion of 400
men composed, Of native Porto Ricans;
while stationed throughout the United
States are $40 officers and II, 317 men, and in
Hawaii II officers and ass enlisted men.
Inc FOSta1 service.
The work of the postal service both at
home and in the colonies is spoken of at
length, and the operations of the depart
ment in both places pronounced satisfac-
tory OF the service in the colonies he says:
The appointment of director general of
posts of Cuba, was given to an expert who
had been chief post office inspector and as
sistant postmaster general. and who united
large experience with administrative ca
pacity. For the postmastership at Hav-
ana, the range of skilled and available men
was scanned, and the choice fell upon one
who had been 20 years in the service as
deputy postmaster and postmaster of a
large city. This principle governed and
determined the selection of the American
Rico and the Philippines, and they were
instructed to apply it so far as practicable
in the employment of the natives as minor
tenn in Cuba, though remaining under the
general guidance of the postmaster gen
eral, was made essentially independent. 1t
was felt that it should not be a burden
upon the postal service of the United States,
and provision was made that any deficit in
the postal revenue should be charge
upon the general revenues of the island.
Though Porto Rico and the Philippines
held different relation to the United
States, yet, for convenience of admins
tration, the same principle of an autono-
nous system has beer. extended to them:
The development of the service in all of
the islands has been rapid and success
lines, with free delivery, money order and
registry systems, and has given the peo-
Pile mail facilities far greater and more re-
liable than any they have ever before en-
joyed. 1t is thus not only a vital agency
Of industrial, social and business progress,
but an important influence in diffus:ng
just understanding OF the true spirit and
character of American administration.
Domestic Postal Service.
The domestic postal service continues to
grow with extraordinary rapidity: The
expenditures and the revenues Will each
exceed 500, 900 600 during the current year.
Gus times the revenues have grown much
faster than the expenditures. and there
is every indication that a short t2 period
deficit. In this connection the report OF
the postmaster general embodies state
ment of some evils which have grown
up outside of the contemplation OF law
in the treatment of some classes of mail
matter which wrongly exercise the privi-
lege of the pound rate, and shows that If
and had paid the rate which it should
the last fiscal year of s6,616,OOO, there would
have been on one basis a surplus OF ST.
6S7, $50, and on another Of s5,7SS,Sse. The
reform thus suggested in the opinion of
the postmaster general, would not only
sustaining basis, but would permit great
and valuable improvements, and | COM
mend the subject to the consideration OF
the congress.
He concurs in the recommendations made
by the secretary Of the navy for the in
crease of that branch of the public service
plate for the vessels now building, and says:
1t cannot be doubted that congress will
at once make necessary provision for the
armor plate for the vessels now under
contract and building. It's attention is re-
spectfully called to the report of the sec
rotary of the navy, in which the subject is
fully presented. I unite in his recon-
mendation that the congress enact such
special legislation as may be necessary
to enable the department to make con-
tracts early in the coming year for armor
of the best quality that can be obtained in
this country for the Maine, Ohio, and Mis-
souri,, and that the provision of the act
of March g. 1899, limiting the price of armor
to $500 per ton be removed.
In the matter of naval construction, Italy
less tonnage liz the year 1899 than this
country, and Italy alone has less tonnage
under construction. 1 heartily concur in
the recommendations for the increase of
the navy, as suggested by the secretary.
Our future progress and prosperity de-
pend upon our ability to equal if not sur
pass other nations in the enlargement and
advance of science, industry and COM
merce. To invention we must turn as one
of the most powerful aids to the accom-
plishment of such result The attention
of the congress is directed to the report
of the commissioner of patents, in which
will be found valuable suggestions and
recommendations.
The Subject of Pensions.
On the subject of pensions he gives the