Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1899-12-07
REVIEW o. Army WORK.
Secretary Of War Root Reports the
Results in Cuba, Porto Rico
and the Philippines.
.aEcoNnenos A LAaeER aEeulAa ARMY
Also Favors Radical Changes for the
Improvement of the SeFviee-In--
portant Suggestions Made ~ to the
Government Of the Colonles-OtheR-
Recommendations.

Washington. Dec. 2-The annual report
Of Elihu Root, secretary OF war. was made
public Friday. The first half is devoted to-
| the operation Of the army in the6Philtp--
| pines. Cuba and Porto Rico. The report
gives full history Of the military opera
| lions in the Philippines from August u,
1898, up to the present time. An tmpor--
tant feature Of the report Is comprehen-
sive outline Of plan Of government for
Porto Rico. It is understood that Prest-
dent Mckinley is in entire accord with Sec
rotary Root on this question, and that the
plan outlined by the secretary will be the
| identicaNplan which the president will rec
ommend to congress in his annual message.
Government for Porto Rico.
Concerning the plan of government pro-
posed for Porto Rico. Secretary Root cites.
the Paris treaty, which provides that con-
gress shall determine the civil rights and
political status Of the natives of the terri
| tory ceded to this government. The scheme
outlined includes definite declaration by
| congress of what American laws are to be-
made applicable to the Porto Ricans. fol-
| lowing which it is recommended that q,
| federal judiciary be established.
The form OF insular government proposed
provides for the appointment Of a governor
by the president, to be confirmed by the
senate; the chief officers of state customary
| under our system, and a legislative council
to be composed of the chief officers OF state
| and minority selected from the people OF
the island by the president. All acts Of the
council are to be subject to the veto power
! Of the governor and to be passed over the
| veto by two-thirds vote. No law is to
become effective until 1t has remained with
| out this approval for 30 days after its pres
| entation to congress or the president. It is
suggested that voting right should be linn:
tied to those who read and write or who
| own small amount Of property.
The secretary considers it too early to es-
fah1iSh q 1oOfe1ofnra orivfp a tho
habitants the franchise only in municipal
affairs
Abolition Of the duties between the Unit
ed States and Porto Rico is recommended.
Military Operations.
The report cites In brief the history Of the
! military operations in the Philippines,
Porto Rico and Cuba during the fiscal year
ended June 30, 1899. Relief work in all three
places is dilated upon. The transport serv-t.
| ice, it is stated, includes 81 steam trans
ports, with saving in work done over orr.
binary commercial rates of $501 900. The re-
moval Of the dead from Cuba and similar
work contemplated from the. Philippines is-
touched upon.
Favors Larger Army.
An increased and reorganized regular;
army. with many new and novel features
| in the system involved, is earnestly recon-
| mended. Radical changes, which contem-5
plate the betterment of the service in
every department are proposed. The
changes in the army organization and the
| increase proposed are in the first instance
specified particularly, while in the second
no definite statement is made except as
to artillery. The present artillery force is.
recommended to be increased five times its
present strength. The increase in officers
and enlisted men is to be sufficient to man
the equipment in the seacoast fortifica-
tions, besides providing for the other
branches of the service.
A War College.
In order that there may be more gem.
eral dispensatton of military knowledge to-
officers both Of the regular army and the
| national guards, the latter Of whom It is-
intended to bring into closer touch with
the federal authorities. it is also proposed
to establish a war college. This institu.
ton is to be in charge Of a staff headed by
the major general commanding. Experts.
are to be detailed for such service for
stated periods. Likewise STAFF appoint
| ments are to run for a specified time, after
which the officer whose term Of service as
| such appointee expires must serve one year
in the line before being eligible for stan
selection.
He points to the bravery displayed by the
regular army officers during the late war
with Spain and the Instruction In the
Philippines, and insists the people have,
very thoroughly learned that an army Of
ficer, when he becomes such, does not cease
" U0 dn <AAA0TlCdu ClllZSus
The secretary recommends the enlarge
ment Of West Point military academy and
an increase in the number Of cadets to be-
admitted annually. Especial attention is
to be paid to the artillery branch Of the
service in that institution and in the army
A ranking officer Of artillery is recommend
ed. there being no such officer now.
Deaths I'm the Army.
The regular army now numbers 81. sse en-
listed men and 2,24S officers, making totak
Of 64247, and volunteer force numbering
30,050 enlisted men and 1,5A officers. making
total Of 34.54. The deaths from all causes.
including casualties in action. for the Il
elusive, were 6619. The deaths from disease
from all causes were at an annual death
rate of but 25.68 per thousand. s2
Estimates. #
Estimates Of the cost Of maintenance for
the fiscal year ending June 30. 1900. are a.
follows: sS89@
Civil establishment .ss7. 7oe.
academy 81, OLE. go
Fortiications and river and har-
Dor improvements ................ %, 49,. 576t,
Miscellaneous Observation-Disclosures. 5,l96 799,
A net deficiency appropriation Of SIG, Co.,
600 is asked for. IS
other Recommendations.
The secretary declares in favor Of a cable.
from the United States to the Philippines.
via Hawaii and Guam. s8
Among his other recommendations Is one
that Gen. Shafter be retired, with the fun
rank Of major general. ;zS
The continuance OF the river and llarbor
improvement work now under contract, tt.
is announced, will cost 315436, 626.6
A monument to Gen. Grant, to be erected
in Washington, is also recommended, as 10.
memorial bridge extending from the cap
ttal city to Arlington, where the national
cemetery is located. It is also recommend