Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-03
WAR DEPARTMENT REPORT

Public interest will center upon the
portion of the report of the secretary of
war which deals with the problem of in
sular government and which it is to be
presumed states the position of the ad-
minstration. Secretary Roots high
standing as lawyer and the fact that
he has given careful study to the ques-
tiOn of governing our insular posses
siOns and to the relations they should
hold to the United States, give especial
value to his opinion and conclusions,
which undoubtedly will have great
deal of weight with congress. In the
first place Mr.. Root recognizes the
absolute authority of congress, under
the Paris treaty, to determine what
shall be the civil rights and the political
status of the natives of territories ceded
TO the United States and consequently
that the inhabitants of these islands do
not possess the right which belongs to
the people of the territories within the
union to claim that the islands shall be
treated as states. In other words, the
people of Porto Rico and the Philip
pines have no political rights by virtue
of the acquisition of those islands, as
some contend, but only such as shall
be conferred by congress. Undoubtedly
this view will encounter no little OPP
position, on the ground that it contra
venes the spirit of American institl-
lions, but it has the support of judicial
decisions and is unquestionably in ac-
cord with general public sentiment
The secretary of war assumes that a
liberal policy will be adopted for the
government of the insular possessions
and his suggestions in regard to Porto
Rico contemplate system that would
gradually prepare the people for self
government. He urges form of local
government subject to congressional
limitation, under which the governor
and chief officers would be appointed
by the president and confirmed by the
senate. He thinks an elective legisla
ture should not at once be provided for
and would limit the suffrage to those
who read and write or own a small
amount of property He suggests that
fees they are able to fill and that
American officers should be limited in
number to the barest necessities and
chosen under civil service regulations.
ANY attempt" says Secretary Root,
"tO substitute in these southern islands
a system of laws based on the expert !
cnce and characteristics of New Eng
land community would be oppressive
and futile" n statement which no one
familiar with the temperament and
characteristics of the natives of the
islands will dissent to. The report does
not deal with government for the Phil |
ippines, that being covered by the re-
port of the commission to be sent to
congress and which has the approval |
of the administration. 1t Is safe TO as
sume that the recommendations in re-
gard TO the Philippines will be in the
main similar to those for Porto Rico
The reference to Cuba should be re-
assuring TO Cubans and will be salts |
factory to all Americans who desire !
the faithful fultillment of our promise |
that Cuba should have independence. |
The secretary points ont that the for
nation of a government for the island |
must necessarily proceed slowly, but !
the work will go forward with the ul- |
timate independence of the Cubans |
constantly in view, There has never
been any reason to doubt the purpose
of the administration TO keep faith |
with the people of Cuba and the fact |
that il has not yielded TO the clamor
of the agitators and self-seeking poll
ticians in the island is no evidence of |
different intention
Reform in army organization is dis
cussed at length by Secretary Root,
showing that he has given very thor
ough consideration to this important
matter which it is reasonably 10 be I