The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-06-24

Herald from Washington says:
President Mckinley will authorize
the enlistment of additional men for
the Philippines when he returns to
Washington This is the understand
ing of well informed war department
officials.
The administration has at last come
to recognize the necessity of reinforcing
General Otis command. 1t is apparent
that some department officials are
figuring on the advisability of enlisting
sufficient men to form ten complete
regiments. Acting Secretary Of War
Meikeljohn said If the president author
lied additional men, the number would
be determined after 4 consultation with
General Otis. 1t would not be surpris-
ing were the department to hear from
General Otis before the return Of the
president in order that the latter may
be supplied with the necessary infor-
maIion in order TO take immediate ac-
ton
In any event. said Mr.. Meikeljohn,
there is little probability of a formal
call for volunteers. State organiZa-
tions Will not be accepted, although
there are many applications on file from
them lIluSltL III anu utopclANAA ~ liz
Philippines. The president, l think,
authorized the department TO direct
its recruiting officers to make enlist
inents and l am confident that men
can be obtained in such numbers as
to form a complete organization and
be ready for service with General Otis
during the fall months"
Must Have Is, ZOO Men.
Should the president authorize the
formation OF ten regiments, recruiting
officers Will have to obtain IL, 700 men
TO fill them At least 1900 men will be
required for three volunteer organiZa-
lions which General Otis has authority
TO organize making about 10000 OF the
81. 600 men Of the provisional army, the
enlistment of which is authorized by
law.
President McKinley's policy in regard
to the future form of government Tor
the Philippines and Cuba is still I'M
defined, but regardless of what future
DEVELOPMENTS may bring forth as to
our attitude toward those islands. he
and the members Of the cabinet FULLY
appreciate that the military govern
ments in all of our dependencies must
give way to civil government as speed
lily as possible. Preliminary to the
establishment of civil government the
cabinet has concluded that there should
be a new civil department with a
cabinet officer at its head to inaugurate
and have control of the new govern
ments which sooner or later viii be
formed A cabinet officer thus explains
the necessity for such a department:
AT the present time there is no CEN
trail head for the consideration of the
multifarious questions constantly aris-
ne in connection with Cuba, Porto
Rico. Hawaii and the Philippines. The
war department has control of these
matters now, but there are many ques-
tions-financial. administrative, judi
ciaL commercial and diplomatic. which
our army officers are not competent to
deal with, and ought not to be required
to pass upon. AS matters go now,
there is disposition TO shift from one
department to another and from one
bureau to another, TO escape response
bility for settling intricate and embar-
RAISING questions.
Forms of Government.
"A territorial form of government for
Porto Rico and Hawaii has already
been agreed upon, and there is little
doubt that the next congress Will pass
measures in this direction. The presi-
dent told a friend the other day that
he favored a government for Porto
Rico similar to that of Arizona, and
that if it We're in his power he would
appoint a civil governor for Porto Rico
at once. without waiting for legislation
by congress.
"As to Cuba, it viii be impossible to
have any other form of government
than the present military one until the
people of the island have taken steps
for the formation of a civil govern
ment which the United States can rec
ogniZe. From the little progress that
is being made in this direction we are
beginning TO doubt il affairs will so
shape themselves in Cuba as to enable
a. afracr e
congress. TO intelligently outline a fu-
fure policy for the United States to
pursue.
THE island is now ripe for civil gov
eminent. But how is it TO be applied?
The presidents hands are tied. Under
the act of congress he is required. af-
ter the 'pacification' of the island, to
leave the government and control Of the
island to its people. 1t has been held
that the president has no legislative au-
thority to keep military forces in Cuba
after the treaty of peace was ratified,
but the forces have been held there,
and the president. if necessary, can take
the technical ground that the 'pacifica-
ton of the island viii not be complete
until there is a stable and independent
government of the people there as con-
templated by the title of the resolution
adopted by congress.
President Must Wait.
THUS you see the president must
wait. under the terms of the act of
congress. for the people of the islands
to esta blish a stable government which
he can recognize. 1t is high time that
people swere getting together in con-
Vention for the purpose of drawing up
a constitution preliminary to a popular
vote as to the kind of government they
want Until this is done and a stable
government is elected or the people of
the islands have voted for annexation
to the United States, or the American
COZ ress has directed otherwise. the
president will be constrained to main
tain military government in Cuba.
Though the war department will in
all probability remain in main in nom
snal control of Cuba for some time To
come, there will be many questions
arising that ought to be passed upon
by the proposed new colonial depart
rnent. The same may be said of the
Philippines The collection and distri-
button of the revenue of those islands.
aggregating already $2.000,000 q month
IN the two places, ought to go into the
hands of experts, with a proper sys-
tenn of accounting under single civil
ian head. No one doubts the honesty
OF the army officers who are now per-
forming this duty, but it is unfair to
the officers Snd dangerous for the gov
eminent to open wide the doors for
wrongdoins."