The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1899-12-07
Of American citizens against Spain by this
government be enacted
The Pence Congress.


meets the realization of earnest desires on
the part of many of the American people.
OF 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
trusive exercise Of mediation, ana in sign
ing the convention carefully guar5ed the
historic position of the United States by
the following declaration:
Nothing contained in this convention
shall be so construed as to require the
its traditional policy of not intruding upon,
interfering with, or entangling itself In
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 re-
lnqushment 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
iZens whose deep sense OF justice ex-
pressed innumerous resolutions and memo
rails, has urged them to labor, for this
ter of this convention, already signed by
the delegates of more than 20 sovereign
states, further n..nmends II TO the favor,
a bic actio'. uI the senate of the United
States, whose ratification 1t still awaits.
The War Department..
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-
the treaty of peace with Spain, ana says Oh
our army now in the Philippines:
The force now in Manila consists OF 905
officers and 30,57S regulars, and 594 officers
nd NJ
aggregate of ,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 creation of 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 work or great magni-
tude well and ably done. for which too
much credit cannot be given the war de-
partment.
OF that portion Of the army now serving
in Cuba and Porto Rico he saws:
During the past year we have reduced
our force in Cuba and Porto Rico. In
Cuba, we now have 334 officers and 0,796
enlisted men; in Porto Rico, 81 officers and
men composed, Of native Porto Ricans;
while stationed throughout the United
States are $40 officers and II ,317 men, and in
Hawaii ~ officers and ASS enlisted men.
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. or 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
pacty. For the postmastership at Hav-
ana, the range Of skilled and available men
was scanned, and the choice fell upon one
who had been 70 years in the service as
deputy postmaster and postmaster Of a
large city. This principle governed and
determined the selection OF the American
officials sent not only to Cuba, but to Porto
Rico and the Philippines, and they were
instructed to apply 1t so far as practicable
in the employment of the natives as minor
postmasters and clerks The postal sys-
tenn in Cuba, though remaining under the
general guidance of the postmaster gen
eral, was made essentially independent. II
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 Philippine
held different relation to the United
States, yet, for convenience of admins
tration, the same principle of an autono-
nous system has been. extended to them
The development of the service in all of
the islands has been rapid and success
full It has moved forward on American
registry systems, and has given the peo-
pie 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 q
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, 100000 during the current year.
Fortunately. since the revival of prosper
GUS times the revenues have grown much
faster than the expenditures, and there
IS every indication that short PERIOD
will witness the obliteration Of the annual
deficit. In this connection the report of
the postmaster general embodtes state
ment of some evils which have grown
up outside of the contemplation If law
in the treatment of some classes cf mail
matter which wrongly exercise the priVl-
lege of the pound rate, and shows that II
this matter had been properly classifed
and had paid the rate which It should
have paid, instead of a postal deficit for
the last fiscal year of s6,6l0,o00, there would
have been on one basis a surplus OF SlI-
637 SO and on another of S5,7S3S S6. The
reform thus suggested, in the opinion of
the postmaster general, would not only
put the postal service at once on sell.
sustaining basis, but would permit great
and valuable improvements, and I com.
mend the subject to the consideration of
the congress.
The Navy.
He concurs in the recommendations made
by the secretary of the navy for the in
crease of that branch of the public service
and legislation that will provide for armor
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-
spectfuly called to the report of the Sec
rotary of the navy, in which the subject is
fully presented. | unite in his recon-
mendation that the congress enact such
special legislation as may be necessary
10 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
| and Japan, of the great powers, laid down
| less tonnage in the year 1899 than this
| country, and Italy alone has less tonnage
| under construction. | 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 ha 10 ions ~, 4