The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-12-02
Plan Suggested for Overcoming Dtm-
cuIties OF Establishing Civil Gov.
ernment I'm Porto Rico.
POST CANTEENS BENEFICIAL
BETTER TO DRINK BEER IN CAMP
THAN WHISKY IN VILE RESORTS.
Griggs's Construction of the Law Ap-
ed-Interior Department Report.

WASHINGTON. Dec. 1-Dealing, as II
does, with the large questions OF insular
policy, Of army reorganization. Of the
future of Cuba and of the campaign In the
Philippines. the first annual report of Sec
retary Root, just made public. is OF excep-
tional interest. The report begins with a re-
cital of the policy 10 be followed in reor-
ganizing the army in accordance with the
necessities arising from the discharge or
the state volunteers and of the men en-
listed for the Spanish-American war, and
gives statistics of the past and present
strength OF the organization. covering, in
that respect, matters dealt with In the re-
ports OF the major general commanding
and of the adjutant general. 1t also re-
views the canteen question.
Mr.. Root states that, at present, all OF
the new regiments of volunteers are in the
Philippines or on their way there. The OPP
erations in those islands are taken up and
the report again points out that the out
break of last February provoked by
the insurgents themselves and was. from
our standpoint, unavoidable. Frequent
reference is made to the report of General
Otis to show the magnitude of the task set
for him with the inadequate forces at his
command when the outbreak came, ana q
high tribute is paid to the courage Of the
troops, who, in the face of great hardships,
voluntarily consented TO forego all inn
mediate return to their homes upon the
expiration of their terms of service.
The history of the operations OF the past
season is recounted, and the secretary out
lines the plan of the present campaign.
which began in October. This involved the
movement of three separate forces. One was
to proceed up the Rio Grande along the
northeastern borders of the plains and
strike across to the Gulf OF LingayeE. An
other was to land on the gulf shores by
transports and proceed along the coast
road to unite with the first force. A third
column was to strike straight along the
railroad to Dagupan. The secretary says
these movements were executed with en-
e-gy, rapidity and success, Notwithstanding
the deluge of rain. 1t said that wherever
the permanent occupation OF our troops
has extended I'm the Philippines civil law
has been put in operation, courts have been
established and education introduced, until.
at present, in Manila, there are now better
facilities for primary education than ever
before.
WHAT HAS BEEN DONE IN CUBA.
A chapter tells of what has been done in
Order has been maintained. social distress
has been alleviated. sanitation has been in
stituted and in all respects satisfactory
progress has been made and the part
played by our troops now is but the re-
straining influence of their presence. The
revival of industry has been slow. but has
also made gratifying progress and the re-
concentrates have returned TO the cutiva-
| tion of their lands, though the complete
restoration of the sugar industry has been
seriously hampered by the lack OF capital.
AS order has been restored the force OF
troops has been reduced and orders have
recently been given for the withdrawal OF
eight companies of infantry and eight
troops OF cavalry.
In Porto Rico the year has been devoted
to administering and improving the civil
government OF the island and instructing
the people in the rudiments OF sef-govern-
ment, at every step in conference with the
leading citizens. This work has been
tarded by the unfortunate Industrial con-
ditions owing to lack of markets for the
island products and to the distress caused
by the great hurricane. Nevertheless much
has been done TO correct abuses. the courts
have been reorganized. the writ of habeas
corpus has been restored and arrangements
have been made for taking the census.
A compliment is paid to General Luding-
tons administration Of the Quartermaster's
department and IL is said that owing to
the experience acquired the entire move
ment involved in the transportation Of q
large army to the Philippines has been ac-
complished practically without loss OF life.
disease or injury to health. The clothing oe
the army, too. was satisfactory and the
food of good quality and furnished
promptly.
The health Of the army has been remark
ably good and the report shows that the
death rate among the soldiers in the Phil
ippines from disease is only 1870. consider
ably less than In Washington. Boston, San
Francisco New York and Baltimore The
soldiers killed in battle and dying OF
wounds numbered Az and the entire NOR
tality was sf3 for the past ten months.
INsULAR GOVERNMENT.
The secretary deals at length with the
problem of insular government He recalls
the fact that the treaty OF Paris places In
Congress alone the determination OF the
civil rights and political status OF the ma
tive inhabitants of the territories ceded TO
the United States. He argues that this
limitation completely deprives these people
OF the right to have the islands treated as
States. or as territory previously acquired
has been treated, or even 10 assert legal
right under the provisions OF the constitu-
tion, which was established for the people
OF the United States themselves. Never
theless. he assumes that the intention Is to
give them. 70 the greatest possible extent