The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1900-09-15

sary in business operations is essential
| to the wise and effective treatment of this
| subject. Honest cooperation of capital Is
necessary to meet new busihesS conditions
and extend our rapidly-incI easing for
eign trade but conspiracies and cornbi-
nations intended to restrict business, Gre
| ate monopolies and control Prices should
be effectively restrained.
True American Policy.
The best service which can be rendered
| to labor IL to AFFORD II an opportunity for
steady and remunerative employment ana
give II every announcement for advance
ment. The policy that subserves this
end Is the true American policy. The past
three years have been more satisfactory
ceding years. Any change of the pres
ent Industrial or financial policy OF the
government would be disastrous to their
home and an increasing foreign market
for American products. employment
should continue to wait upon labor. and
with the present gold standard the work.
ingman is assured against payments for
his labor In a deprecated currency. For
labor. a short day Is better than short
dollar; one will tighten the burdens; the
other lessons the rewards of toll. The
one will promote contentment and inde-
pendence: the other penury. and want
to keep the home In comfort, educate the
children and, with thrift and economy.
lay something by for the days OF infirm-
ity and old age.
Civil Service Reform.
Practical civil service reform has al
ways had the support and encouragement
of the republican party. The future OF
the merit system Is safe In It's hands
During the present administration, as oc-
casions have arisen for modification or
amendment In the existing civil service
law and rules. they have been made:
Important amendments were promulgated
by executive order under date of May 20,
1899, having for their principal purpose
the exception from competitive examina-
responsibilities or duties of a strictly
confidential. scientific or executive char
acter. which II was thought might bet
ter be filled by noncompetitive examina-
ton or by other tests in the discretion
of the appointing officer. II Is gratifying
that the experience of more than year
marked Improvement of the public serv-
ice. The merit system. as far as prac-
ticable, Is made the basis for appoint
ments to Office in our new territory.
Pensions.
The American people are profoundly
grateful to the soldiers, sailors and ma
rines who have in every time OF conflict
fought their country 5 battles and defended
its honor. The survivors and the widows
and orphans of those who have fallen are
justly entitled to receive the generous ana
considerable care of the nation. Few are
now left of those who fought in the Next
can war, and, while many OF the veterans
of the civil war are still spared to us. their
numbers are rapidly diminishing and age
and infirmity are increasing their depend
ence. These, with the soldiers OF the Span
ish war, will not be neglected by their
grateful countrymen; Inc pension iaWs
administered, and will be. Preference
should be given to the soldiers. sailors and
marines. their widows and orphans. with
respect to employment In the public service
Conditions In Cuba.
% C,,h eIp
the LIST of January, 1899. We have restored
order and established domestic tranquility.
We have fed the starving, clothed the
naked and ministered to the sick. We have
improved the sanitary condition of the is
land. We have stimulated industry, intro
duced public education and taken fuli and
comprehensive enumeration of the inhab-
itants. The qualification of electors mas
been settled and under II officers have
been chosen for all the municipalities OF
Cuba. These local governments are now
In operation, administered by the people.
Our military establishment has been re-
duced from 5000 men TO less than ooo.
An election has been ordered to be held on
the 18th of September under a fair election
law already tried in the municipal cleo
lions to choose members OF constitu-
tional convention, and the convention OF
the same order Is to assemble on the first
Monday of November to frame constitu-
ton upon which an independent govern
ment for the island will rest. All this Is a
long step in the fulfllment of our sacred
guarantees to the people OF Cuba.
Generous Treatment of Porto Ricnns.
We hold Porto Rico by the same title
as the Philippines. The treaty of peace
which ceded US the one conveyed to US the
other. Congress has given TO this island
a government in which the Inhabitants
participate. elect their own legislature, en-
act their own local laws. provide their own
system of taxation, and in these respects
have the same power and privileges en-
joyed by other territories belonging to the
United States, and a much larger measure
of self-government than was given to the
Inhabitants of Louisiana under Jefferson.
A district court of the United States for
| Porto Rico has been established and local
courts have been organized, all OF which
| are in operation. The generous treatment
of the Porto Ricans accords with the most
| liberal thought of our own country and
| encourages the best aspirations OF the peo-
pie OF the island. While they do not have
Instant free commercial intercourse, with
the United States, congress complied with
| my recommendation by removing, on the
lst day of May last, SIS per cent. OF the du-
remaining Is per cent. on the LIST of March,
| 1902, or earlier II the legislature Of Porto
Rico shall provide local revenues for the
expenses of conducting the government.
| Rican products coming into the United
| States pay a tariff of 10 per cent. of the
rates under the Dingley act, and our goods
going to Porto Rico pay like rate. The
| duties thus paid and collected both In Porto
| Rico and the United States are paid to
the government OF Porto Rico and nc
part thereof is taken by the national gov
eminent. All of the duties from November
!. 1898, to June 80. 1900, aggregating the sum
of 81. $50, 523.21, paid at the custom houses In
the United States upon Porto Rican prod.
| ucts under the laws existing prior to the
aforementioned act of congress have gone
into the treasury of Porto Rico to relieve
the destitute and for schools and other pub
lie purposes. In addition to this we have
expended for relief, education and improve.
ment of roads the sum of 81, 5l3, 0S4.95. The
United States military force in the island
has been reduced from 1000 to 1900 and
native Porto Ricans constitute for the mos
part the local constabulary. Under the
new law and the Inauguration Of civil gov
eminent there has been gratifying re
vival OF business. The manufactures OF
Porto Rico are developing; her imports are
Increasing: her tariff Is yielding increa sec
returns; her fields are being cultivated
free schools are being established Not
withstanding the many embarrassments In
cident to a change of national conditions
she is rapidly showing the good effects o
her new relations to this nation.
The Philippine Question.
For the sake OF full and intelligent un
Outstanding of the Philippine question an,
| to give to the people authentic Information
of the acts and aims of the administra
ton l present at some length the event
of Importance leading up to the presen
situation. The purposes of the executiv
are best revealed and can best be Judge,
by what he has done and is doing IL will
be seen that the power of the government
has been used for liberty. the peace and tn
prosperity OF the Philippine peoples. an,
force which stood In the way Of the realiza
! fion of these ends