The sun., 1900-12-04

curing present CONDITIONS IA Juuu anu
the Philippines the president should have
authority to increase the force to the
present number of 100000. Included in
this number authority should be given to
raise native troops in the Philippines up
to 10000. which the Taft commission be-
lieves will be more effective in detecting
and suppressing guerrillas, assassins and
ladrOnes than our own soldiers.
| favor the recommendation Of the sec
retary of war for the detail of officers
from the line of the army when vacancies
occur in the adjutant generals depart
ment, inspector generals department.
quartermaster's department, subsistence
department, pay department, ordnance
department and signal corps.
The president speaks Of the rapid
growth of the postal service and approves
the recommendations of the secretary OF
the navy for new vessels and for more
officers and men. The pension roll shows
a net increase of 2,010 names. Action is
recommended in the way of increasing
the number of schools in Alaska. Prog
ress is noted in the educational, agricul-
tural aud railroad development of the
Hawaiian Islands. The president in
connection with labor says:
In my annual message of Dec. ), 1898.
l called attention to the necessity for
some amendment of the alien contract
law. There still remain important fes-
lures of the rightful application of the
eight hour law for the benefit of labor
and of the principle of arbitration, and
again commend these subjects to the
careful attention of the congress.
Civil Service.
The civil service commission Is greatly
embarrassed in its work for want of an
adequate permanent force for clerical
and other assistance.
Its needs are fully set forth in its re-
port. l invite attention to the report and
especially urge upon the congress that
this important bureau Of the public serv-
| ice, which passes upon the qualifications
and character of so large a number of
the officers and employees of the govern
ment, should be supported by all needed
| appropriations to secure promptness and
efficiency.
/ am very much impressed with the
statement made by the heads of all the
departments Of the urgent necessity Of a
| hall of public records. In every depart
mental building in Washington, so far as
/ am informed, the space for official rec
ords is not only exhausted. but the walls
of rooms are lined with shelves, the mid
die floor space OF many rooms is filled
with file cases, and garrets and base
ments, which were never intended and
are untitled for their accommodation, are
crowded with them.
In our great prosperity we must guard
against the danger it invites Of extrava-
gance in government expenditures and
| appropriations. and the chosen repre-
sentatiyes Of the people will. | doubt NOT.
| furnish an example in their legislation of
that wise economy which in season Of
plenty husbands for the future. In this
era Of great business activity and oppor-
tunity caution is not untimey. II will
not abate, but strengthen. confidence: il
will not retard, but promote, legitimate
industrial and commercial expansion.
Our growing power brings with it
temptations and perils requiring con-
stant vigilance to avoid. 1t must not be
used to invite conflicts nor for oppres.
sion, but for the more effective mainte-
nance Of those principles Of equality and
justice upon which our institutions and
happiness depend. Let us keep always
in mind that the foundation of our gov
ernment is liberty; its superstructure,
peace. WILLIAM M'KINLEY.
Executive Mansion, Dec. 4.