The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1900-12-04

DIN +, lOOOs
concerning the necessity of uniform
legislation to regulate trusts and that
means may be found for congress
within its constitutional limitations
to supplement- an effective code of
state legis lation as to make complete
system of laws throughout the United
States adequate to compel general OBJ
servance Of the statutory rules to
which he has referred.
The Philippine question is treated
exhaustively. A full account is given
of tile efforts of the administration to
overcome the rebellion mad it's action
in appointing civil commission to
continue and perfect the organization
of civil government already COM
menced by the military authorities,
subject in any respects to the laws
which congress may hereafter enact.
The work of the commission SO far ac
complished is set forth. In respect to
the future treatment Of the natives
the president says: "The fort une Of
war has thrown upon this nation an
unsought trust which should be unset
fishly discharged and devolved upon
this government moral as well as
a material responsibility toward these
millions whom we have freed from an
oppressive yoke. have upon another
occasion called the Filipinos The
wards of the nation. Our obligation
as guardian was not lightly assumed;
it must not be otherwise than full
filed, aiming first OF all to benefit
those who have come under our foster
ing care. It is our duty so to treat
them that our flag may be no less be-
lieved in the mountains of Luzon ard
the fertile field of Mindanao and
Negros than it is at home; there, as
here, it shall be the revered symbol Of
liberty, enlightenment and progress in
every avenue OF development, the Fill
ipinos are race to learn and to profit
by knowledge. He would be rash with
the teachings of contemporaneous his
tory in view, who would fix limit to
the degree of culture and advancement
yet within the reach of those people
if our duty toward them be faithfully
performed.
In relation to Porto Rico the mes
sage says: "The civil government Of
Porto Rico provided for by the act Of
the congress approved April IL, 1900,
is in successful operation. The courts
have been established; the govern
ment associates working intelligently
and harmoniously are making a COM
mendable success. On November = a
general election was held in the island
for members of legislature and a body
has been called to convene the first
Monday of December.
"I recommend that legislation be
enacted by congress comforting upon
the secretary Of the interior supervis-
ion over the public lands in Porto Rico
and that he be directed to ascertain
the location and quantity Of lands the
title to which remained in the crown
of Spain at the date of the cession of
Porto Rico to the United States, and
that appropriations for surveys be
made and the methods of disposition
of such lands be prescribed by law"
Cuba, also comes in for good share
Of attention, the present condition of
the island is fully explained. The pres
ident renews his recommendation III
the special message of February 10,
1900, relative to the necessity of con-
structing cable between the United
States and Hawaii, with an extension
to Manila. Since then, he says, cir
cumstances have strikingly empha-
sized this need.
AS to the matter of the army and
the proposed increase, tho president
calls attention to the fact that June
80, next, $4,000 volunteers will have
TO be discharged and that the regular
force will be reduced to 2.477 officers
and 29,025 enlisted men and says that
the soldiers in Cuba and Porto Rico
have been reduced in number by the
withdrawal of forces from time to
time until no further reductions can
be made He says further as follows:
"We will be required to keep con-
siderable force in the Philippine
islands for some time to come. From
the best information obCainable we
shall therefore need in the immediate
lutu1o 11Om OO,OVO W OV,OOO luOu. L
am sure the number may be reduced
as the insurgents shall come to &C
knowledge the authority of the United
States of which there are assuring in
dications. It must be apparent thai
we will require an army of 60, 600 and
that during present conditions in
Cuba and the Philippines the presi-
dent should have authority to increase
theforce to the present number Of
100000. Included in this number
authority should be given to raise ma
tive troops in the Philippines up to
5000, which the Taft commission
believe will be more effective in deter
ing and suppressing guerillas, assas-