Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1900-12-08

/ The FiupinoS are a raee quick 70 learn
and to profit by knowledge. He would
| be rash who, with the teachings Of cor
temporaneous history in view. would fix
limit to tbs degree Of culture and ad
vancement yes within the reach Of thes.
people ii orr duty toward them be faith
! fully performed.
Porto Rico and Cuba
| 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 estab-
lished. The governor and his associates.
working inteligenfly and harmoniously.
| are meeting with commendable success.
/ On the 9th Of November general cleo
| ton was held in the island for members
of the legislature, and the body elected
| has been called to convene on the first
Monday Of December.
| | recommend that legislation be enact
ed by the congress comforting upon the
| secretary Of the interior supervision over
the public lands in Porto Rico. and that
| he be directed 10 ascertain the location
| and quantity of lands the title TO which
! remained in the crown of Spain at the
| date Of cession Of Porto Rico to the Unit
ed States, and that appropriations neces-
! sary for surveys be made, and that the
methods of the disposition Of such lands
| be prescribed by law.
| On the 18th of July. 1900, / directed
| that a call be issued for an election in
| Cuba for members of constitutional
| convention to frame constitution as a
basis for a stable and independent gov
eminent in the island. The election was
held on the 18th of September, and the
convention assembled ON the 9th of No
1 40 nd 10 ~,
| When the convention concludes its la
bors, | will transmit to the congress the
/ constitution as framed by the convention
| for its consideration and for such action
as it may deem advisable.
| renew the recommendation made In
my special message Of Feb. TO- 1899. as
| to the necessity for cable communication
between the United States and Hawaii,
with extension to Manila.
The Army.
| The present strength of the army Is
! 100000 meI-65. 600 regulars and 35.0tJ
! volunteers Under the act of March =.
| 1899, ON the Both Of June next the pres
ent volunteer force will be discharged,
and the regular army will be reduced to
| 2,447 officers and 29,025 enlisted men.
We have in Cuba between 5000 and
| 5000 troops. For the present our troops
in that island cannot be withdrawn or
materially diminished and certainly not
until the conclusion of the labors of the
constitutional convention now in session
and a government provided by the new
constitution shall have been established
and its stability assured.
In Porto Rico we have reduced the
garrisons to 1876. which includes S79
native troops. There is no room for fur
Their reduction here.
We will be required to keep a consid-
cradle force in the Philippine Islands for
some time to come. From the best infor-
nation obtainable we will need there for
the immediate future from $4,000 to
go 600 men. | am sure the number may
be reduced as the insurgents shall come
to acknowledge the authority of the Unit
ed States, of which there are assuring in
dications.
1t must be apparent that we will re-
quire an army of about 10000 and that
during present conditions in Cuba and
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 te
raise native troops in the Philippines up
to $4,000, 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
rotary 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,
quartermasters department, subsistence
department pay department, ordnance
department and signal corps.
The president speaks of the rapid
e
the recommendations of the secretary of
the navy for new vessels and for moye
officers and men. The pension roll shows
net increase of 2,01O names. Action is
recommended in the way of increasing
the number of schools in Alaska. Prog
ress is noted in the educational, agricul
tural and railroad development of the
Hawaiian Islands. The president in
connection with labor says:
In my annual message of Dec. D, 1898,
called attention to the necessity for
some amendment of the alien contract
law There still remain important fea
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 IL
careful attention of the congress.
Civil Service.
Inc 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 it's re-
port 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
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