The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-12-04

at each stopping place shall touch on
American territory, so that the system
shall be under our own complete control.
Manila once within telegraphic reach,
connection with the systems of the Asiat-
ic coast would open increased and profit
able opportunities for a more direct ca
BILE route from our shores to the Orient
than is now afforded by the trans ATTAIN
tic, continental and rans-Asian lines |
urge attention TO this important matter
A LARGE ARMY WANTED.
The present strength of the army is
100, 900 meil-65 900 regulars and $4,000
volunteers Under the act of March 2
1899, on the Goth of June next the present
volunteer force will be discharged and
the regular army will be reduced to
2,447 officers and 29025 enlisted men.
In 1888 board of officers convened by
President Cleveland adopted compre-
hensive scheme of coast defense forti1-
cations, which involved the outlay of
something over one hundred million dol
lars. This plan receivd the approval
of the Congress, and since then regular
appropriations have been made and the
work of fertilization has steadily pro-
crossed.
been invested in great number of forts
and guns, with all the complicated and
scientific machinery and electrical appli-
ances necessary for their use. The prop
err care of this defensive machinery re-
quires men trained in it's use. The num-
Der of men necessary to perform this duty
alone is ascertaned by the War De-
partment, at minimum allowance, to be
1920.
There are fifty-eight or more military
posts in the United States other than
the coast defense Notifications.
The number of these posts is being con-
stantly increased by the Congress- More
than S22 900, 900 have been expended in
building and equipment, and they can
only be cared for by the regular army.
The posts now in existence and others to
be built provide for accommodations for,
and if fully garrisoned require. $4,000
troops Many of these posts are along our
frontier or at important strategic points,
the occupation of which is necessary.
We have in Cuba between 5000 and g.,
600 troops. For the present our troops in
that island can not be withdrawn or ma
terally diminished and certainly not I'M
til the conclusion of the labors of the
and government provided by the new
constitution shall have been established
and its stability assured.
In Porto Rico we have reduced the gar
rison to 1886 which includes $40 native
troops. There IS no room for further re-
duction here.
As, 900 TO 10000 NEEDED IN PHILIP
PINES.
We will be required to keep consid-
cradle force in the Philippine Islands for
some time to come. From the best in
formation obtainable we will need there
for the immediate future from $4,000 to
so, 900 men. / am sure the number may
be reduced as the insurgents shall come
to acknowledge the authority of the
United States. of which there are assur-
| ing indications.
| 1t must be apparent that we will re-
| quire an army of about 6O,OO0 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 to
raise native troops in the Philippines up
| to $4,000, which the Taft Commission be-
and suppressing guerrillas, assassins, and
| ladrones than our own soldiers.
| The full discussion of this subject by
| the Secretary of War in his Annual Re-
port is called to your earnest attention
| l renew the recommendation made in
my last Annual Message that the Con-
| gress provide special medal of honor
for the volunteers, regulars sailors, and
y1,o
voluntarily remained in the service after
| their terms of enlistment had expired.
| | 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 acknowledgements Depart
ment, Inspector Generals Department
| Quartermaster's Department, Subsist-
ence Department, Pay Department, Ord
nance Department, and Signal Corps.
| The army can not be too highly COM
mended for its faithful and effective SER
vice in active military operations in the
| field and the difficult work of civil admin
| istration.
THE POSTAL SERVICE.
| The continued and rapid growth of the
| postal service is sure index of the great
| and increasing business activity of the
country. Its most striking new develop
ment is the extension of rural free de-
| livery. This has come almost wholly
within the last wear. At the beginning
of the fiscal year 1S99-1900 the number
of routes in operation was only 391, and
most Of these had been running less than
| twelve months On the 18th of November,
| 1900. the number had increased to 2,614,
| reaching into forty four States and Terri
cries, and serving population of 1901
| 524. The number of applications now
pending and awaiting action nearly equals
| all these granted up to the present time,
! and by the close of the current fiscal year
| about 1000 routes will have been estab-
| lished, providing for the daily delivery of
mails at the scattered homes of about
three and a half millions of rural popula-
| ton.
This service ameliorates the isolation
of farm life. conduces to good roads, and