Evening journal., 1900-12-03

Oil the uln OF NuNelubtl rthtidA tit'-
zion was held in the island Tor members
of the legislature, and the body elected
has been called 10 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
tile 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 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 25th of July. 1900, / directed
that a call be issued for an election in
! Cuba for members of a constitutional
convention to frame a constitution as
basis for a stable and Independent gov
ernment in the island The election was
held ON the 9th of September. and the
convention assembled on the 9th OF No
vember. 1900, and is now in session.
When the convention concludes its la
bors. I will transmit 70 the congress the
constitution MS framed by the convention
for its consideration and for such action
u as it may deem advisable.
/ renew the recommendation made in
any special message OF Feb. 10. 1899, as
TO the necessity for cable communication
between the United States and Hawaii,
with extension 10 Manila.
The Army.
The present strength Of the army is
100 600 men-Gj.OOO regulars and $4,000
, volunteers Under the act OF March :,
, iSgg. on the 3Oth Of June next the pres
ent volunteer force will be discharged,
and the regular army will be reduced to
, 2.44T officers and 29,O25 enlisted men.
We have in Cuba between 1000 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in that island cannot be withdrawn or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
p constitutional convention now in session
and a government provided by the new
constitution shall have been established
q and its stability assured.
$ In Porto Rico we have reduced the
. gnirisons TO 1886, which includes Sf9
y native troops There is no room for fur
+ ;her reduction here.
. We will be required 10 keep consd-
O. cradle force in the Philippine Islands for
I some time TO come From the best infor-
o nation obtainabe we will need there fQl
MI the immediate future from $1,000 TO
b.
. be reduced as the insurgents shall come
d 10 acknowledge the authority of the Unit
cd States. of which there are assuring in.
s dications.
4 1t must be apparent that we will re.
q quire an army OF about G0,0O0 and that
= during present conditions in Cuba and
/ the Philippines the president should have
! authority to increase the force TO Tho
I, prosent number of 100000 Included II
N this number authority should be given tC
" raise natiye troops in the philippines NJ
II 10 10000, which the Taft lmmission be
I. lieves will be more effecti in detectinl
3 and suppressing guerrillas, assassins an'
n. ladrones than our own soldiers.
,el favor the recommendation Of the sec
dl retary OF war for the detail Of officers
,fl from the line Of the army when vacancies
b. occur in the adjutant generals depart
IA ment, inspector generals department
ld uuartermaster's department subsistence
department pay department, ordnanc
re department and signal corps.
10 The president speaks Of the rapi'
,s growth of the postal service and approve
,r the recommendations of the secretary o
A. the navy for new vessels and for NOR
10 officers and men, The pension roll show
a net increase of 2.O1O names Action
n. recommended in the way Of increasin
IN the number of schools in Alaska. Prog
Ie ross is noted in the educational, agricul
tural and railroad development Of tn
he Hawaiian Islands. The president j
To connection with labor says;
he In my annual message of Dec. .. 1873
on | called attention to the necessity 70
Nv some amendment of the alien contraC
he law. There still remain important fes
m lures of the rightful application Of th
eight hour law for the beneht OF laho
and Of the principle Of arbitration. and
-. again commend these subjects to III
~ careful attention of the congress.
~ Cfvn Service.
The civil service commission is great
M embarrassed in its work for want Of a
M ADEQUATE permanent force for clerici
~, and other assistance.
=, Its needs are fully set forth in its n
oh port. / invite attention to the report an
~, especially urge upon the congress thi
81 this important bureau of the public SER
~ ice which passes upon the qualification
m. md character OF so large a number {
'a, the officers and employees of the govern
.or ment. should be supported by all neede
.ra appropriations to secure pr0mptness an
m. efficiency.
- am very much impressed with Il
.od statement made 10y the heads of all Il
NJ departments of the urgent necessity OF
! hall of public records In every depoi
70, mental building in Washington, so far
,rel I am informed the space for official re
nd ords is not only exhausted. but the wal
ea. Of rooms are lined with shelves, the m.
die floor space Of many rooms Is ill'
on with file cases. and garrets and has
- mcnts. which were never intended m
nd are untitled for their accommodation, a
.bo crowded with them.
of In our great prosperity we must qua
mo against the danger it invites Of cxtrav
in eance in government expenditures ~
oss appropriations. and tho chosen repr
lo. sentatves Of the people will, ] doubt n,
tbs furnish an example i'm their legislation
osc that wise economy which in a season
,osl plenty husbands for the future. In III
rht era of great business activity and oppC
iis. tunity caution Is not untimcly. 1t W
,,- not abatc, hut strengthen. confidence:
on will not retard, but promote legitima
ve industrial and commercial eypsnsion.
Our growing power brings with