Waterbury Democrat., 1900-12-03


 CT care of this defensive machinery re auires men trained in its use. The num- Der of men necessary to perform this | duty alone is ascertained by the War De l partment, at a minimum allowance, to be | 1S,420.
 There are fifty-eight or more military | posts in the United States other than the coast defense Qualifications. .5
 The number of these pests is being con- | stantly increased by the Congress. More | than S22, ,000, GOO have been expended ill building and equipment, and they can | orly be cared for by the Regular Army. l The posts now in existence and others to | be built provide for accommodations for,
 and if fully garrisoned require. 26,O00 | troops. Many of these posts arc along l our frontier or at important strategic
 points, the occupation of which is ncces-
 sary.
 We have in Cuba between 5000 and
 5000 troops. For the present our troops 1 in that island can not be withdrawn or materially diminished, and certainly not
 until the conclusion of the labors of tho
 constitutional convention now in session
 and q government provided by the
 constitution shall have been established
 and it's stability assured.
 In Porto Rico we have reduced the gar
 risons to ,G3G. which includes S19 native
 troops There is no room for further re- duction here.
 We will be required to keep consid- erable force in the Philippine Islands for
 some time to come. From the best in | formation obtainable will need there
 for the immediate future from 45,00O to
 60 GOO men. 1 am sure the number may
 be reduced as the insurgents shall come to
 acknowledge the authority of the United
 States, of which there are assuring indi- 1 cations.
 It must be apparent that we will re-
 quire an army of about G0,00O, 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 >atiye troops in the Philippines
 up to 15.O0J winch the Taft Commis-
 sion believe will be more effective in de-
 tecting and suppressing guerrillas. assas-
 sins, and ladronCs 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 maue in
 my last Annual Message that the Con-
 gross provide d special medal of honor
 for the volunteers, regulars. sailors, and,
 marines on duty in the Philippines who
 voluntarily remained in the service after
 their terms of enlistment had expired I favor the recommendation of the Sec retary of War for the detail of officers
 from the line of the Army when vacan- cics occur in the Adjutant- Generals De partmcnt, In$pector-General's Depart meHt, Quartermaster's Department, Sub
 siStence Depa. tmCnt, Pay Department, ! Ordnance Department. and Signal Corps.
 The Army can not be tno highly com mended for it's faithful and effective service in active military operations in . the field and the difficult work of civil administration.
 The continued and rapid growth of the f postal service is q sure index of the great and increasing business activity of l the country. It's most striking new de
 veiopmcnt is the extension of rural free delivery. This has come almost wholly : within the last year. At tA2 beginning of the fiscal year 1S9o-190O the number
 of routes in operation was only 23l, and ] most of these had been running less than
 twelve months. On the 10th of NovcIl , ber 1900, the number had increased tc l 2,G14. reaching into forty-four States and , Territories, and serving a population ot
 1,S01 ,02f. The number of applications now pending and awaiting action nearly
 equals all those granted up to the present ) time. and by the close Of the current fiscal year about 4,00O routes will have
 been established. providing for the daily  Of about three and d half millions ot $ rural population.
 l This service amcioratcs the isolation $ of farm life. conduces to good roads, and Q Quickcns and extends the dissemination Q of general Information. Experience thus : far has tended to allay the apprehen sion
 that it would be so expensive as to for r bid it's general adoption or make it ] , serious burden. Its actual application hos S,l,n h,t ;t al , ceipts, and can be accompanied by re : ductions in other branches of the service I so that the augmented revenues and tho n accomplished savings together material t ly reduce the net cost The evid ances
 which point to these conclusions are pre- T scented i'll detail in the Annual Report ot F. the Postmaster-General which with its + recommendations is commended to the = consideration of the Congress. The ful e development of this special service. how t ever, requires such a large outlay ot l. money that it should be undertaken only
 after careful study and thorough un h dcrstanding of all that it involves. II Very efficient service has been rendered e by tbe Navy ill connection with tEc i'll @ surrection ill the Philippines and the TO q cent disturbance in China.
 A very satisfactory settlement has beer l. made of the Incorporating question of ths c manufacture of arm0r plate. A reasona n ble price has been secured and the neccS n sity for a Government armor plant avoid
 ed.
 Il l approve of the recommend ations O. j. the Secretary for new vessels and fo l. additional officers and Elon which the re y quired increase of the Navy makes nee |. essary. 1 commend to the favorable ac y ton of the Congress the measure now t pending for the erection of q statue [. II the memory of the late Admiral Davi, Il D. Porter l commend also the estab t lishinent of a national naval reserve anC t of the grade of yice-admiral. Provision ' should be made, as recommended by th U Secretary, for suitable rewards for spe u cial merit. Many officers who renderc, T the most distinguished service during tE recent war with Spain have received il return no recognition from the Congress The total area of public lands as giveI
 by the Secretary of the Interior is ap $ proyimately 1,O11 ,SS1 ,662 acres. of whicl SIT ,135, ,SS0 acres are undisposed of ant ? 154. .7i5, 1S2 acres have been reserved fo ,, various purposes. The public lands dis posed of during the year amount to 13, U 453, ,SSI.96 acres, including 62, 423. 0! acres of Indian lands, an increase o