The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1900-09-21


had the support and encouragement Of the
Republican party. The future of the merit
system is safe In its hands.
During the present administration as oc-
casions have arisen for modification or
amendment In the existing civil service law
and rules. they have been made. Important
amendments were promulgated by executive
order under date of May 20, 1899, having for
their principal purpose the exception from
competitive examination Of certain places in
yolving iducIary responsibilities or duties
Of a strictly confidential, scientific or execu-
tive character, which it was thought might
better be filled by noncompetitive examina-
ton or by other tests Of fitness in the dis
cretion of the appointing officer.
Value of Merit System.
1t is gratifying that the experience of more
than a year has INDICATED these changes in
the marked improvement Of the public ser
vice.
The merit system, as far as practicable,
is made the basis for appointments to Of
fee in our new territory.
The American people are profoundly CRATE
full to the soldiers, sailors and marines who
have In every time of conflict fought their
The survivors and the widows and orphans
of those who have fallen are justly entitled
to receive the generous and cOnsiderate care
Of the nation.
Few are now left OF those who fought in
the Mexican war, and while many of the
veterans of the Civil War are still spared to
US their numbers are rapidly diminishing
and age and infrmity are increasing their de-
pendence. These, with the soldiers of the
Spanish war, will not be neglected by their
grateful countryment. The pension laws
have been liberal. They should be justly
administered, and will be. Preference
should be given to the soldiers, sailors and
marines, their widows and orphans, with
respect to employment In the public SER
vice. .
Kept Faith with Cuba.
We have been in possession of Cuba since
the first of January, 1899. We have re-
stored order and established domestic tran
quilIity. We have fed the starving, clothed
the naked, and ministered to the sick We
have improved the sanitary condition of the
island. We have stimulated industry, in
troduced public education, and taken a full
and comprehensive enumeration of the in
habitants.
The qualification of electors has been set
tied and under it officers have been chosen
for all the municipalities of Cuba These
local governments are now in operation, ad-
mnistered by the people. Our military
adjustment has been reduced from $4,000
to less than 5000.
An election has been ordered to be held on
the 18th of September under a fair election
- 49, ,;,, IoIoa
to choose members of constitutional con-
vention, and the convention, by the same
order, is to assemble on the first Monday of
November. to frame a constitution upon
which an Independent government for the
island Will rest. All this is long step in
the fulfllment of our sacred guarantees to
the people of Cuba.
Plans for Porto Rico.
We hold Porto Rico by the same title as
the Philippines. The treaty of peace which
coded us the one conveyed to US the other.
Congress has given to this island a govern
ment in which the inhabitants participate,
elect their own legislature, enact their own
local laws, provide their own system of tax
alton, ana in these respects have the same
power and privileges enjoyed by other terri
much larger measure of self-government
than was given to the inhabitants of LOuiS-
ana under jefferson. district court of the
United States for Porto Rico has been estab-
lished and local courts have been inaugur-
ated. all of which are in operation.
The generous treatment of the Porto
Ricans accords with the most liberal thought
Of our own country and encourages the best
aspirations of the people CT the island.
Whilesthe do not have instant free COM
mercial Intercourse with the United States,
Congress complied with my recommendation
by removing. on the LIST day of May last,
So per cent of the duties and providing for
the removal of the remaining - per cent
on the 1st of March. 1902. CIR earlier If the
Legislature Of Porto Rico shall provide local
revenues for the expenses of conducting the
government.
Island Is Profited.
During this intermediate period Porto
Rican products coming into the United
States pay a tariff of 10 per cent of the rates
under the Dingley act and our goods going
to Porto Rico pay like rate. The duties
thus paid and collected both in Porto Rico
and the United States are paid 10 the gov
is taken by the national government.
All of the duties from Nov. l, 1885, to June
30, 1900, aggregating the sum of $2,250.-
52321, paid at the custom houses in the
United States upon Porto Rican products,
under the laws existing prior to the above
mentioned act of Congress, have gone into
the treasury of Porto Rico to relieve the
destitute and for schools and other public
purposes. In addition to this, we have ex-
pended for relief, education and improve
ment of roads the sum of 1873, 0S4. 95.
Military Force Cut Down.
The United States military force in the
islands has been reduced from 1000 to
800. and native Porto Ricans constitute for
the most part the local constabuary.
Under the new law and the Inauguration
of civil government there has been graft
flying revival of business. The manufactures
of Porto Rico are developing: her imports
are increasing; her tariff is yielding in
creased returns; her fields are being cult
waited; free schools are being established
Notwithstanding the many embarrassments
incident to change of national conditions,
she is rapidly showing the good effects of
her new relations to this nation.
For the sake of full and intelligent under
standing of the Philippine question and to
give to the people authentic information of
the acts and aims of the administration,
present at some length the events of impor-
lance leading up to the present situation.