Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1900-12-13
OTHER POINTS OF MESSAGE.
Hawaii, Civil Service and the washing
ton Centennial.
OUR MILITARY CONDITION.

oUh MILL LAM SoNDlItON.
The present strength of the army IL 100 900
men-65, 600 regulars and 80. 900 volunteers. In
der the act of Mach 2, 1899, on June 80 next
the present volunteer force win be discharg
ed and the regular army will be reduced to o.
Az officers and 29,025 enlisted men,
In 1883 board Of officers convened by Presi-
dent Cleveland adopted a comprehensive scheme
of coast defense fortifcations, which involved
the outlay of something over hundred mil
Lon dollars This plant received the approval
Of the congress, and since then regular appro-
priatons have been made and the work of for
titication has steadily progressed.
More than sec, 100000 have been invested In
a great number Of forts and guns, with all
the complicated and scientific machinery and
electrical appliances necessary for their use.
The proper care Of this defensive machinery
requires men trained In its use. The number
Of men necessary to perform this duty alone
Is ascertained by the War Department at q
minimum allowance to be Il, 420. There are
ffty-eight or more military posts In the Unit
ed States other than the coast defense fOrtif-
cations. The number Of these posts Ia being
cOnstantly increased by the congress. More
than 900 have been expended In build
ing and equipment, and they can only be cared
existence and others to be built provide for
accommodations for and II fully gauisoned
require $4,000 troops. Many OF these posts
along our frontier at important strategic
points, the occupation of which Ia necessary.
We have In Cuba between 5000 and 5000
troops. For the present our troops In that
n,inlshed, and certainly not until the conclu-
sion of the labors of the constitutional conven-
ton now in session and government provided
by the new constitution shall have been estab-
lished and Its stability assured.
In Porto Rico we have reduced the garrisons
to 1886, which includes S96 native troops There
is no room for further reduction here. We
will be required to keep u considerable force
In the Philippine Islands for some time to come.
From the best information obtainable We shall
need there for the immediate future from
$4,000 to 10000 men. ] am sure the number
may be reduced the insurgents shall come
to acknowledge the authority of the United
States. Of which there are assuring indica-
lions.
1t must be apparent that we will require an
army Of about 10000, and that during present
conditions in Cuba and the Philippines the
President should have authority to increase
:hc force to the present number Of 1000. In
chided In this number authority should be
given to raise native troops in the Philip
pines up to 5000. which the Taft commission
believes will be more effective In detecting
and suppressing guerrillas, assassins and la
drones than our own soldiers. The full discus
sion Of this subject by the Secretary Of War
in his annual report is called to your earnest
attention
I renew the recomme nda lions made in my
last annual message that the congress provide
a 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.
favor the recommendation OF tho Secretary
OF War Tor the detail of officers from the
line Of the army when vacancies occur In tho
adjutant generals department. Inspector gen.
erals department quartermaster generals de-
tment. subsistence department, pay depart
ment, ordnance department. and signal corps.
The army cannot be too highly commended
for its faithful and effective service In active
military operations in the field and the difficult
work OF civil administration.
POSTAL SERVICE GROWS.
The continued and rapid growth Of the pos
tai service Is index Of the great and
increasing business activity Of the country. Its
most striking new development ia the exten
sion Of rural free delivery. This has come
almost wholly within the last year. At the
beginning OF the fiscal year lS99-l9oo the mum
Der Of routes In operation WAS only 3Sl, and
most OF these had been running less than twelve
months. On the 18th OF November, 1900, the
number had increased to ASIA, reaching into
forty-four states and territories and serving
a population of 1901 .52i. The number Of APP
plea tons now pending and awaiting action
nearly equals all those granted up 10 the pres
ent time, and by the close OF the current fiscal
year about 1000 routes will have been estab
lished providing for the daily delivery OF mall
AT the scattered homes Of about $500 Of rura
population
This service ameliorates the isolation OF farm
l;fe. conduces to good roads and qnickeDs AM
extends the dissemination of general nforma
tion. Experience thus far has tended to allay
the apprehension that would DO - sxDsn