The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1900-12-12

over $lOO,c00,O00. This plan received the
approval OF the congress and since then
regular appropriations have been made
and the work Of fortifying has steadily
progressed
More than 0,000, 900 have been invest
ed in great number of forts and guns,
with all the complicated and scientific
| machinery and electrical appliances neces-
sary for their use. The proper care of this
defensive machinery requires men trained
in it's use. The number of men necessary
TO perform this duty alone is ascertained
by the War department at minimum al
lowance to be 8,420.
Ihere are fifty-eight or more military
posts in the United States other than the
coast defense Notifications.
Discretion of the President.
1t must be apparent that we will require
an army OF about 60 900 and that during
present conditions in Cuba and the Phil
,pplnes the president should have author
1ty to increase the present number to
100000. Included in this number author
1ty should be given to raise native troops
in the Philippines up to IL, 000 which the
Taft commission believe will be more
effective in detecting and suppressing
guerrillas, assassins and ladrones than our
own soldiers.
The full discussion of this subject by the
secretary of war in his annual report is
called to your earnest attention.
The Navy.
Very efficient service has been rendered
by the navy in connection with the insur-
rection in the Philippines and the recent
disturbance in China.
very satisfactory settlement has been
made Of the long pending question of the
manufacture of armor plate A reasona-
BILE price has been secured and the neces-
sity for government ar1nor plant avoided.
Public Lands.
The total area of public lands as given
ny the secretary of the interior is approx
1mately 1,071, 1881, 662 acres, Of which 917,-
800, $50 acres are undisposed of and 1884,,
I4o,7S2 acres have been reserved for va
rious purposes. The public lands disposed
OF during the year amount to 13, 453, 1916
acres, including 62,42309 acres of Indian
lands, an increase of 4,271, 474.80 over the
preceding year. The total receipts from
the sale of public lands during the fiscal
year were $3.50, $3.50, an increase of
$1,S09,6 2O.76 over the preceding year.
Pension Roll.
At the end of the fiscal year there were
on the pension roll 993, 225 names. a. net
increase of 2,010 over the fiscal year, 1899
The number added to the rolls during the
year was 1884. The amount disbursed
for army pensions during the year was
134,70O, 1924, and for navy, pensions 3d.
ISL, 533.41. a total of $13S, ASP, 1906, ileav-
ing an unexpended balance of $5,542, 76S. 25
to be covered into the treasury, which
shows an Increase over the previous
years expenditure of $107, 077.7O There
were 684 names added to the rolls during
the year by special acts passed at the
first session of the Fifty-siXth congress.
The act of May, 1900, among other
things provides for an extension Of in
come to widows pensioned under said act
to $3.50 per annum. The secretary of the
interior believes that by the operations of
this act the number Of persons pensioned
under it will increase and the increased
annual payment for pensions will be be-
tween 100000 and $4,000,000
The government justly appreciates the
services of it's soldiers and sailors by
making pension payments liberal beyond
precendent to them, their widows and or
pbans
There were 26,540 letters patent grant
ed, including reissues and designs during
the fiscal year ended June 30, 1900; 1850
trademarks, 6S2 labels and SO prints reg
istered. The nrElber of patents which
expired was 1888. The total receipts
for patents were S1,358, 228.35 The ex-
penditures were 81, 247, S27.58, showing a
surplus of $110, 400.77.
The attention OF the congress is called
to the report Of the secretary OF the in
terror touching the necessity for the fur
Their establishment of schools in the terri
tory of Alaska and favorable action is in
vited thereon.
Advancement of Agriculture.
The Department of Agriculture has been
extending it's work during the past year,
reaching further for new varieties OF seeds
and plants; cooperating more fully with
the states and territories in research along
useful uines; making progress in meteoro-
logical work relating to the lines of wire
less telegraphy and forecasts for ocean
going vessels, continuing inquiry as to
animal disease; looking into the extent
and character Of food adulteratiOn; out
lining plans for the care, preservation
and intelligent harvesting Of our wood
lands; studying soils that producers cul-
tivate with better knowledge Of conditions
and helping to clothe desert places with
grasses suitable to our arid regions. Our
island possessions are being considered
that their peoples may be helped to pro-
duce the tropical products now SO extern
sively brought into the United States.
Labor. Laws.
In nv annual message of Dec. S, 1898.
I called attention to the necessity for some
amendment of the Alien Contract Labor
law. There still remain important fea-
lures of the rightful application OF the
eight hour law for the benefit Of labor
ana or the prlnC1plo Oh arD1CTdLlOH anu
again commend these subjects to the care
full attention Of the congress.
Civil Service.
That there may be secured the best serv-
ice possible in the Philippine islands l
have issued, under date Of Nov. 10, 1900,
the following order:
''The United States Civil Service COM
mission is directed to render such assist
ance as may be practicable to the civil
Service board created under the act OF
the United States Philippine commission
for the establishment and maintenance Of
an honest and efficient civil service in the
Philippine islands and for that purpose to
conduct examinations for the civil service
of the Philippine islands upon the request
of the Civil Service board of said islands,
under such regulations as may be agreed
upon by the said board and the said
United States Civil Service commission.
''The Civil Service commission is great
ly embarrassed in it's work for want OF
an adequate permanent force for clerical
and other assistance. It's needs are fully
set forth in its report. invite attention
to the report and especially urge upon
the congress that this important bureau
of the public service which passes upon
&ho Qualifications and chara nf so large