Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1900-12-13

! thus delay the conferment upon them OF
the fuller measures of local self-govern-
ment, of education and of industrial and
| agricultural development which we stand
! ready to give them.
By the spring of this year the effective
opposition of the dissatisfied Tagals to
| the authority of the United States was
| virtually ended, thus opening the door
| for the extension of a stable administra-
| ton over much of the territory OF the
archipelago Desiring to bring this about,
l appointed In March last a civil com
mission composed of Hon. William II.
Taft, of Ohio; Prof. Dean c. Worcester,
OF Michigan: Hon. Luke 1. Wright. of
| Tennessee; Hon. Henry G. Ide, OF Yer
mont, and Prof. Bernard Moses, of Cali
! lornia. The aims of their mission and
the scope Of their authority are clearly
| set forth in my Instructions of April Z,
| lSOO, addressed to the secretary of war to
! be transmitted to them
Coincidentally with the entrance of the
| comm ission upon its labors | caused TO
be issued by Gen. Macarthur, the mill
| tary governor of the Philippines on June
u, 1900, proclamation of amnesty in
generous terms, Of which many of the
| insurgents took advantage, among them
number of important leaders.
This commission, composed of eminent
citiz9ns representing the diverse geo
! country, ard bringing to their task the
ripe fruits of long and intelligent service
IN educational, administrative and judi
| the outset. AS early as Aue1st 81 100,
I 1t submitted a preliminary report, which
| Will be laid before congress and from
which 1t appears that already the good
| e1ects of returning order are felt; that
| business is improving as peace extends ::
| that larger area is under sugar culti-
walton than ever before: that the customs
revenues are greater than at any tim e
during Spanish rule; that economy in the
military administration has created a
surplus fund Of S6,OO0,000, available for
needed public improvements; that a
stringent civil service law is N
ton; that railroad communications are
expanding, opening up rich districts. and
that comprehensive scheme of educa-
ton is being organized.
Later reports from the commission show
yet more encouraging advance toward
lnsuring the benefits of liberty and good
| government to the Filipinos, in the in
terest of humanity and with the aim of
building up IN enduring, self-supportirg q
and self administering community in
those far eastern seas. I would i'm press
upon congress that whatever legislation
may be enacted in respect to the Philip
pine Islands should be along these gen
erous lines. The fortune of war has
thrown upon this nation an unsought
trust which should be unselfishy dis
charged and devolves upon this govern
%nent % a moral as well as material respon-
Slp!llty toward these millions whom we
nave freed from an oppressive yoke
l. nave on another occasion called the
fliipinos the wards of the nation" Our
obligation guardian was not lightly
assumed; it must not be otherwise than
honestly fulfilled, aiming first of ali 10
benefit those who have come under our
iSSstering care. 1t is our duty to so treat
them that our flag may be no less beloved
IN the mountains of Luzon and the fer
tie zones of Mindanao and Negros tha
II Is at home, that there as here 1t shall
De the symbol of liberty, enlightenment
and progress in every avenue of deyelop-
ment.
PORTO RICO.
IEe civil government of Porto Rico
DTONlQeQ Tor by the Of
proved April u, 1900. is in successful on
Grafton; The courts have been establish
ea, Inc governor, and his associates,
working intelligently and harmoriouslv
are meeting with commendable success
On the 9TH OF November a general cleo
TIC ton WI was held in the island for members
OF the legislature and the body elected
has been called to convene on the frst
Monday of December
l recommend that legislation be enact
ed by the congress conferring unon The
secretary of the interior superyision over
the public lands in Porto Rico. and thai
ne oe directed TO ascertain the location
anu il,,. quahtity OF lands the title to which
remained in the crown of Spain at the
date of cession of Porto Rico to the Ifni-
ted States, and that appropriations nee
esSary Tor 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 can be issued for an election in Cuba
tion to frame a constitution as has
for stable and independent governD na %, S,3
IN the island. The election was held on
September 10, and the convention Assem-
session. "0" III
THE ARMY.
The present strength of the army IS
lOO0eO men-65,C0O regulars and So coo vol
unteers Under the act of March 9 1899
on June 80 next the present volunteeT
force will be discharged ard the regular
29,025 enlisted men.
We have in Cuba between 5000 and 6. .o0O
troops. For the present our troops In
ished, and certainly not until the conciu-
sion of the labors of the constitutional
convention now in session and govern
ment provided by the new consfitutio,
shall have been established and its sta
bility assured.
In Porto Rico we have reduced the gar
risons to 1855, which includes $40 native
troops. There is no room for further re-
duction here.
We will be required to keep a consider
able force in the Philippine Islands for
formation obtainable we will need there
for the immediate future from 5000 to
$4,000 men. / am sure the number may
be reduced, as the insurgents shall
acknowledge the authority of the United
States of which there are assuring ndi-
cations.
1t must be apparent that we will re-
quire an army of about 6OOOO, and that
during present conditions in Cuoa ard
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 native troops in the Philippines
up to $1,000. 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 in
surrection in the Philippines and the re-
cent disturbance in China.
A very satisfactory settlement has beer
made of the long pending question of the
manufacture of armor plate. A reason
able price has been secured and the me-
cessity for a government armor plant
avoided.
/ approve of the recommendations of
the secretary for new vessels and for ad-
ditional officers and men which the re-
quired increase of the navy makes neces-
Sary.
THE POSTAL SERVICE.
The rapid growth of the postal service
is sure index of the great business ac-
tiVity of the country. Its most striking
new development is the extension of the
rural free delivery. This has come al
most wholly within the last year. At the
beginning of the fiscal year 1S99-t900 the
number of routes in operation was only
391, and most of these had been running
less than u months. On November I5