Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1900-12-07
THE Amy.
eecrefnry Roots Report shows 1t to
HIVE Been Kept Quite Busy
for the Paat Year.

Washington, Dec. 4.-The annual report
OF secretary Root Is of more than usual
interest owing to its wide scope and the
TACT that 1t treats of subjects of such i'm
portance as the Philippine nsurrection, the
chinese campaign, the developments in
Cuba and Porto Rico, and, finally, with the
subject of army reorganization. Some idea
OF what the army has been doing In the
Held and at home is conveyed by the sec
retary's statement that Its operations in
cluded the prosecution of the war for the
suppression of the Philippine insurrect tion
aud the establishment of a government in
the Philippines: the rescue of the foreign
ministers in Peking; the preservation and
the relief of distress In Alaska and the con-
struction of roads and telegraphs there: the
conduct of the government of Porto Rico
until May last; the conduct of the govern
ment OF Cuba; prosecution of river and
harbor works; the construction of seacoast
fortifcations; the garrisoning and main
taining of military posts and Notifications :
the discharge of about one-third OF the
army and the reenlistment of soldiers to
take their place, and the distribution of
supplies to the scattered forces.
Secretary Root says that with the exc
cution OF the military plans all formal and
open resistance to American authority in
the Philippines has terminated, leaving
only an exceedingly veSations and annoy
ing guerrilla warfare Of a character close
ly approaching brigandage, which will re-
Judgment
finally suppress.
The secretary speaks of the serious en-
barrassment caused by the defective cur
rency system In the Philippines owing TO
the fluctuating price OF Mexican dollars.
and he submits two suggestions one that
the United States coin a special dollar for
use In the Islands of the same weight and
fineness Of the Mexican dollar, which shall
take Its chance with the fuctuation of the
market. The other suggestion is that We
coin an insular dollar which we undertake
to redeem In gold at 30 cents. He inclines.
as does the secretary of the treasury. to-
ward the second course
The secretary says that the military re-
quirements In the Philippines may be
summed up as follows: For the immedi-
ate future about $1,000 men. This number
may be progressively decreased by the
gradual disappearance OF real insurrection
and the restoration of order and by the sub
stitution of native troops. costing less than
half to support. At no distant day the Is
lands themselves will be able to pay for
their own police protection. Provision
should be made, therefore. for minimum
force of $4,000, with an authorized maximum
of 100000. and with authority to use native
troops in place of American soldiers"
Touching Cuba the report says the con-
duct of affairs there during the year has
been a continuance of the process OF aiding
the Cuban people in the development of the
s''" 81 ''i'.S S'.t ia SUM- way NHat, WHen
fully organized. 1t shall be stable and eff
ficient.
In Porto Rico, where the army con-
trolled up to the 1st of May its principal
function was the Improvement OF the civil
administration.
The report treats Alaskan conditions very
briefly the main point OF interest In that
connection being the recommendation that
moderate appropriation be made for the
relief of the native Esklmos. who are af-
ficted by series of fatal epidemics and
are in danger of eNtermination.