The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-12-04
many MILLIONS WANTED
Secretary Root's Estimate of War
Department Expenses.
A Total Snm of Si:I...3.S55..3 Need
ed for the Civil and Military fss-
Establishments - Operations i'm the
Philippincs-CUbR and Porto Rico
REORGANIZATION Of the Army

The annual report OF the Secretary Of
War was made public yesterday. The docu-
ment is one of the most interesting OF all
the reports presented this year. Ii covers
every occurrence OF importance in the
army since June 90. 1899.
The estimates for the fiscal year end
ing June 80, 1892. are given, as follows:
Civil establishment, s2l39,346; military
establishment, sli3,5eS. 3l9.39; public
works. s51, .5l6a6 miscellaneous, s4,
S9i.17i. Total, s17l, LA, S55.75.
The report shows that the army at pres
ent consists of 1855 officers and es,221 en-
listed men Of the regular establishment.
and LAS officers (cf whom 2S3 are Regular
Army officers holding volunteer commits
sions) and 81 ,019 enlisted men of the vol
unteer force. making total force of 103,-
$780, consisting of 1850 officers and $4,000
enlisted men. OF these 1850 are enlisted
men OF the Hospital Corps.
Ii is then stated that the general move
ment of troops during the year has in
VOWED tie reduction of the troops in Cuba
from 334 officers and 1896 men to go
officers and 5,46S men; the reduction Of
the troops in Porto Rico from 81 officers
and 2,S55 men to So officers and 1854 men;
fcers and 49, enlisted men to II officers
and LOSS enlisted men; an increase Of
troops in the Philippine Islands from 2,051
officers and IS. 4S3 men to 2,367 officers and
Il. 121 enlisted men. and the establishment
in China of legation guard of so officers
and 2O60 men, originally forming a por-
ton of the China relief expedition.
Operations I'm the Philippines.
In concluding the statements regarding
the operations in the Philippines, Secre-
tary Root expresses the opinion that the
war there is practically at an end. He
refers 10 the suppression of bandits in the
Nisayan Islands, and continues:
with their execution all formal and
open resistance to American authority in
the Philippines terminated. leaving only
an exceedingly vexatious and annoying
guerrilla warfare Of a character closely
approaching brigandage, which will re-
Quire time patience. and good judgment
10 finally suppress. As rapidly as We have
occupied territory the policy of inviting
Inhabitants to return 10 their peaceful vo-
cations. and aiding them in the re-es;ab-
lishment of their local governments. has
been followed, and the protection of the
United States has been promised to them.
The giving of this protection has led 20
the distribution of troops in the Philip
pine Islands to over 400 different posts,
with the consequent labor of administra-
: ton and supply.
The maintenance of these posts in
wolves the continued employment Of
large force but as the Tagalogs who are
in rebellion have deliberately adopted the
policy of numbering, so far as they are
able, all of their countrymen who are
friendly to the United States, the main
tenance q garrisons is at present neces-
sary to the protection Of the peaceful and
unarmed E1lipinos who have submitted to
our authority; and If We are to discharge
our obligations in that regard their reduc-
ton must necessarily be gradual"
A dozen pages are devoted to the China
relief expedition and the important events
OF the campaign are recounted. Colonel
Liscums gallantry is highly praised.
Captain Reilly, OF Reilly's Battery. is also
praised.
A review of the establishment of civil
government in the Philippines is given in
the D0port. 1t is recommended that Con-
ES provide enough money to complete
a railroad from The Manila and Dagupan
road to the interior, a distance of 10
miles from Manila.
Currency Changes SuEEested.
The following reference is made to the
currency:
Much embarrassment has been caused
by the condition of the currency in the
islands Under Spanish control the bust
ness of the islands was transacted almost
entirely by the use of the Mexican silver
dollar CT 31..17 grains. The people of
the country practically knew no other
currency, and /: is impossible to transact
business generally with American cur
rency among people TO whom its value
is unknown. Our soldiers who receive
their pay in American currency and visa
to spend II in the islands, our quarter
masters and commissaries who wish 10
purchase supplies. and all other persons
who come into the possession of Amcri-
can money which they desire to use in
the islands, are obliged to purchase Mex
lean dollars. These are worth in the
neighborhood of so cents American mon
ey, but their price continually fuctuates
with the market price of silver
1.-TWO remedies have been suggested:
One that we should ourselves coin a dol
lar for use in the islands of the same
weight and fineness as the Mexican dol
lar, which shall be permitted equally with
that coin to take its chances with the
fuctuation of the market. but which
would relieve us from an embarrassment
caused by limited supply of coin bear
ing the Mexican stamp. Tn. other sug
gestion is that We should coin an insofar
dollar which We shall undertake TO re-
deem in gold at so cents, and which, be-
ing substantially the same in value and
appearance as the Mexican dollar, would
pass current in the islands. and would as
rapidly as il became the medium Of ex-
change bring the islands to gold basis.
This matter has been subject of much
correspondence and conference, and the
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