Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-09-10

&WO1 lA4aAl 10 G<<&0A VI
the payment for his labor In depreci-
ated currency. For labor. short day
Is better than short dollar; one will
tighten the burdens, the other lessons
the rewards of toll. The one will pro-
mote contentment and independence.
the other penury and want. The wages
of labor should be adequate to keep
the home in comfort. educate the chill
dren, and, with thrift and economy,
lay something by for the days OF in
trinity and old age.
Joke.
Practical civil service reform has al
ways had the support and encourage
ment of the Republican party. The
future OF the merit system is safe in It's
hands.
During the present administration,
as occasions have arisen for modiiica-
tor. or amendment in the existing civil.
service laws and rules they have been
made. important amendments were
promulgated by executive order unaer
date OF May 20, 1899, having for their
principal purpose the exception from
competitive examination OF certain
places involving fiduciary responsible
ties or duties OF strictly confidential,
scientific or executive character, which
il was thought might better be filled
either by homeopathic examlna-
ton or by other tests OF fitness IN the
discretion of the appointing offlcer IL
is gratifying that the experience OF
more than a year has yindlcated these
changes, in the marked Improvement
OF the public service.
The merit system, as far as practical
Bile, is made the basis for appointments
to Office in our new territory.
4 Fnise statement.
We hold Porto Rico by the same title
as the Philippines The treaty Of peace
which ceded us the one conveyed to us
the other. Congress mas given TO this
island a government in which the IN
habitants participate, elect their own
legislature, enact their own local laws,
provide their own system OF taxation,
and in these respects have the same
power and privileges enjoyed by other
territories belonging to the United
States, and a much larger measure OF
self government than Was given to the
inhabitants OF Louisiana under JeIfer-
SON. A district court or the United
States for Porto Rico has been estab-
hshed and local courts have been in
augurated, all of which are IN opera
ton. The generous treatment OF the
Porto Ricans accords with the most
liberal thought of our country and
encourages the best aspirations of the
people of the island. While they do
10 aIaial inter-
course with the United States, Con-
gress complied with my recommenda-
ton by removing, on the first day or
May last, So per cent. OF the duties and
providing for the removal OF the re-
naming Is per cent. on the first or
March. 1902, or earlier If the Legislature
of Porto Rico shall provide local reve-
nues for the expenses of conducting
the government. During this inter-
eediate period Porto Rican products
coming into the United States pay
tariff of IS per cent. of the rates under
the Dingley act, and our goods going
to Porto Rico pay like rate. The
duties thus paid and collected both in
Porto Rico and the United States are
paid to the government of Porto Rico,
and no part thereof is taken by the ma
tional government All of the duties
from November l, 1898, to June 80, 1900,
agsregating the sum OF S2,2o0, o23-2I,
paid ct the custom houses in the United
States upon Porto Rican products.
under the laws existing prior to the
above mentioned act of Congress, have
gone into the treasury of Porto Rico
to relieve the destitute and for schools
and other public purposes. In addition
to this. we have expended for relief,
education and improvement. Of roads
the sum of S1,513,0S4.95. The United
States military force in the island has
been reduced from 1000 to 1900, and
native Porto Ricans constitute for the
most part the local constabulary.
Under the new law and the inaug-
uration of civil government there has
been a gratifying revival of business.
The manufactures of Porto Rico are
developing; her imports are increasing;
her tariff is yielding increased returns;
her fields are being cultivated; free
schools are being established. Not
withStanding the many embaTrass-
ments incident TO a change Of national
conditions, she is rapidly showing the
good effects Of her new relations TO
this nation.
No Alliance.
Nobody who will avail himself of the
facts will longer hold that there was
any alliance between our soldiers and
the insurgents, or that any promise of
independence was made to them. Long
before their leader had reached Ma
Mia they had resolved if the command
er of the American navy would give
them arms with which TO fight the
Spanish army, they would later turn
upon us, which they did murderously
and without the sh2dow of cause or
justification. There may be those
without the means of full information,
who believe that we were in alliance
with the insurgents and that we as
sured them that they should have in
dependence. To such let me repeat the
facts: On the Goth of May, 1898, Ad-
miral Dewey was instructed by me to
make no alliance With any party or
faction in the Philippines that would
incur liability TO maintain their cause
in the future, and he replied under date
of June s, 1898, Have acted according
to spirit of departments Instructions
from the beginning, and have entered
into no alliance with the insurgents or
with any faction. This squadron can
reduce tha defeuees ef NapfI, az any