Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1900-12-07

reach. connection with the systems OF
the Asiatic coast would open increased
and profitable opportunities for more
direct cable route from our shores S to the
Atlantic, continental and trans-Asian
lines. l urge attention to this important
matter
AN ARMY OF 10000 MEN.
The personal strength of the army is
100, 900 men-65. 900 regulars and $500 vol
unteers. Under the act of March 2. 1899,
on. the 3Oth of June next the personal
volunteer force will be discharged and
the regular army will be. reduced to q
~ officers, and 29O25 enlisted men,: In
1883 a board of officers convened by Pres
ident Cleveland adopted a comprehensive
scheme of coast defense Notifications
over s10O.0000O0. The plan received the
approval of the congress and since then
regular appropriations have been made
and the work of fertilization has steadily
progressed. More than $50, 900, 600 have been
invested In a great number of forts and
guns, with all the complicated and sci
necessary for their use. The proper care
Of this defensive machinery requires men
trained in its use. The number of men
necessary TO perform this duty alone Is
minimum allowance to be 1920. There
are IS or more military posts in the Unit
ed States other than the coast defense
Notifications. The number of these posts
is being constantly increased by con-
gress. More than 500, 900 900 have been ex-
pended In building and equipment, and
they can only be cared for by the regular
others to be built provide for accommo-
dations for, and II fully garrisoned. re-
quire 10000 troops. Many of these posts
strategic points. the occupation of which
5000 and 5000 troops For the present
our troops In that island cannot be with
drawn or materially diminished. and GER
tainy not until the conclusion of the la
bors of the constitutional convention now
in session and a government provided by
the new constitution shall have been es-
tablished and its stability assured.
In Porto Rico we have reduced the gar
risons to 1,636. which include S96 native
duction here. We will be required to keep
a considerable force In the Philippine Is
lands for some time to come. From the
hest information obtainable we shall need
900 to 10000 men. | am sure the number
may be reduced rs the Insurgents shall
come to acknowledge the authority of the
United States. OF which there are as
surfing indications. 1t must be apparent
that we will REQUIRE an army of about
5000 and that during nresent conditions
in Cuba and the Philippines the president
should have authority to increase the
force TO the present number of 100 600 men.
Included in this number authority should
he given to raise native o troops In r., ne se
commission believes will be more effective
in detecting and suppressing guerrillas.
assassirs and lad~ones than orr own SOL
diers. The full discussion of this subject
by the secretary of war In his annual re-
port is called to your earnest attention.
HONOR MEDALS FOR VOLUNTEERS.
I renew the recommends ton made in
my last annual message that the con-
gress provide special medal of honor
for the volunteers. regulars sailors and
marines on duty in the Philipn'res who
voluntarily remained in the service aftor
their terms of enlistment had expired.
favor the recommendation of the sec
rotary of war for the detail of officers
from the line of the army when vacan-
cies occur in the adiutant generals de-
nartment insDector generals department.
urnrterma ster generals department slth-
sstence department. paw denartment.
ordnance department and signal corps.
The army cannot ha too highly cow
mended for its faithful and effective serv-
field and the difficult work of civil ad-
ministration.
RURAL FREE DELIVERY OF MAIL.
The continued and rapid growth of the
postal service Is sure index of the great
and increasing business activity of the
country. Its most striking new develop
ment is the extension of rural free de-
livery. This has come almost wholly
within the last year. At the beginning
of the fiscal year 1S99-19oO the number of
routes in operation was only 391. and most
of these had been running less. than y
months. On the 18th of November. 1900.
the number had increased to 2,6l4. reach
ing into A states and territories and
serving a. population of 1.sO1.594 The
number of applications now pending and
awaiting action nearly equals all those
the close of the current fiscal year about
1000 routes will have been established.
providing for the daily delivery OF mails
at the scattered homes of about $500. 900
liorates the isolation of farm life, con-
duces to good roads and uuickens and OK
tends the dissemination of general infor-
nation. Experience thus far has tended
to allay the apprehension that it would
he so expensive as to forbid its general
adoption or make II n serious burden.
Increases postal receipts and can be ac-
by reductions In other branch
es of the service. so that the augmented
revenues and the accomplished savings
together materially reduce the net cost.
The evidences w''oh point TO these con-
illusions are presented In detail In the
annual rnnort of the postr,a ster general
which, with its recommendations. is rec
70 the considera ton Of tho
congress. The full development of this
special service, however. requires such q
undertaken only after a careful study and
'h"-o""h understanding of all that 1t
Involves.
NEEDS OF THE NAVY.
Very efficient service has been rendered
by the navy in connection with the in
in the Philippines and the re-
cent disturbances in China. A very. sat.
settlement has been made of
The long pending question of the manu-
lacture of armor plate. reasonable
price has been secured and the necessity
for government armor plant avoided.
approve the recommendations OF the
secretary of the navy for new vessels
md for additional officers and men which
he required increase of the navy makes
| commend to the favorable
action OF the congress the measure now
pending for the erection of a statue to
he memory of the late David d. Porter.
commend also the establishment of a
naval reserve and of the grade of vice
admiral Provision should be made. as
recommended by the secretary. for suit
able rewards for special merit, Many
officers who rendered the most distin-
guished service during the recent war
with Spain have received In return no
recognition from the congress.
AREA OF PUBLIC LANDS.
The total area of public lands as given
)y the secretary of the interior is ap
1,01l ISL, 662 acres, of which
a. 49, 1872 acres have been reserved for
,arious purposes. The public lands dis
posed of during the year amount to 49,
SO, SS7.96 acres. including 81, i23.09 acres
If Indian lands, an increase of 4,21, 50
,ver the preceding year The total re-
,eipts from the sale of public lands dur
ng the fiscal year were S4.379, 1910, an