Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-12-04


points, the occupation Of which is neces
sary.
! We have in Cuba between 5000 an,
5000 troops. For the present our troop,
in that Island can not be Withdrawn 81
materially diminished. and certainly MOI
until the conclusion OF the labors OF III,
! constitutional convention now in sessio,
and government provided by the new
/ constitution shall have been cstablishc,
and its stability assured.
In Porto Rico we hare reduced tho r,r
risons Ia 1856. which includes S19 natiy,
troops. There is no room Cor further 70
/ duction here.
| We will be required To Keen a consjd.
/ cradle force III the Philippine Islands TO,
1. some time to come. From the host in
| formation obtainabc we will need thor,
for the Immediate futnrc from $4,000 ia
/ 10000 men. ! am sure the number may
he reduced as the insurgents shall come f.,
| acknowledge the authority Of the Unite,
| States. Of which there are assuring indi-
cations.
| 1t must bc apparent that we will re-
| 1urc an army of about ,DWO. and
| that during present conditions in Cuba
and the Philippines the President shoul,.
| have authority 10 increase the force 4.
che present number Of IVO.U,nI Included
III this number authority should lr given
| 10 raiSc native troops IN the Philippines
M To 1J.Wn. which The Taft COMMITS
sion believe will be more effective in de-
'ectiny and Supprcssiny guerrillas. aS$aS-
sins. and ladroncS than our own soldiers.
III" full discussion If this So icct hy-
the Secretary Of War IN his .Au-~ial Re-
port Is called to your earnest attention.
renew the recommendation made in
my last Annual Message that th,. Com
grcsS provide Il special medal Of honor
for the volunteers. regulars. sailors. and
slarlncS on duty in the Philippines who
voluntarily remained in the service after
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-
cics occur III the Adjutant-t.cncral'S be-
parimcnt. uSpcttor-t;cncral'S Depart
m.nt. ouartcrniaStcr' Department Sub
SiStcncc Department.. Pay Department
oldnanc" Department. aud Signal Corps.
In" Army can not be too highly com
mcndcd for it, faithful und effective
service i'll active military operations III
the field and the difficult work uf civil
administration.
The continued and rapid growth ~ the
postal service j. 4 sure iudrA ~ The
great and Increasing business activity Of
the country. lis most striking new de-
vriopmcnt i the extension of rural free
delivery. This has come almost wholly
within The last wear. ~ The beginning
of the fiscal year lN.ri-laD the number
of routes III operation was only :;9l. and
most Of these had been running less than
twelve months On the 10Th IL NovctE-
her. 1900. the number had Increased Ia
-.Ili reaching into furty-four States and
territories. ami serving Il population Of
1.S'll..,2i. Th" number of applications
now pending and awiitin. action nearly
equals all those granted up to the present
time. and by the close Of the current
fiscal year :,bout 1000 rontcS will have
brcn established. providing for the daily
delivery Of mails az the scattered homes
Of about t.ircc and Il half millions OF
rural population.
This service ancloratc> the isolation
Of farm life. cUnduceS IL good roads AMI
'tuickCt> ana extends the dissemination
of general Information. Expcricnc" thus
far has tended IL aliay the appIrhcuSiou
that il world be ~ expensive ~ to for
bid is general adoption or make il Il
serious hurlcn. Its actual application
has shown that Il increases postal re-
ccipt>. and can br accompanied by re-
auctions in other branches Of the service.
50 that the augmented revenues and the
accomplished savings together material
ly rcduc" the net cost. The evidences
which point (" these conclusions are pro
scented III detail in the Annual Report of
the Po>tma>lcr-t, General. which with il~
recommendations j. commended "a th'
consideration of the Congress. The full
development, nf this special service. how
ever. requires such Il large outlay Of
money Than il should bc undertaken nnly
after careful study and Thorough nj
dcrStan'lin- at Ill that it involves
Very efficient service has been rendered
by the Navy in connection with the in
Sul1"ctipn i'll the Philippines aud the IL
cent disturbance IN China.
= very satisfactory settlement has been
made "f tn, !ohc-pcndiug question of the
Manufacture. Of armor plate \ rcHSoua-
lie price li;i~ been secured and the urcp~-
>itN for Il Government arMnr plant avoid
cd
| approve of the recommendations If
the Secretary for new vessels ami for
additional officers ana men which the ~
unir'ri Increase "f the Navy makes nee
c>~aty. commend L. the favorable rc-
tIon Of til" congress the measure nov.
pending frr the erection uf Il statue, Ia
tn" memory sc The LATE Admiral David
-. Porter. ! commend also the. cstah-
HShnIcut "f a national naval reserve aud
of the -radr of vicc-a,lmiraI Provision
~h"nld hc made rs recommended by thu
Secretary. Tor suitable rewards for sp,-
cial merit. Many officers who rendered
The most distinguished service during the
recent war with Spain have received il
return 10 recognition from tie Congress.
The total area az public lands lS given
10y The Secretary al the interior i ap-
proxiniatcly l.o1l ISL .'"i:,. acres. of which
~ Z. i:;,.SSU :icreS ART undSposcd of ana
1-i.I ''.,S2 acres have been reserved for
varinnS purposes. The puhlic lands dis
posed of during the year amount to b.
III. Ssh; acres. including 6o.I:2.::;.Dp
acres of Indian lands. AN increase OF
i.21t-i1I.SD over the preceding year.
The total receipts from the sale of public
lands dutrn. the fiscal year were Si.319.-
15S.lO an increase of 81 .:;G. go. Is over
the prcccdin. year