Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1900-12-12
REVIEW OF THE
PAST YEAR
CONTINUED from First Page.

sion over the public lands In Porto
Rico and that he he directed TO ascer.
tain the lOcation aud quantity OF
lands the title TO which remained In
the crown Of Spain Mt the date Of the
cession Of Porto Rico to the United
States, and that appropriations for
surveys be made and the method OF
disposition Of such lands be prescrib-
cd by law"
Cuba, also comes in for a good
share Of attention, the present condi-
ton Of the island Is fully explained.
The president renews hisrccOmmend-
alton in the special message Of Feb
ruary 10, 1900, relative to The necrs-
sity OF constructing n cable between
the GATED States and Hawaii, with
an extension To Manila. Since then,
he says, circumstances have striking
~ emphasized this need.
As To the matter Of the army and
the proposed mere So, the president
calls attention Ia the fact that June
80, next, 5000 volunteers will have
tn be discharged and that the regular
force will be reduced to 2,4I7 officers
and 29,02j enlisted men and says that
the soldiers In Cuba and Porto Rico
have been reduced in number by the
withdrawalof forces from time to
time until no further reduction Gun
be mnde. He says further ms follows:
1--WE will be required 10 keep n con-
siderable force In the Philippine
Islands for some time tocome. From
the best information obtainable we
shall therefore need in the immediate
future from $4,000 - $4,000 men. ]
am sure the number may be reduced
ms the insurgents shall come to ac-
knowledge the authority of the
United States, OF which there are
assuring Indications. 1t must be
apparent that we will require an
army OF $4,000 and that during pres
ent conditions in Cuba and the Phil
ippines the president should have
authority to increase the force To the
present number OF 100, 600. Included
in this number authority should be
given to raise native troops in the
Philippines up to 1000, which the
Taft commission believe will be more
effective in lettering and suppressing
guerillas, assassins and ladrones than
our own soldiers. Thefull discussion
OF this subject by the secretary OF war
In his annual report Is called to your
earnest attention.
An appeal is made for liberal ap-
preparations for the postal service
and attention Is called To the extern
sion OF rural free delivery and its
benpiicent results. Praiscis bestowed
upon the heads ofthe various depart.
mCnts for their efficient and faithful
service and approval is given to diff
icrcnt recommendations made by the
secretaries in their annual reports.
The alien contract law il touched
upon and the necessity fUrits amend
ment is emphasized and that there
still remain important features of the
eight-hour law for the benefit oflabor
and principle Of arbitration, and the
president again commends e sub
jects to the careful attention Of con-
Ercss.
In conclusion the president says:
"In u great prosperity we must
guard against the dangers it invites
in extravaganza in government eX-
penGitures and appropriations and
the chosen representatives OF The peo-
pie viii, | doubt not, furnish an eX-
ample in their legislation ofthGt wise
economy which in n season vi plenty
husbands for the future. In this era
of great business activity and uppOr-
tunity caution is not untlmely. 1t
will not abate but strengthen our
confidence. 1t will not rctarl but
promote legitimate industrial aud
expansion. Our grow
Ing powe: brings with 1t temptations
of perils requiring constant vigilance
to avoid. 1t must not he used to In
wife conflicts, nor for oppression, but
for the more effective maintenance OF
those principles of equality and JUS
tice upon which our institutions and
happiness depend. Let us keep al
ways in mind that the foundation,of
our government is liberty; its super
atrupturp upnrpr