The Yale expositor., 1900-12-07
Our Wards.

| Our Wards.
| have on another occasion called the
| Filipinos "the wards of the nation." OuI
! obligation as guardian was not lightly
assumed; 1t must not be otherwise than
| honestly fulfilled, aiming first of an ia
| benefit those who have come under our
| fostering care 1t is our duty so to treat
them that our flag may be no less beloved
In the mountains of LuZon and the fertile
zones of Ahndanao and Negroes than 1t Is
at home. that there here II shall be
the revered symbol OF liberty. enlishten
ment and progress in every aveHue oil
development.
Porto Rico.
recommend that legislation be enacted
by the congress comforting upon the Sec
rotary OF the interior supervision ovel
he be directed TO ascertain the location
and quantity of lands tho title To which
remained IN the crown Of Spain at the
United States. and that appropriations
necessary for surveys be made. and thai
the methods of the disposition OF such
lands be prescribed by law.
Cubn's M lection.
On the 2sth Of July, 1900. directed that
call be issued for an election in Cuba
for members of n constitutional conven-
ton to frame constitution as basis fof
a stable and independent government in
the Island The election was held on tina
18th OF September and the convention
assembled on the 9Th Of November, 1890,
Pacific Cable.
l renew the recommendation made In
my special message of February 10, 1899,
as to the necessity for cable communca.
ton between the United States and Ha-
wall. with extension to Manila. Since
then circumstances have strikingly en-
phasized this need. Surveys have shown
the entire feasibility of a chain of cables
which at each stopping place shall touch
on American territory, so that the sys-
tenn shall be under our own complete con
reach, connection with the systems of this
Asiatic coast would open increased and
profitable opportunities for more direct
cable route from our shores to the Orient
than Is now afforded by the trans Allan
tic, Continental and trans-Asian lines. ]
urge attention to this important matter.
The Army.
The present strength of the army Is
lOO,Ooo men--65,O 900 regulars and 80 900 vol.
unteers. Under the act of March . 1899
on the S0th of June the present volunteer
force will be discharged and the regular
20 25 enlisted men.
We will be required to keep a consider
able force in the Philippine islands for
some time to come. From the best infor.
nation obtainable, we Will need there foI
the immediate. future from 1000 to 600W
men. l am sure tho number may be
duced as the Insurgents shall come to
acknowledge the authority of the United
states, OF which there are assuring indi.
cations.
an army of about 10000 and that during
present conditions in Cuba and the Philip.
pines the president should have authority
TO increase the force to the present mum.
Der of 100000 Included in this number
authority should be given to raise native
troops in the Philippines up to 10000
which the Taft commission believe will be
more effective in detecting and suppress.
ing guerillas. assassins and Ladrones than
our own soldiers
l renew the recommendation made in my
last annual message that the congress-
provide special medal of honor for the
volunteers, regulars. sailors and marines
on duty in tho Philippines who volun.
tarily remained in the service after their
terms of enlistment had expired.
The Navy.
Very efficient service has been rendered
by the navy in connection with the insur-
rection in the Philippines and the recent
disturbance in China.
very satisfactory settlement has been
made Of the long-pcnding question of the
manufacture of armor plate. a reason
able price has been secured and the ne
cesSity for Il government armor plant
avoided.
l approve of the recommendations of the
secretary for new vessels and for addi-
tional officers and men which the required
increase of the navy makes necessary:
Pensions.
At the end of the fiscal year there vera
on the pension roll 99352o names net in
crease of 2,010 over the fiscal year 1899.
The number added TO the rolls during the
year was 1884. The amount dSbursCd for
army pensions during the year was $lSi.-
7GO.597 "a and for navy pensions S376l, 1913 IA,
a total of s13S, 462 1870 65 leaving an unex.
pended balance of $5,5i2,76S 25 to be covered
into the treasury, which shows an Increase
over the previous years expenditure OF
SlN OF 20. There were 6S4 names added to
the rolls during the year by special acts
passed at the first session of the fifty
sixth congress
The act of May 3, 1900, among other
things provides for an extension of income
to widows penSioned under said act to $50
per annum. The secretary OF the interior
believes that by the operations of this
act the number OF persons peiisoncd UNI
nual payments for pensions will he be-
tween $1,000 900 and si,occ,coo.
Much interesting information is given
in the report of the governor of Hawaii
as to the progress and development of the
islands during the period from July {.
1885, the date of the approval of the joint
resolution of congress providing for their
Of the approval of the act providing gov
eminent for the territory, and thereafter.
The last Hawaiian census. taken in the
year 1896. gives total population OF lU9,-
020, of which 81 .019 were native Hawaiians.
The number of Americans reported was
1886 The results of the federal census
taken this year, show the islands to have
n total population of 154o01, showing an
increase over that reported in 1896 OF A.
9S1. or 41.2 per cent.
There has been marked progress in the
educational, agricultural and railroad de-
yelopment of the islands
SCRAPS