New-York tribune., 1901-11-27
APPOINTMENTS ON MERIT SYSTEM

The recruitment Of the new organizations ana the
maintenance of the old have been accomplished
without difficulty. and the material obtained ap-
nears bv the reports he Of the best quality
Abou- threa-fo11rths of the total number Of apph-
cants were rejected and about one7fourth accepted
OF those accepted about 90 per cent We're I'D w
born and about 10 per cent |aturalzed cluZehS Inc
reouirements that the applicant should be In per
fc- bea1,b Of good character and able TO read and
write have been rigidly enforced Inc reof
ton provided for by the act requlIe & tne G Ge
pr ai Tr [aff ros1tions have been filled
81 81 , aeas hv the appointment Of deserving Off
GERS who had held staff positions IN the h b
appointment Of officers who had rendered specially
mertorious service IN the fe!a ne h, sur
having been selected partly from civil lfe, In az
as exhibited in service have been treated as me me
most important considerations Five hunagea re- @ aLe
five enlisted men have been examined ana "a nave
been passed declared qgaef ana nnd hrFy
nine volunteer officers have been ordered @ den ond
naon Of whom lo4 dacae6 g haTe Cese seen
mined and 4l have been accepted ana col,lIii III, t
filled under the statute. and there are on ME loo"-
applications
THE ANTI-CANTEEN LAW
Speaking Of the Anti-Canteen Law. Mr. Root
says
The provisions of Section SS Of the of February
Wine any intoScat ting liquors by any person IN
or upon any premises used for military purposes eii
nv ~
force and effect, pursuant to the directions Of the
statute --z.-. .,.re ;ssaa for .be .rforce
ment of this section of the law. the commanding
ions were directed 70 report upon its effects A
body OF s has a been f % IS SGh in
l think however, that suff1cient tune mas
not Ps 6 S Teeo he Of T its viii be
tinued during the ensuing year
COMFORT AND HEALTH.
The reports show that the food and clothing fur
1,,rip he have haa,
factory that the health the troops has been good
and the death rate low. The death rate per thou
sand of troops in United States during the past
wear was l014: in Cuba. s.72: in Porto Rico. 80.
and among the troops serving in the Philippines
and China it was reduced from 1881 during the
previous year 1916 during the last year In the
oninion of the Medical Department. when per-
nanent arrangements have been made and proper
sanitary regulations be enforced the health Of
the troops sta in the tropics will be quite
good as if stationed in own Gulf States
TRANSPORT SERVICE.
The ocean transport service has continued be
adequate and efficient The return of the volunteer
force from the Philippines in the limited period al
lowed between the time when they were required
for active operations in the early part of 1901 and
June 80 in that year was accomplished with
ON, accident confusion or delay. Mr.. Root says it
is not PRACTICABLE discontinue the transport
service on the Pacihc. but it is not desirable
maintain a fleet of passenger and freight vessels
in time of peace
sEACoAsT DEFENCE.
The detailed project for the defence of the entrance
to Chesa peake Bay at Cape Henry, Virginia, has
been approved A detailed project for the defence
of San Juan. Porto Rico at total estimated cost
of 81 $4,000 has been prepared and preliminary
nroiects for the defence of Pearl Harbor and Homo
lulu in the Territory of Hawaii, are also available
Substantial progress has been made in the revision
of earlier projects of fortifcation made before the
use Of rapid fire guns played so great part IN