The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-11-27
ROOT FAVORS
NATIONAL GUARD
Takes Strong Stand in His An
nual Report.
ARMS SHOULD BE FURNISHED
&
WOULD BRING IT CLOSE TO THE
WAR DEPARTMENT.
ARMS SHOULD BE FURNISHED

Washington. Nov. 26.-Elihu Root, sec
rotary of war. today submitted to the
president his annual report of the opera
lions of his department. Starting from
the mastering out Of volunteers at San
Francisco in the first months of 1901, the
secretary says:
Special care was taken to secure full
descriptive lists and a thorough medical
examination, with a view to aid in the
settlement of future applications for pen
sions The commanding general of the
department reported that the muster out
was quiet. orderly and without incident
Ninety-seven per cent of the men mus
tered out proceeded without delay to their
respective homes.
THE provisions of section IS of the act
of Feb 2. 1901. prohibiting the sale of or
dealing in beer. wine or any intoxicating
liquors by any person in any post eX-
change or Canteen, or army transport OF
lDon any premises used for military puF-
poses by the United States, have been car
ried into full force and effect, pursuant
to the directions of the statute.
When the orders were issued Tor the
enforcement of this section of the law
the commanding officers of the various
posts and military organizations were o.
TeCted to report upon its effects A gfedI
/ body of reports has been received Wh1ch
I
fortunate I think, however, that SUI
ficient time has not elapsed to give the
1 law a fair trial. and the observation ana
report of its working will be continued
| during the ensuing year.
Supplies For Army.
"The reports show that the food and
clothing furnished to the army during the
I year have been satisfactory that ths
/ health of our troops has been good and
/ the death rate low. The death rate per
i thousand Of troops in the United States
during the past year was lU.l4' IN CuDd'
/ 9.72; in Porto Rico, 40; and among the
I troops in the Philippines and China II was
/ reduced from 1881 during the previous
/ year to 1876 during the past year
! Continuing, he says; The ocean trans
/ port service has continued 10 be MADE
/ QUate and inefficient. The return OF the
] volunteer force from the Philippines IN
[ the limited period allowed between the
/ time when they were required Iof active
/ operations in the early part OF lOl ana
I the 30th of June in that year, was accom-
/ DIished without accident confusion or de-
( lay and was a very creditabie perform
/ ance.
Notwithstanding the faithful and zeal
Gus service of the officers OF the quarter
I masters department in charge OF gov
/ eminent transportation, ! became satls-
/ fled that with the reduction OF torces
[ and consequent reduction OF business IN
/ Cuba and Porto Rico, the business could
/ be done more economically and the de-
partment was not justified IN longer
{ maintaining a. separate transport ilett on
the Atlantic. The Atlantic transport
! service was accordingly discontinued on
the S0th of June last
Would Aid Merchant Marine.
TT is not practicable now to discontinue
! the transport service upon the racine
I but / do not think it desirable that the
[ United States should own and operate d
I fleet of passenger and freight vessels III
/ time of peace 1t would be grdIlIylils
I il the American merchant marine could
furnish vessels to transport our men and
supplies as part of a regular commerce
between the United states and the Fhh-
ippines. under contracts which would en-
able the government IN case or war, %
nut the vessels under the control of reg
ular officers Of the army or navy Ioi
transport purposes, upon reasonable com
uensatiOn. 1t is desirable that authority
be given by congress to make such con-
tracts in case opportunities for SUCH an
/ arrangement should be afforded IN the
I future.
Most of our transports were bought
from foreign owners, and upon beng Solo
would necessarily come again under for
eigE flag. Tt will make great difference
i'm the prices which can be obtained IL
I an American register can be granted Il
these ShipS I ask that this be author
I lied by congress There would seem q
/ be no objection on any public ground 4
I granting an American register to shll
I which has been for years flying tn
I American flag as a public vessel of th'
United States. and when the money Vaiu'
of the privilege will go into the puon'
treasury
Coast Defense Plans.
, After mentioning the progress made il
coast defense plans for Porto Rico ant
Hawaii. the secretary calls attention Il
the steps taken 10 eradicate haZlng iron
the military academy at West Point AM
he 3 Ia I'M at
visitors of that institution that neY
buildings be provided. OF the niItt
J / laws the report SAYS;
THE present provisions of law rela- IN
to the militia and 10 the raising of vol
I unteer forces are quite imperfect and un
satisfactory The militia law stand
practically today as 1t was enacted !
. 1 1872 and is practically obsolete. II Is de
sirable that congress should now eXeI
else the power conferred upon II by tn
I constitution TO provide for organization
f / arming and disciplining the militia.
The organization and armament {
E the national guards Of the several state
e / which are treated as militia in the apprC
b. } priation made by congress, should L
. made the same as those provided by cor
gress FOR the regular and vOluntee
20 forces. The relations of the nation;
4 guard organizations TO the national force
! and the obligations and duties of thos
. organizations In time of war should ]
2 clearly defined so that the confusion an
= companied the outbreak of the war wit
Spain may not again occur.
Rely on Volunteers.
''The reliance of the country for Il
large forces necessary in modern wa
Z fare must necessarily be chiefly upC
: volunteers The method and procedul
of raising volunteer forces should
prescribed in advance, so that instead
waiting to devise plans for a vOlunte,
y. army until the excitement and haste
y impending war makes perfection of O.
sign difficult and satisfactory execute
impossible. congress will have but to d
rect the execution of a well directed pls
. by officers. every one of whom has Ion
q I-been familiar with the part he is 10 pla
N { 1T Is desirahl that any plans adopts
should provide for utilizing, in the earii
volunteer organizations called out q
II training Of those citizens who shall ha
n served already in the regular and vOlu
.e teer forces If the earlier volunteer O
m ganization can be constituted OF the
I. trained men. much valuable time al
81 expense can be saved and many DANCE
,e may be aveTted during the period VIII
"a the ordinary volunteers are receiving 1
- necessary training
Provision should also be made for t
= selection in advance of the officers
= any volunteer force which may be raise
is Careful selection Is impossible at the OF
IN break Of war. It is entirely practical
in time of peace.
Examination of-Applicants.
81 recommend that the president
authorized TO convene boards of office
Including the general service and ST
| D.. college board. for the examination
i officers of the national guard and 9th
I citizens who may apply to be eXamin
o. as to their qualifications to hold volu