Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-22
THE INSULAR AFFAIRS BUREAU.
Col. Edwards Reports on the Results
ACCOMPLISHED.

The annual report Of Colonel Charles R.
Edwards. chief Of the bureau Of insular af-
fairs of the War Department. shows that
office, in response to the demands of Con-
gress and of the public, has performed a
vast amount Of work, and has collected and
prepared for the general information of
the public a large volume of facts regard
ing the tnsular possessions Of the United
States. The demands on the bureau have
been 50 great that Colonel Edwards found
1t necessary to recommend an increase In
the clerical force. In addition to the many
other important duties which the War De-
partment has assigned to the bureau it
has charged it with the labor in the United
States incident to the selection of ap-
pointees on the certification of the United
States civil service commission and the ar
rangement for their transportation to the
Philippines. The report shows that great
care has been taken in the selection of
those who are to take positions in the Phil
ippines
The bureau Is accommodating a library of
tpsular documents so that the record of the
work performed by this bureau is segre-
gated from that of the War Department
and will furnish the only official library of
the Philippines, Porto Rico and Cuba ex-
tant. Recently the bureau has undertaken
map work. The Philippine insurgent records
and captured documents have been brought
to Washington recently and loaned to the
bureau for preparation for possible publ
cation In conclusion the report says:
"A review of the work performed by this
bureau would be incomplete without refer
ence to the large amount of work perform
ed In examining, investigating and digest
Ing documents, records and other sources
OF information and putting In form for
convenient examination by the Secretary
such information as Is available and useful
to him in determining routine and special
matters which press for determina alton
daily"
In conclusion the report says:
Mention has been made Of the temporary
arrangement for taking care of the Ameri
can records of the Cuban audit. In the
next six months 1t Is anticipated that the
remaining records of American occupation.
weighing over so tons, which were left In
Havana under charge of the agent for the
War Department, will be brought to Wash
ington. There is no room in the War De-
partment for them. and no funds ayailab Bile
to rent a building.
In the building on the corner Of 18Th and
streets. there Is a force Of AZ, II OF whom
belong to the permanent force and for
whom there Is no room in the War Depart
ment proper.
ut is therefore believed that 5000 will be
necessary for the renting of a building for
clerks and records for which there Is no
room In the War Department proper.
"A review OF the work performed by CHS
bureau would be incomplete without refer
ence to the large amount Of work perform
ed in examining, investigating and digest
Ing documents. records and other sources of
information, and putting In form for con-
venient examination by the Secretary such
information as Is available and useful to
him in determining routine and special
matters which press for determination dali
ly. The record Of these cases may disclose
only cablegram or letter. while the re-
search leading up to the preparation of the
cablegram or letter in answer may have
occupied several days. Frequently the aues-
ton presented Is so important and urgent
as to take unanticipated precedence over
all other work"