The Press., 1903-11-05

would bring this about quicker than
to establish department. whose duty
it would be to look after the interests
and welfare of our outlying territory.
Orders have been issued by the act
ing secretary of war to the command
ing officer of Jefferson barracks, Mo. =,
to send regular troops, armed with
loaded rifles, to act as an escort to
$3, GOO, GOO in gold and paper money,
which has been shipped from here to
the United States sub treasury in st.
Louis. The money is to be hauled in
army wagons and not, as is custom
ary, in express wagons. This unus-
ual action Of the war department was
taken at the instance of the treasury
department., and was the outcome of
conditions produced by the run on st.
Louis banks and a general strike of
teamsters there. The run on the
banks produced an urgent call for
cash, and when the treasury depart
ment notified the express companies,
which have contracts to ship money,
the companies declared that they could
not deliver it on account of the team
sters' strike In this extremity the
treasury called on the war department
for army wagons to haul the money
and for troops to guard them. AL
though the request was unusual and
liable to bring criticism on the war
department, Acting Secretary of. War
Oliver did not hesitate to grant it.
It is probable that his action will
bring violent denunciations from the
teamsters, and perhaps from labor
unions generally; but there is no fear
of any interference with the drivers
of the army wagons, as they will be
protected by.an escort of cavalry,
! aeneraI George T.. Gillespie, chief
~ engineers, has asked for an appro-
priation of more than $40, 600, 600 for
Notifications and defenses in 1905.
The report has just been made pub
lie, and includes estimates for the de-
fense of the Philippines and Hawaii.
It asks for 81, 900, 600 for defenses in
the insular possessions. The other
millions are asked for the construc-
tion of gun and mortar batteries,
range and position finders, search
lights for harbor defenses, sea walls
and embankments, torpedo boats, etc.
1t says that the sea coast defenses of
the United States are somewhat more
than 80 per cent. completed. Twenty
five of the principal harbors have a
sufficient number of heavy guns and
mortars to enable an effective defense
against naval attacks. Our island
possessions are, however, practically
defenseless, as far as Notifications are
concerned.
At a meeting of the American Pub
lie Health association, held here, a
report was adopted deploring the ac-
tion of congress in abolishing the
army canteen, and urging it's e-estab-
lishment on it's former basis at the
earliest practical date. The report
of a special committee says: 1.-The
ninety eight post canteens, at which
light wines and beer alone were sold,
have been replaced within one mile
from military posts by 341 additional
saloons in the United States and 371
i'll the Philippine Islands, dispensing
all kinds of intoxicants, and in many
cases with gambling rooms and in
some cases with houses of i'll fame at
tached. It is matter of evidence
that desertions, absences without leave
and trials of summary or other courts
martial for drunkenness, and for Of
fenses caused by the same, have in
creased, and that savings deposited by
the enlisted men have decreased from
the average of $40. 49 per man in 1900
to an average of $35. 81 per man in
1908. The records of the paymaster-
generals Office also show that the
fines and forfeitures imposed upon and
collected from the enlisted men of the
army have increased from an average
of $1.88 per man in 1898 to $6. 80 per
man in 1902, which indicates grow
ing spirit of discomfort and decided
tendency to degeneracy which must
seriously affect the discipline and
morals of the army" 1t is notice
able fact that the only point upon
which the liquor dealers and the w.
@. T. U. agree, is the abolition of the
army canteen. It is very probable
that a strong effort will be made this
winter to induce congress to repeal
the law.
President Roosevelt has had the re.
port of Mr.. Bristow on the postal
frauds for about week He is going
over it carefully, and as it is very
bulky document, about~s, 600 pages of
an ordinary government report, it will
be- some time before he will have fin
ished considering it, before it is given
to the public. It has been declared
by some that he held it back SO that
the democrats could not use it in the
campaign. However, Mr.. Roosevelt
is making no effort to conceal the
magnitude of the postal frauds. and
has just ordered Mr.. Bristow 8 inspect
ors to proceed to New York to submit
that office to most rigid investiga-
tion.