Gilpin observer., 1903-12-10

checked by decreasing the number Of un-
necessary positions and by increasing the
efficiency of the employees remaining.
.ssf The Army.
The effect of the laws providing a gen.
eral staff for the army and for the more
effective use of the national guard has
been excellent Great Improvement has
been made in the efficiency of our army
in recent years. Such schools as those
erected at Fort Leavenworth and Fort
Riley and the institution of fall man
euver work accomplish satisfactory re-
suits. The good effect OF these man.
euvers upon the national guard Is
marked. and ample appropriation should
be made to enable the guardsmen OF the
several States to share in the benefit.
The Government should as soon as pos
sible secure suitable permanent camp
sites for military maneuvers in the vari-
GUS sections of the country. The service
thereby rendered not only to the regular
army. but to the national guard Of the
several States. will be SO great as to
repay many times over the relatively
small expense. We should not rest salts
fled with what has been done, however.
The only people who are contented with
a system of promotion by mere seniority
are those who are contented with the
triumph of mediocrity over excellence.
On the other hand a system which en-
cal favoritism in promotions would be
even worse. But 1t would surely be easy
to devise method of promotion from
grade to grade In which the opinion of
the higher officers of the service upon
the candidates should be decisive upon.
the standing and promotion of the latter
Just such system now obtains at West
Point. The quality of each years work
determines the standing of that years
class. the man being dropped or grad
uated into the next class in the relative
position which his military superiors de-
eide to be warranted by his merit. In
other words. ability. energy, fidelity, and
all other similar qualities determine the
rank of man year after year in West
Point, and his standing in the army when
he graduates from West Point; but from
that time on, all effort to find which
man is best or worst and reward or
punish him accordingly, is Abandoned;
no brilliancy. no amount Of hard work,
no eagerness in the performance of duty,
can advance him. and no slackness or
indifference that falls short of a court
martial ofrense can retard him. Until
this system is changed we cannot hope
that our officers will be of as high grade
as we have a right to expect, consider
ing the material upon which we draw.
Moreover. when a man renders such
service as Captain Pershing rendered last
spring in the Moro campaign. 1t ought
to be possible to reward him without at
once jumping him to the grade of briga-
dier-general.
The Navy. s.
Shortly after the enunciation of that
famous principle of American foreign
policy now known as the Monroe Doc
trine." President Monroe. in a special
message to Congress Jan. 30. 1924,
spoke as follows: "The navy is the arm
from whic.. our Government will always
derive most aid in support of our
rights. Every power engaged in war will
know the strength of our naval power,
the number of our ships of each class,
their condition. and the promptitude with
which We may bring them into service,
and will pay due consideration to that
argument"
l heartily congratulate the Congress
upon the steady progress In building up
the American navy. We can not afford
a let-up in this great work. To stand
still means to go back. There should be
no cessation in adding to the effective
units of the fighting strength of the fleet.
Meanwhile the Navy department and the
officers of the navy are doing well their
part by providing constant service at
sea under conditions akin to those of
actual warfare. Our officers and enlisted
men are learning to handle the battle
ships. cruisers, and torpedo boats with
high efficiency In fleet and squadron for
nations. and the standard of markham
ship Is being steadily raised. The best
work ashore Is Indispensable but the
highest duty of a naval officer is to ex-
ercise command at sea.
The establishment of naval base in
the Philippines ought not to be longer
postponed. Such base is desirable in
time OF peace: in time of war It would
be Indispensable. and its lack would be
ruinous- Without 1t our fleet would be
helpless. Our naval experts are agreed
that Subig bay is the proper place for
IA he int
quire that the work of fertilization and
development of a naval station at Subig
bay be begun at an early date: for un-
der the best conditions 1t Is a work
which will consume much time.
1t Is eminently desirable. however. that
there should be provided a naval general
stan on lines similar to those of the Cen
eral Stan lately created for the army.
Within the Navy department itself the
needs of the service have brought about
a system under which the duties of a
general stan are partially performed: for
the Bureau of Navigation has under its
direction the War College. the Ofiice of
Naval Intelligence. and the Board of In
spection. and has been in close touch
with the General Board of the Navy But
though under the excellent officers at
their head. these boards and bureaus do
good work. they have not the authority
OF general stan. and have not sufficient
scope to insure a proper readiness for
emergencies. We need the establishment
by Jaw OF n body OF trained officers. who
shall exercise a systematic control of the
military affairs OF the navy. and be au-
thorized advisers of the Secretary con-
corning 1t.
isthmian Canal.
BY the act OF June IS. 1902 the Con-
gress authorized the President to enter
into treaty with Colombia for the build
Ing OF the canal across the Isthmus of
Panama: 1t being provided that in the
event of failure to secure such treaty
after the lapse Of a reasonable time, re-
course should be had to building n canal
through Nicaragua. IT has not been
necessary to consider this alternative. as
I am enabled to lay before tho Senate
! treaty providing for the building OF the
canal across the Isthmus OF Panama.
This was the route which commended
.tself to the deliberate judgment of the
.:Qngress. and we can now acuiiira h,,