The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1904-12-01
SECRETARY TSREBlRT
Head of War Department Reviews
Progress of Army During
the Past Year.
FOR REDUCTION Of PRIIIpPISE TARIFF
Urges Congress to Adopt = Measure Al
lowing Admission, Duty Free. Of all
Products of the Islands Except Sugar
and robscco-Report OF the Cenmis-
sion Not Ready Before January.

Hion Not Ready BEFORE JnnoAry.
Washington, Nov. sS.-Secretary
Taft's annual report is in part as fol-
lows.
The very heavy calls upon the line Of
the army for details of officers to the
general stan. to military schools, and
to other general military purposes Of a
useful kind, reduce the number of
officers available for service with
troops below the point of proper eff
cheney. 1t would be wise. therefore,
for congress TO make provision for ad-
ditional officers of the line. Provision
can well be made by an amendment
of the present law by which the de-
tail of line officers under the rank Of
| Northumberland to the general stan
STILL be declared to create vacancies in
/ the line. This will have the effect
of adding about % officers to actual
service with troops where they are
nov very badly needed,
The aggregate OF al. enlistments
and re-enlistmen,s during the fiscal
year ended June 80. 1901. including
the hospital corps and the Philippine
scouts, was 2S,6S6.
Continuance of the gradual but de-
cided Improvement in the condition
of troops which has been noted since
sanitary matters have received the
attention due them is shown by the
lower rate OF admission to sick report
per thousand of strength of the whole
army for disease and injury during the
last calendar year, as compared with
1902. Notwithstanding the fact that
mean strength of 25.379 troops were
on foreign service during the year,
only 600 deaths occurred from all
causes in the entire army-American
and native troops-eQnal To rate of
$50 per thousand as compared with
15.49 for the previous year.
The food and clothing supplied TO
troops, and the barracks and quarters
furnished NJ home and abroad have
been satisfactory. and all troops have
been paid with promptness and regu-
larity, monthly payments prevailing
except in the Department of Mindanao,
where bi-monthly payments continue
on account of lack of transportation
facilities. 1t is no eNaggeration 10
say that the troops of the United
States are the best fed. best clothed.
and best sheltered troops in the world
In the establishment and develop
ment of military posts in the United
States, to meet the requirements of
our ENLARGED army, there has been eN-
pended during the past year total
sum of SlO037 ,924SS for construction
and repair of barracks. quarters, hos
pitfalls. storehouses. and miscellaneous |
buildings, and for improvements on
military reservations.
The tests of the new rifle which |
have been made have been thoroughly
satisfactory, and confirm the belief
that its ballistic qualities are une-
qualed by any service rifle in the
world. /
During the past year the work of |
telegraph and cable installation in
Alaska and Alaskan waters has been
brought to completion by the signal |
corps with characteristic energy and |
skill The finished work consists of |
two separate telegraph systems, one |
a system of land lines in northwestern
Alaska extending from Nome to
Valdes, and the other cable system
connecting all important points in
southeastern Alaska with the telegraph
system of the United States.
After careful consideration Of the |
subject | have been led to the con-
clusion that more officers are required |
in both the medical and the ordnance |
departments.
The strength of the organized Mill |
tia of the United States on October
l, 1904, including officers of every
rank and grade, was 1887, consisting
of S,SO5. officers and 1O7.132 enlisted |
men.
1t will be observed that estimates |
and expenditures have progressively
decreased. The estimate in 1901 was,
in round numbers. $12S,000. 900; for
1902, $113,5O0, 900; for 1903, &es, SOC, 900;
for 1904, $77.900,OOO; for 1905, $77,50O,-
900; for 1906. $72.700.0o0.
The progress of the Philippine gov
eminent during the past year has
been set forth in great detail by Col. |
Edwards in his report as chief of the !!
insular bureau. The regular annual |
report of the commission win probably !!
not be received before January, when !
It will be transmitted with a discus
sion Of such matters as It may require. |
l beg to renew again the recommen- |
dation made by my predecessor. Sec
rotary Root, by President Mckinley, |
by you in your messages Of last year,
and by the Philippine commission in |
all Its reports, In favor Of q substan- |
tial reduction Of the present tariff upon !
Philippine products imported into the |
United States. I urge that bill shall |
be adopted by congress allowing the |
admission, duty free, of all products |
Of the Philippine islands, manufac- |
tured or otherwise. except tobacco and !