, 1905-12-05
THE MESSAGE READ IN
BOTH HOUSES At NOON

He hopes the second Hague confer
ence will be the means of securing
peace throughout the world.
He hen touches upon the Monroe
doctrine, the troubles in Santo Domin-
go and South America, and explains
the governments position. Referring
to the army he says:
Il do not believe that any army in
the world has a better average OF en-
listed men or a better type of junior of
ficers, but the army should be tralned
to act effectively in a mass. The num-
Der of posts, in which the army is kept
in time of peace, should be materially
diminished and the posts that are left
made co~rrespondingly larger. There
should be increase in the coast artil-
lery force and our navy must, relative
ly TO the navies of other nations, al
ways be of greater size than our army.
1t does not seem to me that the navy
should be increased beyond the present
number of units"
The president regrets the decreasing
of the merchant marine, and commends
to congress the centennial celebration
of the settlement of jamestown, Va, to
be made a worlds fair point in 1907.
He commends the present pension bu-
reau and discusses civil service at
some length.
Treating of the PHILIPPINES, he says
that they are steadily showing improve
ment, and while the income of the
Philippine government has been re-
duced, the outlook is reasonably good
at the present time. Tranquility ex-
lists and the common people are taking
a great interest in education. He poys:
Il do not anticipate that free trade be-
tween the islands and the United
States would produce a revolution in
the sugar and tobacco production OF
the Islands,"
He urges the fertilization or ,,~ss~i
and advocates comforting American cit
izenship on all citizens of Porto Rico.
In the matter of statehood, the presi-
Territory and Oklahoma be admitted
as n State and hat New Mexico and
ARIZONA be admitted as one state.
mere is no justification for the further
delay in this matter"
Abiding to the Panama canal, he
commends the commission and sug-
gests an APPROPRIATION to meet current
expenses, to prevent any possible stop
page of work. The first appropriation
OF 100000 of the s135, 900, 900 auth
orized by the Spooner act was made
threa wears AGO
hausted.
The message concludes with recon-
mendations for increased forces for
the state department. He says. Meth
er at home nor abroad is there sufic-
lent working force to do the business
adequately. In many respects the sys-
tenn which did the work ten years ago
is inadequate now. Our consular force
should be classified, and appointments
should be made to the several classes,
with authority to the executive to as
sign the members or each class to duty
at such posts as the interests of the
service require. Suitable provision
should be made for the expense OF
keeping our diplomatic officers more
fully informed of what is being done
from day to day in the progress of our
diplomatic affairs with other countries.
The lack of such information, caused
by insufficient appropriation, frequent
~ puts our officers at disadvantage and
detracts from their usefulness. The
salary list should be readiusted. 1t
does not correspond either in import
ance of the service rendered and the
degrees of ability and experience re
quired in the different positions or the
differences in the cost of living. In
many cases the salaries are quite in
adequate"