Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-09
WORK ON THE CANAL
Secretary Taft Reports on His
Recent Observations.
NEED OF MORE MONEY
URGES THAT JUSTICE BE DONE TO
THE PHILIPPINES.
Would Admit Free All Products but
Sugar and Tobacco-Funds Needed
for Coast Defense.

Secretary Taft gives an interesting ac-
count of the operations of the army during
the past year in his annual report, made
public today. He also devotes considerable
space to the subjects of the Panama canal
and the Philippines. In explaining the ne
cessity for an emergency appropriation of
S16,50o,GCo for the Panama canal he says
that the sic, 600, 600 voted to begin the pre-
liminary work on the canal is exhausted.
The payroll at present amounts to some
think like $G00,oo a month, asd there is
not enough money on hand after the pay
ment of bills to meet tho December pay
rolls.
1T may be asked" he says, why have
the conditions been allowed to arise under
which an emergency Appropriation must be
asked? The answer ia that those respnn-
sible deemed it their chief duty TO push the
work. to buy needed plant and material as
rapidly as possible and to increase the pay
roll as far as provision could be made for
the housing and comfort of the additional
lapofers and employees. 1t was supposed
that an extra session of Congress would be
caiied IN october, when ample time would
nave been given for elaboration in making
an the necessary appropriation. Now it
VIII be necessary to make martial ammo
priat1ons to pay current bills and meet the
necessary payrolls until the type of the
new canal has been fixed and definite esti-
mates Tor each fiscal years work can be
submitted TO Congress as in the case of all
other general appropriations of Congress
visited the isthmus year ago. and
again TINS year ] am able to see a marked
uIiielehce' even IN outward appearances
and to say with much emphasis and Ger
tainty that real work has been done and is
belhg done. The effect of better housing for
the employees, the influence of the succass
Iu t Efforts or the sanitation department to
stamp out yellow fever, the confidence of
the American subordinate engineers fore-
men, clerks, rodmen and others that there
IS competent and skiIlful head 10 tho an
YER .elplIse IN Mr.. Shonts knowing what is be-
ing done in each department and coordinat
ing all departments tends IN give a. ~
hosphere of conscious progress. individnal
INTEREST and patriotic pride in the great
t tdsh ol great nation. The Panamans feel
the change and are accordingly hannv AVA
cohtented with things as they are
Justice to the Philippines
Regarding the Philippines Secretary Taft
says, in part:
number of bills will be presented to
siess seeking amendments of more or
iess Importance in the existing laws. but
the DILL the progress of which will he fol-
lowed with the creates anxiety is that
providing that all products of the pbiiin-
pine Islands, except sugar and tobacco
snall be allowed to enter the norris of tho
S Sniseo states free, and that sugar and to-
tnree years only duty of % per cent of
the present Dingley rates. and that after
!eoo thefe snail be complete free trade be-
.~eeh me islands and the United States in
the products of each country
1t Is hoped also that this bill will h> a.,
companled by another providing that the
present law applying the coastwise trade
laws OF the United States to the trade be-
tween the islands and the United States
be suspended in its operation until 1909
nave so often attempted to set forth the
arguments in favor of this measure of sim
pie Justice to the Philippine Islands that
shali not repeat myself in this report
further than to say that the visit to the
ISLANDS this last summer strongly confirmed
the conviction that statistics and reading
ana previous experience had led to- to wit
that there is not the slightest danger to the
sugar and tobacco interests of this country
In admitting free the sugar and tobacco
prcducts of the Philippine Islands
The greatest possible expansion of the
production of those two crops In the Phil
ippfne Islands cannot have the ST ehtest |
enect upon the price of either commodity
n the enormous markets Of the United
States The proposed bill If passed will,
therefore. result solely In benefit to the
people of the Philippine Islands, without
the slightest Injury to any one In the United
states. am not of those who think that
the measure will of itself produce prosper
lily In the Philippine Islands. 1t will doubt |
less aid their prosperity. but it's effect In |
the Philippine people that we |
"a oIiAiouS ioi tIiSif WelIdTe ana are WILL |
ing Tor this purpose to give them the bene- |
1T of the great markets of the United |
States will be Of the greatest value"
Military Commission Consolidation. |
The Secretary renews his Recommendation |
Of last year for the consolidation of the |
military park commissions into a single |
commission consisting Of three or possibly |
i've members, with a view to more econom- !
lcaI administration and the early termina- |
ton of the entire work. The conditions |
that now prevail, the Secretary says re- |
suit In salary rolls out of all promotion |
TO the total expenditures for improvements, |
Defense of the Coast.
He transmits memorandum descriptive |
OF suggested legislation recommended by |
the general staff as In the interest of the |
military service Particular attention ia
Invited to the proposed measures providing
for the promotion and increase Of the ar
tlllery: the creation OF a coast-defense re- |
serve, the regulation OF promotion and the |
draft OF the bill providing for vacancies |
to be created by certain details.
The secretary says he is firmly convinced
OF the wisdom of providing more men for |
the coast artillery. Our seacoast fortified
tons, constructed at such heavy expense, |
the Secretary says, ought not to be left |
as they are now, without the number of |
men to properly handle and operate the |
heavy guns. with their complicated mech |
anism and extensive accessories. and RI |
give them the degree Of care that ia nac |
essary in order to maintain these elaborate |
defensive works in the proper condition of |
preservation and efficiency. The Increase In |
the army proposed by the general STAR |
would add approxima tely an aggregate SIN, |
Of So. 100000 to the annual cost of the mil |
itary establishment.
Need for More Officers.
Referring to absenteeism and the need |
for moro officers, the Secretary says a bill !
is being prepared for submission to CON- |
gress, which, II enacted, will provide the |
army with lib additional officers. This
number, added to the forty-two officers now
detailed at state colleges and with the mi |
litia, will enable the department to re-
store 156 officers to their proper duties with
the line of the army, where their services.
the Secretary says. are most urgently
needed to perform the duties for which thev
were commissioned, and to prevent a lack |
of dicipline and soldierly effectiveness
which cannot but ensue If present condi-
lions are left unchanged with respect to |
the absence of officers from their COM |
mands. The constant presence of the f,lll |
of officers with their troops
giving their personal supervision to the an |
propriate duties OF their commands, he says