The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-12-04

penditure OF money. Then the stipu-
lation should lie made that 10 party
receiving campaign funds from tht
treasury should accept more than =
fixed amount from any individual sub
sci'iber Or donor. and the necessary
publicity for receipts and expenditures
could without difficulty be provided.
The Army.
The president recommends legisla
In he army. especially in the medical
corps. The rate of pay of officers
should be greatly increased, he de-
clares. There should be a relatively
even greater increase In the rate of
pay Of enlisted men if we are to keep
the army in shape to be effective in
time Of need. The president recon-
for promotion up to the rank of major.
From that point promotion should be
purely by selection. He speaks Of the
recent physical test Of army officers
with emphatic appreciation and c
mends a bill equalizing the puy Of
officers and pen Of the army, navy,
marine corps. and event. cutter serv-
ice.
Concerning the navy the president
says:
In my Judgment, we should this
year provide for four battleships. But
1t Is idle to build battleships unless, in
addition to providing the men and the
means for thorough training, we pro-
vide the auxiltaries for them-unless.
we provide docks, the coaling stations.
the collters and supply ships that they
need. We are extremely deficient liz
coaling stations and docks on the Pa
cific, n this deficiency should not
longer be permitted to exist. Plenty
Of torpedo boats and destroyers should
be built. Both on the Atlantic and Pa
cific coasts Notifications of the best
type should be provided for all our
greatest harhors.
Until our battle fleet is much larger
than at present it should never be split
n detachments so far apart that they
could not In event Of emergency be
speedily united. Our coast line is on
the Pacific just as much as on the At
lantic. The battle fleet should now
and then be moved to the Pacific, Just
as at other times it should be kept in
the Atlantic. When the isthmian canal
Is built the transit Of the battle feet
from n ocean to the other will be
comparatively easy. Until It is built
/ earnestly hope that the battle feet
VIII be thus shifted between the two
oceans every year or two. The battle
leet is about starting by the strait of
Magellan to visit the Pacific coast.
Sixteen battleships are going under the
command of Rear Admiral Evans, while
eight armored cruisers and two other
battleships will meet him in San Fran
cisco, whittier certain torpedo destroy
ers are also going. No fleet of such
size has eyer made such a voyage and
it will be of very great educational use
to all engaged in it. The only way by
which to teach officers and nen how
to handle the fleet SO as to meet every
possible strain and emergency in time
Of war is to have them practice under
similar conditions In time of peace.
The president recommends the in
creased pay for both officers and enlist
ed men and advises promotion by Sc
lection above the grade of lieutenant
commander.
Foreign Affairs.
In foreign affairs, the president says,
this country's steady policy is to be-
have toward other nations as, q strong
and self respecting man should behave
toward the other me with whom he
Is brought into contact. In other words,
u aim is disinterestedly to help other
nations where such help can be wisely
ding with what toes not concern us,
to be careful to act as a good neighbor
n at the same time in good natured
fashion to make it evident thai we do
not intend to be imposed upon
The president refers at length to The
Hague peace conference. lie believes
1t accomplished ,nuch good, work.
Postal Savings Banks.
The president says Oh postal affairs;
I commend to the favorable consid.
'ration of the congress Il postal saw.
tnss bank system as recommended by
the postmaster general. Timid deposi.
tors have withdrawn their savings fol-
the time being from national banks,
trust companies and savings banks, in,
dividuals have boarded their cash
and the workingmen their earnings, all
OF which money has been withheld
and kept in hiding or in the safe de,
posit box to, the detriment Of prosper,
ity. Through the agency of the postal
savings banks such money would be
restored to the channels of trade, to
the mutual benefit Of capital and labor.
l further commend to the congress
the consideration Of the postmaster
generals recommendation for an ex-