Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1908-01-10
TAFT fAYORS MORE
PAY FOR Soldiers
SECRETARY OF WAR PRESENTS
FIGURES SHOWING DECREASE
IN ARMY STRENGTH.
CONGRESS RECEIVES
HIS ANNUAL REPORT
Several Reeemmendations intended
to Recruit Ranis Are Mads-tn-
crease of $11,5s2,ss1 in Appfapria-
tons Sought from Congress.

Washington, Jan. T. Secretary Taft
is strong advocate of increased pay
for the army. His annual report, sent
to congress Monday, dispels any doubt
that may have existed as to the Sec
retary's position.
The report begins with q presenta-
ton of figures showing the rapid dc.
crease in the strength of the regular
army in recent years, the loss last
year being 4,42s men, and the pressing
need for officers to replace those de-
tailed on recruiting duty or as military
instructors in educational institutions.
The secretary asserts that while many
reasons have been advanced to ex-
plain the difficulty, a sufficient one Is
to be found in the inadequacy of army
pay.
4 believe it quite probable" he
says, that an increase in the pay of
the enlisted men, INCLUDING consider
able additional inducemeHt for men to
re-enlist and such reasonable increase
in the pay of noncommissioned officers
as would stimulate men to remain in
the service and to qualify for these
higher positions, would have a mark
edly beneficial effect upon the re-
cruitment Of the array
Favers the Naval System.
The secretary earnestly favors the
adoption for the army of the naval
system, under which the president is
authorized to fix the rates of pay
within defined limits, as means of
obtaining better discipline and higher
efficiency. He also recommends the
creation of q general service corps to
relieve the soldiers Of the vast amount
of unmilitary work they are called
upon to perform. In his opinion the
military service should be SO at
tractiye and desirable that it would
not be difficult to get and hold the
class of men needed, and to make
army service life work, as 1t used to
be, by offering rewards for proficiency
and greater pay for length of service.
The secretary has decided to create
one of the new regimental posts at
Baguio, in the PHILIPPINES, and asks
an appropriation for this purpose. He
also urges an enlargement of the Fort
Mckinley reservation, near Manila, by
5000 acres, at a cost of $1S5,000.
Adds to the Estimates.
Accompanying the report are esti-
mates for the support Of the military
establishment during the next fiscal
year, which are s11,5s2,931 greater
than last years appropriations. Most
OF the increase-more than 80 per
CENTS for coast defense works, of
which about s21,70O,0O0 is required
for the United States and $14, 100000
for the insular possessions.
In concluding the report Secretary
Taft says:
1T seems to me that the time has
come to recognize the service of one
who was not a soldier, but who, as
secretary of war, rendered heroic sery-
ice in the preservation of the union,
and whose strong personality and in
tellectual force made him one of the
great historical figures in national
crisis. Edward M. Stanton labored
for the maintenance and perpetuity of
this government with unfaltering
courage and with vigor that knew
no abatement. l recommend that con
gress make adequate provision for
the erection of a statue to Secretary
Stanton in the city of Washington,
where his great work was done and
Where his remains are buried"