The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1908-12-10

dlnenoment was Incorporated IN the
measure providing for the Secret Ser
Vice forbidding details and transfers
therefrom. He declares It is of BEN
eft only to the criminal classes. He
renews his recommendation for pos
tai savings banks and urges an extern
: tion of the parcel post on the rural
, routes. He declares that the unfor-
tunate state OF affairs as regards the
, National educational office be reme-
died by adequate appropriations. He
strongly urges that the supervisors
and enumerators for the approaching
Census be not appointed under the
: Civil Service law, but that appoint
ments to the force be done under that
law, geographical requirements be-
ing waived. The President main
,, tains that there should be intelligent
action on the question of preserving
the health of the country and sug-
gests a redistribution of the health
bureaus. He recommends the plac-
ing of the Government Printing Office
under the Department of Commerce
and Labor and the various Soldiers
Homes under the War Department.
He advocates the immediate admis-
sion OF New Mexico and Arizona as
separate States Mr. Roosevelt then
writes of the interstate fisheries prob
lem, saying that those matters which
no particular State can control Con-
gress ought to control. The statute
regarding game should include fish,
and the fur-seal service should be
vested in the Bureau of Fisheries.
In regard to our foreign policy he
announces that it is based on the
theory that right must prevail be-
tween nations as between individuals
and then urges the special claims of
Latin-American Republics to our at
tention. The Message states that the
Panama Canal is being dug with
speed and efficiency and then recon-
mends the extension of ocean mail
lines to South America, Asia, the
Philippines and Australasia Atten-
tlon is called to the admirable condi-
tion of Hawaii. where coole labor
has practically ceased ami Pearl Har-
Dor is being made q laval base with
the necessary military fortfcations.
Real progress, the President contin-
ues. toward self-government is being
made in the Philippines, bu, it would
be worse than folly to pTophesy the
exact date when IL will be wise to
consider independence as a fixed and
definite policy. 1t is recommended that
American citizenship be. conferred
upon the people of Porto Rico and
announcement is made that our occu-
pancy of Cuba will end in about two
months time. The Cubans are
warned that they must govern them
selves within in order to avoid gov
ernment from without. The Presi-
dent hopes Americans will do what
is possible to make the Japanese Ex-
position of 1917 success and then
| fhanlrc 40
and the States Of South America for
their hospitality to the battle fleet
Mr.. Roosevelt urges the passage of
the bill to promote army officers at
reasonable ages through a process of
selection and declares the cavalry arm
should be reorganized upon modern
| lines. We have not enough infantry
and artillery and attention should be
centred on the machine gun. A gem
eral service corps should be estab-
| lished. 1t behooves the Government
| to perfect the efficiency of the Ma
tional Guard as part of the National
| forces and Congressional aid should
be extended to those who are pro-
noting rife Notwithstanding our
men to shoot.
In regards to the navy, the Presi-
dent recommends the increase sug-
gested by the General Board and !
thinks the General Board should be |
turned into a General Staff. He urges |
that two hospital ships be provided |
and then concludes his Message as |
follows
Nothing better for the Navy from |
every standpoint has ever occurred |
than the cruise of the battle fleet
around the world. The Improvement
of the ships in every way has been
extraordinary, and they have gained
far more experience in battle tactics
than they would have gained If they
had stayed in the Atlantic waters.
The American people have cause for
profound qualification, both in view
OF the excellent condition OF the fleet
as shown by this cruise, and in view
OF the improvement the cruise has
worked in this already high condi-
ton. | do not believe that there is
any other service in the world in
which the average of character and
efficiency in the enlisted men is as
high as is now the case in our own.
l believe that the same statement can
be made as to our officers, taken as a
whole; but there must be a reserva-
tion made in regard to those in the
highest ranks-as to which / have
dlISduy SpOkeu-dnu IN regard TO
those who have just entered the SER
vice; because we do not now get full
benefit from our excellent naval
school at Annapolis. 1t Is absurd not
to graduate the midshipmen as en-
signs; to keep them for two years in
such an anomalous position as at
present the law requires is detri-
mental to them and to the service. In
the academy itself, every first class
man should be required in turn to
serve as petty officer and officer; his
ability to discharge his duties as such
should be prerequisite t0 his going
into the line, and his success in COM
manding should largely determine his
standing at graduation. The Board
of Visitors should be appointed in
January, and each member should be
required TO give at least six days
service, only from one TO three days
to be performed during June wee6,
which Is the least desirable time for
the board to be at Annapolis so far as
benefiting the navy by their observ'
tions Is concerned.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
The White House. {