The Charles Mix new era. (Wagner, Charles Mix County, S.D.) 1???-1911, 1908-01-17
&ApiA Decrease II Regulas Fesee
Il Recest Years h Shows
BY Report
COAST DEFENSE A Bla rTElr
Recommends Erection Of Statue -
Memory Of Edwin II. stanton
in City Of Washington.

Secretary Taft In a strong advocate
Of increased pay for the army, ~ his
annual report, sent to Congress, shows.
The report begins with . formidable
presentment OF figures showing the rap
ID decrease IN the strength Of the regu-
lar army In recent years 1.-THE loss laDe
year being no fewer than ADS men)
and the pressing need for oficers -
replace those now detailed on recruit
Ing duty or Ms military instructors IN
educational institutions. The SECRETARY
asserts that. while many reasons have
been advanced to explain the difficulty.
. sufficient one is to be found In tn
Inadequacy Of army pay.
Il think 1t quite probable" he says,
that mn increase In the pay OF the en-
listed men. Including considerable ad-
ditional inducement for men to re-
enlist aud such reasonable increase Ia
the pay Of non-commmissioned officers
as would stimulate men to remain In
the service and to qualify themselves
for these higher positions. would have
4 markedly beneficial effect upon the
recruitment OF the army"
So the Secretary earnestly favors the
adoption for the army of the naval
system. under which the President IL
authorized to fix the rates Of pay with
In defined limits. He also recommends
the creation OF a general-service corps
to relieve the soldiers Of the vast
amount Of unmilitary work they are
now called on to perform.
The regular army last year lost $50
officers and 26,31O enlisted men, and.
although 1t was a year of peace. four
teen Of the officers and 35S Of the men
were killed In action or died of wounds
and disease.
The Secretary has decided to create
u Of the new regimental posts at
Baguio, in the Philippines, and asks
for an appropriation for the purpose.
lie also urges an enlargement OF Fort
Mckinley reservation, nea Manila, BY
5000 acres, at a cost OF $1S5,O00, and
the construction OF an electric railroad
from Camp Overton, on the north shore
OF Mindanao, to Camp Keithley, ON
Lake Lanao, In the center Of the Moro
country.
The Secretary urges the creation Of
a sufficiently large body OF competent
surgeons, with military knowledge and
training, to care for the health and
comfort Of the volunteer forces in time
of war.
Among the estimates submitted IL an
item of $6.4SS.OO0 for the construction
Of batteries at Manila and Subig bay.
This estimate appears In connection
with others for the insular possessions,
and the only comment made upon It In
the report Is this:
'.rhe places recommended for FORTH
cation have all been visited by one or
more members Of the national coast de-
Tense board and the suitability for for
~tificatlon sites has been carefully
studied by the board. and expenditures
are being made accordingly"
Accompanying the report are the e..
Inmates for the support of the military
establishment during the next fiscal
year, which Is $11,5s2.931 greater than
last years appropriations. By far the
greater part Of the Increase (nore than
90 per cent? is for coast defense works,
Of which about $ol,7OO,OOO ID required
for the United States and $14.0OO,000
for tho tuuu1ap nos0oSsfnna
In concluding the report Secretary
Taft recommends that Congress make
adequate provisions for the erection Of
q statue to SECRETARY Edwin n. Stan.
ton in Washington.