Devils Lake inter-ocean and Devils Lake free press. (Devils Lake, Ramsey County, N.D.) 1905-1909, 1908-06-19

OF QfSaO1ltty incurred In service IN
the line of duty, and the aot Of Feb.
6, 1907, granting pensions 10 all
soldiers and sailors who served in
the civil war and in the Mexican war.
are measures of justice and geEeros-
ity unexampled in the annals$#of a
grateful people. The total numoer of
pensioners on the rolls is now Slight
ly in excess Of 100000, and the$aver-
age amount paid out in. pensions iE
month is nearly 10 million dollars,
and in 1907. $15s,155,412 were paid to
pensioners. S$ssS%
During the past four years the
post-office department has continued
its benehcent work in the interest of
all the people until =, the list Of
April, 1908, free rural delivery was
in operation on a9,037 routes from
16,s03 postoffices. Complete rural
service has been established in 79s
counties, saving $9,5oo0oo in the dis
continuance of postoffices and il
every way carrying the blessings Of
the free delivery system to our rural
population and thus promotinr the
happiness and contentment Of the
people. ,s%y
1t is to be regretted that measure
to provide for the CARRYING of our
mails to the orient and the South
American countries in American ships
should have failed, but its passage
in the near future is confidently ex
pected The confession was made by
Mr.. Root on his return from the
South American countries that; "dur-
Sy,<v of1 10
great ports of the southern continent,
and saw only one ship besides the
cruiser that carried me flying the
American flag"
This humiliating condition should
stimulate the American people to re-
newed and determined effort to re-
establish a merchant marine until we
are able to carry American mails and
American merchandise under the Am
erican flag to every port Of trade.
The work of recognizing and pro-
noting the efficiency of the army has
gone steadily forward until we have
a military force not only sufficient to
maintain peace within our own Dor
ders, but capable of resisting any pos
sible force that could be sent against
us. The establishment of a general
! staff of the army has made action by
1t more prompt and effective than
ever before and has served 70 give
70 the policy of Improvement in the
army prominent character.
f; The educational training of officers
of the army after graduation gives to
our officers higher training in mill
tary science and the practical needs
of actual war than the officers of any
other army. BY the division of the
artillery corps into the field and
coast artillery the army has been
separated into two branches-the
mobile army and that part needed
for the maintenance of the coast de-
lenses. Work upon the coast sdefens-
es has proceeded both upon the main
land and in the dependencies upon a
we'll devised scheme for their COM
pletion. The time is near at hand
when we. can rest secure that both
our mainland coast and our depend
encies will be proof against the sud
den capture Of any seaport in which
the. nations flag, is flying. I &5S
Most important progress has beer
made in the development Of the ma.
tional militia as an aid to the regular
army of the United States. BY well
directed legislation and by the activity
Of the proper bureaus of the war de.
partment for the first time IN the
history of the country adequate steps
are being taken to bring about an
approximation of armament, equip
ment and discipline of the militia; Ste
those of the regular army. The i'm,
portance of this development for ma
tional defense cannot be overestimat
ed. ...z >.-.,. ,.y. 5$*$G.
The medical department has rem
dered most valuable service in stamp
ing out yellow fever. without which
it would have'been impossible to con
struct the Panama canal: The arm,
has aided the stricken people of Sar
Francisco, saving them from starva
ton and death due to the earthquake,
and fire with which that city wa.
visited -.
Another and most remarkable in
stance of the efficiency of the arm,
has been the work done by it durins
the year of its stay in Cuba as fore,
for the maintenance of the tranquil
zation of that island. Not singh
report of any abuse by officer or ma,
has reached the department durinl
the entire time. $Ss$5s 7
T IA The management sofzsour outlyini
possessions under Republican admin
istration~ has been attended with re
markable2 success, Under America,
occupation and control the .commsrc
of the island Of Porto Rico, which Ii
the most prosperous days of Spanisl
rule aggregated but ~ million dol
lars, was, in 1907, Sc millions.
: production of sugar has advance
j. from 100000 tons rs 100000 tons
: valued at Is million dollars.
: When we took possession ofsfh
island there was but one school build
ing owned by the government. ps
there are over 80. built and unde
construction, and the number Z
pupils in the public schools Isl NJ, 90!
Peace and order prevail throughou
Ne island, and a representative
!; accorded to. the United States. b:
:, In the Philippine Islands the peopl
have been given a &,legislativebo dy
J. the full power of! conducting 35thei
8 own municipal and provincial 3gaVerr
h 7 merts, the establishment q. ttir,