The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-07-03
Uncle Sam's s Empire"
 Dwindling Rapidly
Jurisdiction of War Department Over Insular Region
 One of Principal Causes
hy w1ELlAM H. LANDER

United Press Stan Correspondent,
 Washington. (uP)--The lem. pirN' of the United States ia dwindling. This situation has had its natural reflex here in the rap- idly shrinking jurisdiction of the war department over insular re- gions.
 At one time the Bureau of Insu. lar Affairs of the war department handled all matters pertaining to the governing Of Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Philippine Islands.
 Dwindling Jurisdiction
 Jurisdiction over Cuba lapsed in 1909 when it became independent. Puerto Rico, effective July 2S, 1884, will pass to the Jurisdiction of the department of the interior. Eventually the Philippine arch. tpelago will become the free "Re. public of the Philippines" Be- tween now and that time the Bu. reau of Insular Affairs will devote itself nearly exclusively to Fill pin0 matters.
 Most big powers with far-flung empires have a ministry of coi- onies," or Q colonial office. But the United States never did. The nearest thing to that has been the Bureau of Insuiar Affairs, created as an aftermath of thesterrltories acquired by the Spanish American War.
 Acquired from Spain
 After the surrender of the Span. ish forces at Santiago de Cuba In August, 1898, the war department was confronted with huge task of governing not only Cuba, but Puer- to Rico and the Philippine arehi- pelago.
 At first ali matters referring to those islands was simply referred to the chief clerk of the war de- pertinent, who assigned Q clerk to handle all incoming records.
 Eventually additional clerks were secured, but the many ques- tions arising made 1t evident that Q new office must be created. Fin. ally. on December i3, 1S90S the Division of Customs and Insular AfReirs was created, and later, when tho scope of tho division's $ activities broadened, the then Ma. jor John J. pershlng was made chief tMarch 10, 1S90).
 Major pershing headed the new office until August 24, 1899, when ho himself applied for active duty in the Philippine Islands, whero trouble had broken out in tho Moro province.
 Lieutenant Colonel Clarence R. Edwards, of the 47th United states Infantry was assigned to the in- sular office on February IS, 1900 continuing at its head for moro than 12 years--until August 23, 1919.
 Name of oRIcc Changed
 Under Colonel (later General) Edwards, the name of the office was changed first to that of "Di. vision of 1nenlar Affairs" (Decom. ber 10, 1000) and then to that of Bureau of fnsular Affairs of the war department (Juiy 1, i002).
 General Edwards was succeeded as chief of the bureau in 1919 by Brigadier. General Frank Mcintyre, who continued In that post until his retirement on January 6, 1929. He already had served seven years as assistant chief, 50 that his du- ties in tho bureau extended over more than 23 years.
 Various reports of secretaries of war credit Mcintyre with having had the virtual direction of the work relating to tho Philippines and Puerto Rico. He was praised for his "statesmansh and saga city" in handling the delicate prob. iems confronting the bureau, and was freely consulted by congress sionai leaders in relation to insular matters.
 CavMlryman chief
 From January 6, 1929 to August 22, 1888 the bureau was headed by Colonel Y. LcJ. Parker (eaval. ry). Colonel Parker accompanied Secretary of War Patrick J. Hur.