And State Papers 589 



ciency of our army which these three reforms are 

 making, and have in part already effected. 



The reorganization provided for by the act has 

 been substantially accomplished. The improved con- 

 ditions in the Philippines have enabled the War De- 

 partment materially to reduce the military charge 

 upon our revenue and to arrange the number of sol- 

 diers so as to bring this number much nearer to 

 the minimum than to the maximum limit estab- 

 lished by law. There is, however, need of supple- 

 mentary legislation. Thorough military education 

 must be provided, and in addition to the regulars 

 the advantages of this education should be given 

 to the officers of the National Guard and others in 

 civil life who desire intelligently to fit themselves 

 for possible military duty. The officers should be 

 given the chance to perfect themselves by study in 

 the higher branches of this art. At West Point the 

 education should be of the kind most apt to turn 

 out men who are good in actual field service; too 

 much stress should not be laid on mathematics, nor 

 should proficiency therein be held to establish the 

 right of entry to a corps d'elite. The typical Amer- 

 ican officer of the best kind need not be a good math- 

 ematician; but he must be able to master himself, 

 to control others, and to show boldness and fertility 

 of resource in every emergency. 



Action should be taken in reference to the militia 

 and to the raising of volunteer forces. Our militia 

 law is obsolete and worthless. The organization and 

 armament of the National Guard of the several 



