LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.

WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, January 4, 1907.

SIR: On January 13, 1904, the Secretary of War transmitted to the Senate a compilation prepared by the Bureau of Insular Affairs, consisting of

First. All legislation enacted by the Congress of the United States during the period between March 4, 1897, the beginning of the first session of the Fiftyfifth Congress, and March 3, 1903, the date of the final adjournment of the Fifty-seventh Congress, concerning the Philippines, Porto Rico, Cuba, Hawaii, the Samoan Islands, and Guam, the late Spanish-American war, and the Army and Navy of the United States.

Second. All proclamations issued by the President and treaties entered into by the United States during the said period concerning any of the above-mentioned islands, together with the treaty providing for the lease to the United States by the Government of Cuba of coaling or naval stations, ratified October 6. 1903, and the commercial convention between the United States and Cuba, proclaimed December 17, 1903.

This compilation was, by order of the Senate, January 19, 1904, printed as Senate Document No. 105, Fifty-eighth Congress, second session. The document was most favorably received and proved to be of such value and usefulness to all who had occasion to refer to the matter contained therein that the Department has received many urgent requests for the publication of a similar work for the period embraced by the Fifty-eighth Congress, March 4, 1903, to March 3,

1905.

In view of the acknowledged usefulness of this document and in compliance with these numerous requests, I beg to transmit herewith a compilation, in the nature of a supplement to the above, which has been prepared by the Bureau of Insular Affairs, consisting of

First. All legislation enacted by the Fifty-eighth Congress of the United States, March 4, 1903-March 3, 1905, pertaining to Alaska, Cuba, Guam, Isthmian Canal Zone, Hawaii, the Midway Islands, the Philippine Islands, Porto Rico, and Samoa.

Second. All treaties and conventions entered into by the United States during the same period which affect any of the above territory.

Third. All proclamations issued by the President during the same period concerning any of the above territory.

Fourth. All claims, the payment of which was provided for during said Congress, which originated during the Spanish-American war or in any of the territory mentioned.

Fifth. All legislation enacted by the Fifty-eighth Congress pertaining to the Spanish-Treaty Claims Commission and to such claims as have been finally adjudicated by it.

Sixth. Certain legislation passed by said Congress and enacted into law affecting the organization and discipline of the Army and Navy.

There has also been compiled and added as an appendix thereto

A list of leading cases, with statements and syllabi, which arose in or relate to the insular and Isthmian possessions of the United States, and Cuba, heard and decided in the Supreme Court of the United States between January 1, 1898, and March 5, 1906.a

This compilation is the only one of its kind, and will prove of great value to the legal fraternity and to all interested in the territorial advancement of the country.

I believe that such a document would be highly appreciated by all of the Executive Departments, by the Congress, and by the libraries and colleges of the country, and I beg to request that the printing thereof be authorized by concurrent resolution, the proof reading and indexing of the same to be done by the War Department.

Very respectfully,

WM. H. TAFT,
Secretary of War.

The PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE.

a Since the date of the above letter this list has been extended to and including December 3, 1906.

NOTE.

Senate Document No. 105, Fifty-eighth Congress, second session, compiled in the Bureau of Insular Affairs, War Department, comprises:

First. All legislation enacted by the Congress of the United States during the period embraced between March 4, 1897, the beginning of the first session of the Fifty-fifth Congress, and March 3, 1903, the date of the adjournment of the Fifty-seventh Congress, concerning the Philippines, Hawaii, Porto Rico, the Samoan Islands, Guam, and Cuba, the late Spanish-American war, and the Army and Navy of the United States.

Second. All proclamations issued by the President, and treaties entered into by the United States during the said period, concerning any of the abovementioned islands, together with the treaty providing for "Lease to the United States by the Government of Cuba of certain areas of land and water for naval or coaling stations in Guantanamo and Bahia Honda," ratified October 6, 1903, and the proclamation of the President, dated December 17, 1903, of the "Commercial Convention between the United States and Cuba."

The present work, in the nature of a supplement to the above, contains:

First. All legislation enacted by the Fifty-eighth Congress of the United States, March 4, 1903-March 3, 1905, pertaining to Alaska, Cuba, Guam, Hawaii, the Isthmian Canal Zone, the Midway Islands, the Philippine Islands, Porto Rico, and Samoa (Tutuila).

Second. All treaties and conventions entered into by the United States during the same period which affect any of the above territory.

Third. All proclamations issued by the President during the same period concerning any of the above territory.

Fourth. All claims originating during the Spanish-American war or in any of the territory mentioned, the payment of which was authorized by said Congress. Fifth. All legislation enacted by the Fifty-eighth Congress pertaining to the Spanish Treaty Claims Commission and to such claims as have been finally adjudicated by it.

Sixth. Certain legislation enacted by said Congress affecting the organization and discipline of the Army and Navy.

Seventh. A list of leading cases, with statements and syllabi, which arose in or relate to the insular and isthmian possessions of the United States, and Cuba, heard and decided in the Supreme Court of the United States between January 1, 1898, and December 3, 1906.

Separate headings have not been made in the body of this work for Samoa (Tutuila), Guam, and the Midway Islands, as all legislation herein contained relating to such territory is of a military nature and will be found under "Army and Navy."

The term "noncontiguous territory of the United States " has been substituted for "insular possessions" as being more appropriate to the scope of the present work.

To facilitate reference, notes in italics have been inserted under the several general headings.