The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1898-11-04

session Of the peace commission the
Americans presented a written express
sion Of the purpose Of the United |
States to take the entire group Of
Philippine islands and to assume such
proportion Of the Philippine debt as
has been spent for the benefit Of the
islands or their inhabitants in public
works, improvements and permanent
betterments.
II was also set forth that the United
States would not assume any part of
the Philippine debt which had been
incurred by Spain for the furtherance
Of military or naval operations 10
quell instructions of the natives.
The session was then adjourned un-
til Friday in order to give the Span
iards time TO prepare a reply.
The meeting lasted but little over
an hour. The Spanish commissioners
made no protest, only asking for time.
The American commissioners, each
carrying a portfolio containing records
and personal memoranda, left their
headquarters in the Continental hotel
for the meeting with the Spanish COM
missioners at the foreign Office, shortly
before 2 o'clock. The president Of
the Spanish commission, Senior Mon
tero Rios, whose health at one time
was so precarious as TO threaten an
indefinite adjournment of the sessions
of the commissions, had improved to
the extent of enabling him TO attend
Mondays meeting. He arrived at the
foreign Office in a closed carriage with
his colleagues shortly after the Ameri-
cans reached the meeting place.
Shortly after 2 o'clock the ten COM
missioners confronted each other across
the table on which, in 1888, Benjamin
Franklin and his colleagues signed the
treaty of independence of the United
States. The American demands a'
TO the Philippines were promptly
made
Secretary Moore, upon the reque s.
of Judge Day, passed to Mr. Fergu
son, the interpreter, the formulated
demands of the United States regard
ing the Philippines, which was reat
to the Spaniards in their own tongu,
by rapid rendering from the Eng
liish, in which they were written.
Although the Spanish commission
ers did not betray anxiety, their atten
ton to the reading was keen. They
had anticipated that the United States
would take over the islands, but tn
terms and details Of the transfer hat
all along been a subject of speculation
The reading disclosed the fact tina
the United States government had de
termined to possess for itself certai
territory and parts of land bound b
and lying within such parallels G
latitude and longitude as mark tn
limits of the Philippine archipelago
The United States do not purpos
assuming the Philippine debt of $40,
600, 900, but they are willing to be re
sponible to Spain for a sum of none
equal to the expenditures by Spain i
the Philippines for the advantages {
the islands, for the permanent better
ments and improvements, both phys
cal and mental.
The clearer method seems to be
hand to Spain spot cash OF somethin
as good and to bid her apply it on he
debts by whichever name known, {
to put it in her wallet for whatevt
use may elect.
: There is considerable traffic betwee
the islands aud some time ago sy
tenn of lighthouses became necessar,
Spain set out to supply this and pr,
I iected forty-eight light stations. {
e this she has already constructed SCI
q enteen of the irst-class and sixteen
the second.
What they cost is not yet know
|, here, but in American waters those
: the frst!class cost from $500
j. $3.50, 900 each so that, on an averag
! bases of the minimum cost in Il
United States SPANS thirty ligh
/ houses may represent an outlay
;. 1926, 600.
Is Such is the vital position of the pr
Il sentiment made by the American cor
missioners, and it is to be o
= served that while the main position
to possession and financial respons
bility is clear and definite, MAI
details have been left to the develo
~ YoanAa of fba discussion batvvaoY "