Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1898-08-18
SERIOUS PROBLEMS.
Philippines Causing the Admins
tration Considerable Anxiety.
THE GOVERNMENT OF PORTO RICO.
The island VIII 10 Treated at Once AZ an
American Possession Cuba to Have
Military Governor for the
Present.

| mouse, the war department. and the
navy department resumed their usual
Sunday quietude, condition which
has not prevailed since the Maine was
blown up in Havana harbor, February
10. Secretary Alger was at the depart
ment few minutes and also went to
the white house, but did not remain
long. Gen. Corbin came to his Office
during the day and looked over his
dispatches, but did not remain con-
stantly on duty as he has been doing
The president believes that the most
serious problem which the peace COM
mission will be called upon to
deal with is the Philippines. Be-
fore the commission assemblies
it is hoped the affairs of Cuba
and Porto Rico will be found in such
process of adjustment as to leave lit
tie for the commission to consider un-
der that head. The absolute relin-
quishment by Spain of all sovereignty
over the islands in the West Indies
will allow only the property questions
to be settled between the govern
ments; that Is, what Spain shall take
away and what shall remain as cap
lures of war, and the protection of
Spanish subjects and their property
in the islands. The greater questions
growing out of the war, as relating to
Cuba and Porto Rico, will have to be
dealt with by the United States alone.
The fact that the Philippines will
present the difficult problem in the
peace negotiations has caused the adj
ministration to give it a great deal of
careful attention. Several suggestions
have been made as to what shall be
done, one being the retention of the
bay, city and harbor of Manila, just
what the protocol gives temporarily.
Another is that Subig bay and sufi-
cient amount of territory for
naval and coaling station be Sc
cured, and the building up of
an American city at that place
begun. Still another idea which is be-
ing considered is the retention of the
island of Luzon, the advocates of that
plan believing that there would be
trouble between the two governments
which occupy portion of the island
with line of demarcation, such as
would exist in case Manila and the
bay only were retained. The island
of Luzon is the largest of the group,
and contains about 100000 people,
which are said to be the better class
in the Philippines. 1t is believed,
however, that the administration and
the commission will be greatly in
fuenced by the reports which Admiral
Dewey and Gen. Merritt will make on
the subject. Their reports are expect
ed before the commission meets.
There has been little doubt about
soon settling the transfer of Porto
Rico, and the reception which the
American troops have received in that
island is justification for the belief.
Porto Rico will be treated at once as
an American possession. The first
movement in this direction will be the
sending of delegation of officials
from the post office department
to investigate and report upon
the mail facilities there now,
and 10 make such recommends
tions as they determine upon.
Mail routes, methods of transportation,
and the conditions of post Offices gem
orally in the island will be examined.
Military post offices will be established
at once wherever troops are stationed,
and at such other points as may be de-
manded by the interests of Americans
and the people of the islands, If the
present offices are not available. A
similar course will be taken in Cuba,
but this is likely to be delayed as the
immediate removal of the Spanish and
occupation by the United States is not
expected.
No more troops will be sent to Gen.
Merritt unless he asks for them. 1t is
believed at the war department that
the 1G, 900 men now there are sufficient
to garrison Manila and the ground
which the United States for the pres
emit will occupy.
All of the troops that were with
Gen. Shafter in the Santiago campaign
will be out of Cuba by Friday of this
week. Gen. Shatter will accompany
them to Montauk point. There will
remain at Santiago Ave regiments of
immunes to do garrison duty. 1t is
vet possible that a battery will be
sent to Santiago to take the place of
batteries which are to be removed
Gen. Miles has about $4,000 men in
Porto Rico. They will be sufficient
for the occupation of the island, and
perhaps more than are needed after
the Spanish evacuate. The remainder
of the troops will remain in the vari-
GUS camps to which they have been as
Lsigned for the present, though some
thing may be done Looking toward di-
minishing the number when it becomes
apparent that they are no longer
needed. All vessels of the navy that
can be spared from service in the West
Indies will be ordered to ports in the
states, where the men will be given
brief holidays
--------------------
Sampaon and sChley Ordered Home.
Washington, Aug, 10. - Admirals
Sannson and Schlev will come to New