The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-08-15

Washington, Aug. 1.-THE White
house, the war department and the
navy department today resumed their
usual Sunday quiet, condition which
a has not prevailed since the Maine was
~ blown Up IN Havana harbor February
10. Secretary Alger was at the depart
ment a few minutes and also went to
the White house, but did not remain
long. General Corbin came into his Of
fee during the day and looked over
his dispatches, but did not remain con-
stantly on duty, as he has been doing.
There were a few clerks about the de-
partments, hut scarcely a Sunday pass
eS in peace times that this does not
happen. The busy war-like attitude
has entirely disappeared and Washing
tor has settled down to a peace basis.
The president believes the most ser
ious problem which the commission will
be called upon TO deal with is the Phil
ippineS. Before the commission assem-
bles it is hoped the affairs of Cuba
and Porto Rico viii be found in such
process Of adjustment as to leave lit
tie for the commission to consider I'M
der that head. The absolute relin-
quishment by Spain of all authority
over the islands in the West Indies
Will allow only the. property questions
TO be settled between the governments
as to what Spain shall take away and
as to what shall remain captures of
war, and the protection of Spanish
subjects and their property in the is
lands. 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 pre-
sent a different problem in the peace
II. \
.tration to give it a great deal of care
full attention. Several suggestions have
been made as to what shall be done,
one being the retention of the bay, city
and the harbor of Manila, just what
the protocol gives temporarily. An
other is that SUbig bay and a sufficient
amount OF territory for a naval and
AG9aling station be secured and the
building up of an American city at that
place begun. Still another idea, which
is k0&~ considered is the retention of
the l-Snd of Luzon, the advocates of
that plan believing there would be trou-
bic between the governments which oc-
cupieG a portion of the island with a
line OF demarkatiOn such as would ex-
list in case Manila and the bay only |
was retained. The Island of Luzon is |
the largest of the group and contains !
about 100000 people, who are said to
be the better class in the Philippines /
IL - bCiNN IL llOWtN6I. lIlS
ton and the commission will be great |
" influenced by the reports which Adj
miral Dewey and General Merritt will |
make on the subject. Their reports are
expected before the commission meets.
CUBA AND PORTO RICO.
The final determination as to the gov
eminent of Porto Rico and the gov
eminent OF Cuba are problems for set I
Element, but the impression prevails |
that these islands will become cutie I
rapidly AmericaniZed and every encour-
agement for them to do so Will be Civ
en-. Porto Rico will be under military
control for the present. Cuba will also
be similarly governed, but it is prob
able American reforms in the matter
OF government Will be such that the
people of Cuba VIII see the advantage
of becoming annexed to the United
States 1t is thought the sanitary inn
provement of Havana and other cities,
the management of the municipalities
and liberty offered the country's peo-
pie viii be of such a character as to
convince the people that the changed
conditions are for. their good.
There has been,little doubt about soon
settling the transfer OF Porto Rico,
which will be treated at once as an
American possession. The first move
ment in this direction Will be the send
ing of a delegation of officers from the
posIoffice department to Investigate and
report upon the mail facilities there
now and to make such recommends
tons as they determine upon Methods
Of transportation and the condition OF
postofIices generally in the island will
be examined Military postoffices will
be established at once wherever troops
are stationed and at such other points
as may be demanded by the interests
Of Americans and the people of the is
- - !
able. A similar course will be taken in
Cuba, but this is likely to be delayed. |
as the immediate removal of the Span
Sh and the occupation by the United ,
States is not expected.
NO MORE TO MANILA.
No more troops will be sent to Cen :
eral Merritt unless he asks for them :
It is believed the 10000 men now there
are sufficient to garrison Manila and 7
he ground which the United States win
occupy for the present
All of the troops that were with Cen I
eral Shafter in the Santiago campaign =
will be out Of Cuba by Friday of this 4
week. General Shafter will accompany | f
hem to Montauk Point. There will re-
main at Santiago five regiments of i'm Z
nunes to do garrison duty. 1t is yet I
possible that battery will be sent to :
'antiaso to take the place of the bat 4
cries .ich are to be removed. n
General Miles has about 5000 men y
n Porto Rico. They will be sufficient
or the occupation of the island and
perhaps more than are needed after the
spanish evacuate. The remainder of
be troops Will remain in the various Y
amps to which they have been as
igneG for the present, though some
hing may be done looking towards di-
the number when it becomes 5
pparent that they are no longer need t.
G g
The government will dispose of the y
transports lhat nave peen IN use as CT
list as they can be released and are fl
o longer required for service az
All vessels of the navy that can be r
pared from service il the West In i
les wiz be ordered to ports in the ~
tatas- whars the men viii be given &C