The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-11-02

Washington, Nov. 1.-The cabinet to-
day devoted most Of its attention to
consideration of questions connected
with the administration Of affairs in
Cuba and Puerto Rico. The admins
trative feature of the Philippine ques-
ton also received some attention Moth
llghaS beer heard from the commission
at Paris as to yesterdays proceedings,
and il is realized that nothing is TO be
expected in the way of developments
until Fridays session.
While the cabinet gave little attention
today to the peace negotiations at
Paris, there is no longer any doubt as
10 the general purposes of this govern
ment to retain the entire Philippine
archipelago. If, after the final balanc-
ing of account, viz: the cost of the
war to the United States on one side
and our acquisitions on the other, 1t is
found that any compensation is due
the Spaniards, it will be made i'll a lump
sum.
1t is pointed out that at the time the
protocol was signed, the United States
did not have and has not since ac-
quired any part of the Philippine ISL
ands outside of Manila city and harbor,
and that the United States has never
entertained a purpose to acquire any
territory by the power OF conquest.
What the United States will insist up
on is that she must be fully reimbursed
for every dollar expended by her on ac-
count of the war, and in the statement
VIII be included an amount sufficient
to cover all payments, present and
prospective, on account Of pensions in
cidental to the war. No Spanish bonds
of any character or amount other than
local or municipal bonds viii be paid
or assumed by this government The
nTTpCtfora the { Of UnI1nIQin1l oh
legations under circumstances like the
present is fully settled by international
law. They must be recognized as valid
and binding by the conquerinS power,
and, hence, it is assumed that the
United States will not raise any queS-
ton on this point but promptly con-
sent to guarantee their final payment.
What sum of money this government
would consent to pay to Spain cannot
even be estimated, but when the final
account is rendered it is believed that
the balance due Spain will be small,
probably not exceeding $25,OOO,O00 or
$50 000, 600.
The belief stin prevails among the
majority of the cabinet that the Span
iards will accept the terms laid down
by the United STATES and that what
eVe- delay occurs before that result is
reached will be Chargeable only to the
purpose of the Spaniards to secure
the best possible terms, to eXtort the
last possible million dollars before ac-
ceding to our demands.
The possibility of disagreement of the
commissioners and the failure of the
conference, however, is now contemp-
lated with greater eqU6nimity than at
an earlier stage Of the negotiations.
The administration has satisfied itself
that Spain is neither able nor wiling
to resume hostilities on any scale that
,r-or7TG mako her y d9ngpT0llS OnDOn6nt
to the United States.
So far as the cabinet discussion dealt
with Puerto Rico and Cuba, 1t was
the purpose to form measures for the
best means of collecting the revenues
and customs and finding some means Of
equalizing the revenues upon imports
from the United States, as we'll as from
other countries. and providing for the
peaceful and satisfactory government
of the cities and towns, until congress
shall have ordered otherwise. It is the
intention of the president to maintain
a military government in both Cuba
and Puerto Rico for the time being, but
his purpose is also to mitigate the
harsher features of such form OF gov
eminent, so far as lies within his power.
For instance, there was taken into Sc
rious consideration a view put forth
by Secretary Alger that it would be
well in Cuba to use the Cuban soldiers,
VINO seemed TO De uLteQ TOT SuCn WOth,
as a local police force or gendarmerie,
possessed, in a measure, of both the
power Of the police and soldier. There
are several strong arguments which
the war department has put forth as
sufficient to justify the adoption of this
course. in the first place, honorable
and profitable employment would be
given to considerable proportion Of
The Cuban soldiers who might other
wise. in the absence of individual en-
rloyment. drift into evil courses or be-
come a dissatisfied and dangerous ele-
fnent in the community. In the second
place. these men, being thoroughly &C
ouainted, locally, with places, the hab-
its of the Spanish Americans and the
language, would be much more service
able as police than American soldiers
Already some of the evils attending the
employment of the latter have been
experienced at Manila and Santiago
the results being sometimes comical
and at Others serious in the under
standing that arose between the sol
dfers and the people.
SATTSFAC VIoN OF BRITONS.