The herald., 1898-06-11
HAS ALREADY BEEN ROUGHLY
BLOCKED OUT
when HAWAII Is ANNEXED
The Powers Of Europe Will Be Told
What the United States
Intends to Do
Associated Press Special Wire

tribune from washington says:
From information that has just come 20
light it appears that the administration has
determined upon State policy concerning
the Philippines. 1t is the evident inten-
ton of this government to annex the is
lands This policy has not been hastily
decided upon, and it was outlined before
Admiral Dewey began the operations
which have been brought to SO satisfac-
tory a stage. 1t will be operative as soon
as Hawaii is annexed. This accounts in
measure for the vigor with which the
President Is pushing the annexation of Ha-
waii. The Philippine policy will then be
outlined to the powers.
Shortly before Admiral Dewey was or
dered to take the Philippines United States
Consul Williams at Manila was instructed
by the State Department to collate all avail
able informa ton, statistics, etc, concern
ing the Spanish system of taxation in the
islands, their particular sources of reve-
nue.. etc., and to forward the informa-
ton to washington at once.
Assisted by Vice-Consul Duland he hur-
riedly compiled the desired data and his
report came into possession of the State
Department three weeks ago. AS result
q revised system of taxation is being form
ed and 1t is nearly completed now. A
force of twelve clerks has been working
upon the facts sent by Consul Williams and
upon their work being completed the new
system will be promulgated by the Presi-
dent to the proper authorities.
In brief. the proposed plan Of taxation is
to remove entirely the present tax i'm
posed upon household goods, beasts of
burden and native products and to sub
stitute reasonable property and poll taxes
similar to those exacted in this country.
No poll tax will be levied upon women. I'm
port duties to the Philippines will be low
cred and almost cut in half. A number of
native products will be admitted free to the
United States with some regulations cal
culated to protect the home industries
where affected.
1t is also proposed to regulate the wage
scale in the islands. Philippine labor is
now rated at from to 20 cents per day. a
minimum scale of 80 cents will be enforced.
BY this means the revenues of the islands
will be cut about So, 900 900. 1t Is believed by
economic experts that this new order
of things will give new zest to commercial
affairs in the islands and eventually put
the tax revenues far above the $40, 900 900
now realized by Spain.
The government is now considering the
appointment of an official collector of GUS
toms, who shall be dispatched to the is
lands to inaugurate the new system with
one of the expeditions. 1t is believed tn 1t
the selection of such an official has al
ready been made, but there Is no definite
information concerning his identity.
A Chinese Ally
| CLEVELAND, Ohio, June 10.-Dr. Jos.
F. Chan, a Chinese physician, highly
educated and naturaliZed citizen residing
here, has conceived a novel plan for rem
| dering assistance to the United States in
driving the Spaniards from the Philippine
Islands and has offered his services to the
government to aid in carrying out the plan.
| DIR. Chan proposes to enlist in the United
| States regular army, or to receive an ap-
pointment as surgeon. He will ask for
authority to enlist a party of about 200
of his fellow countrymen in San Francisco
and take them to the Philippines and do
missionary work among the Chinese resi-
dents of that country. DR.. Chan says that
of the 5000, 900 inhabitants of the Philip
pines, 5000, 900 are Chinese. They were
taking no part in the insurrection against
the Spaniards, but were stongly opposed
to Spanish rule. He says that the Chinese
in the Philippines are almost entirely ig-
norant of the United States, but If he can
go over there he would influence them to
become in favor of the government of the
islands under the control of the United
States, and would organize a large army
of Chinese to fight under the Stars and
Stripes and to become allies in the army
of invasion. The doctor is in correspond
ence with Governor Bushnell and the War
Department at Washington in reference
to his plan.
The Plan a Good One
SAN FRANCISCO. June 10.--When shown
the Associated Press dispatch from Cleve-
land regarding DR.. Joseph F.. Chan's pro-
posed expedition to the Philippines for the
purpose of doing missionary work among
the 5000 900 Chinese inha bitants of the
islands favorable to the American cause,
the Chinese Consul-General in this city
said he had heard nothing of the proposed
plan, but thought that such a scheme was
feasible; that the educated Chinese. resi-
dents of the Philippines We're friendly
toward the United States, and that the
masses might easily be made to look upon
this country as a friendly power. The
| Consul knows nothing of DR.. Chan person.
ally.
The Consul-General also expressed the
opinion that the reported safe of three fight
ing ships by the Chinese to Spain was
hoax.
He said that his country once having
signed a decree of neutrality would not
violate its provisions. He said that his
government had only few good vessels
and that 1t would hold them for its own
use.
Aguinaldo's Plans
VANCOUVER. b. c., June 10.-Late mail
advices from Hongkong contain interest
ing details regarding the negotiations be-
tween the Philippine rebel chief Aguinaldo
and the United States officials at Singa-
pore Just before the actual outbreak of
hostilities between Spain and the United
States, as a result of which Gen. Aginal-
do entered into direct relations with Ad-
miral Dewey while that officer was still
at Hongkong. A conference between Gen.
Aguinaldo and United States Consul Gen.
eral Pratt was arranged by Howard w.
Bray. Mr.. Bray and others were present
at the conference and Mr.. Bray acted as
Interpreter.
Gen. Aguinaldo explained to Consul Cen
eral Pratt the incidents and objects of the
late rebellion and described in detail the
nature of the cooperation he could give.
In the event of the American forces land
ing and taking possession of Manila, he
would guarantee to maintain order and
discipline among the native troops and in