The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-05-27
MEXICAN
DOLLARS
Will be Paid Philippine
Soldiers Because They
Purchase More.

Washington. May 27.-One OF the most
interesting preparations for tho QUILTING
of the Manila expedition was announced
yesterday. The Government has purchased
250, eco Mexican silver dollars, which Gen.
eral Merritt will take along to defray tho
expenses of the expedition. This amount
Is not expected to last long. but more will
be sent him from time to timo.
BY purchasing Mexican dollars great
saving is made, and Uncle Sam, by taking
advantage in a practical way of the ''sil-
yer question" shows himself thrifty
business man. 1t Is possible to obtain
Mexican dollars at 46 cents each, thus OBJ
tanning for one American dollar two
Mexican ones, and leaving 8 cents over
toward the purchase Of third. In other
words, Uncle Sam was able to buy $50. 600
Mexican dollars for $4,000 They were
bought In San Francisco,
will buy more than an American dollar,
so that the expenses Of General Merritt's
expedition after it OnCo lands In Manila
will DO less than one half what they would
otherwise be- As to the soldiers, they will
fare excellently undor this arrangement,
for they will, OF course, be paid according
to law, American money
The paymaster will give each soldier
two Mexican dollars for every American
dollar due him on pay day.
Eight thousand cork helmets wore sent
on Tuesday from the Philadelphia hat de-
pot to San Francisco. They are for the
Philippine expedition. The depot quarter.
master here yesterday opened bids for TO-
700 additional helmets. The helmets arc to
be made Of cork, which renders them light
and waterproof. The firm of Charles Lavy's
Sons, No. SOL Broadway, was the lowest
bidder, offering to furnish the 10, 900 at Sl.a5
aninra md 4 n laliyar than AT tha ta
1000 week.
The contract will be awarded to this firm
II the quar-. ermaster general does not sue
coed In making cheaper arrangements
with Chinese firm In Hong Kong. The
quartermaster general has oabled to this
Chinese firm and expects All answer to-
day. If they have the helmets there they
ctrn, Of course, furnish them much cheaper
and without the trouble and delay of long
transportation. Chinese helmets are made
Of plth. woody substance, good sub
stitute for cork,
In connection with General Merritt tax.
Ing large quantity Of money along with
BIN to Manila 1t Is interesting to note that
be will be quite removed there from official
supervision. His chief quartermnster will
BIO practically quartermaster general, and
tho same will be true of his chief commits
sary. He will have I'm army equal 10 two
thirds the regular army In times OF peace
and will BIO as much q dictator In the
Philippines after he has subjugated the
Spanlards as an old Roman pr0.consul
Washington, May 26.-Litttle progress
was mado by the War Department officials
to-day In securing transports for the
Philippine expedition, the only addition
being tho Ohio, good sized vessel. She
will be rapidly transformed, so rs to make
her available for carrying q large number
OF men and animals.
Assistant Secretary Meiklejohn Is still
negotiating with the agents of the North.
ern Pacific Steamship Company for tho
chartering OF the six vessels Of that line.
He has fixed an upset price, which the
Government will pay for the charter OF
these vessels, and this figure has been
cabled by the agents hero to the owners In
London.
The.company does not seem disposed to
let the Government have its vessels ut a
material reduction from that which Ameri.
can vessels can be obtained, notwtthstand.
Ing the fact the War Department will rec
ommend to Congress that an American
registry be given TO tho Northern Pacific
vessels if they are chartered.
There ore three chartered vessels Oil the
Pacific Coast available for the second OK.
pediIion-ihe Hsalandia, Centennial and
Ohio The Ohio Is 8i3 feet long, 40 feet
and OF 3,i99 tonnage. Such of them as are
not already there will bo ordered to San
Francisco 1t is hoped that this may be
done by some time noxt week. SO that an.
other detachment Of 9. 500 men will be sent
to reinforce Rear Admiral Dewey.
The department has declined tho gener-
Gus offer made by Arthur Sewall ofMaine,
to charter his ship Roanoke. Tho main
reason for this is that the Roanoke is a
sailing vessel, and the officials believe that
steamships are preferable.