Evening star., 1898-10-07
THEY MUST DEPART
Spanish Must Leave Porto Rico by
the 18th.
MILITARY COMMISSIONERS INSTRUCTED
The President Postpones His Civil
Service Order.
TODAY'S CABINET MEETING

President Mckinley has telegraphcd the
American military commissioners in Porto
Rico that the Spantards must evacuate the
island by the 18th Of this month, and that
II they have not done so by that time the
commissioners are to take possession in
the name Of the United States. The Span
isrds have been promising to have al! of
their forces out by a certain time for a
good while. and have failed to keep their
promises. The President does not care for
further delay. when he Is confident the de-
lay is not essential to evacuation. The
American commissioners will probably
communicate the Presidents order to the
Spaniards. and just before the 18th demand
possession in the name of the American
government.
1t Is probable that a similar step will
soon be taken as to Cuba, if it is believed
that the Spaniards are not attempting to
honestly carry out the terms of the Droto-
col. Some order designed to hurry affairs
in Cuba would probably have been issued
before this but for the fact that the Pres-
dent was not ready to send American
troops to the island. 1t is strongly init
mated that the American commissioners
to Cuba have been told to get the Span
iards out by December l.
The Cabinet Meeting.
The fact to the Porto Rican order was
brought out at the cabinet meeting today.
The cabinet members agreed with the
President that the order was necessary and
proper. Arrangements will now go on for
the formal operation of the government Of
the island by the American government,
and the details will be announced as they
are arranged for.
Gen. Otis has telegraphed Secretary AL
ger from Manila that the Spanish govern
ment has ordered Gen. Jaudenes to appear
before an examining board in Spain. The
order. however, cannot be carried out with
out the consent of the American govern
ment. as Gen. Jaudenes Is a prisoner of
war. Orders will be sent to Gen. Otis to
allow the Spanish general to go home.
The Indian Troubles.
There was some discussion of the Indian
troubles in Minnesota by the cabinet. Sec
retary Bliss had not received any fresh tn
tellgence, 5ut expressed the belief that
there would not he a general uprising, and
that the Pillagers are the only ones resist
ing the soldiers. Secretary Alger said that
ample reinforcemcnts had been ordered to
the scene of the troubles, but that II more
troops are needed the two regiments OF
Minnesota troops which have been mus
tered out will be called into service and
sent TO the front.
Discussing Commodore Philips Case.
The cabinet was occupied for a time with
the case of Commodore John w Philip, the
new commander of the North Atlantic
squadron in the absence of Admiral Samp-
son. This officer has lodged a formal pro-
test against the action Of the department
in placing him on the list of comInodores
lust below Commodore Watson, when he
claims as matter of right that he should
take place just after Commodore Remey,
near the head of the list of commodores.
AS d reward for his gallantry while in
command of the Texas in the battle of July
3 the President directed that he be ad-
vanccd five numbers. In execution of This
direction. the Navy Department placed him
on the list of commodores next below Com
mCdCre J. G. Watson In doing this they
included in the list of five officers Jump
ed by Philip Commodore5 Robcson.
Schley, Casey and Sampson and Capt
Cromwell Commodore Philips claim is
that inasmuch as Commodores Schley and
Sampson were promoted to the grade of
rear admiral about the time of his own
promotion. he was actually advanced only
three numbers instead of five, as inter ded
by the President.
Eliminating Schley and Sampson from
the list, the advancement Of Philip five
numbers would place him above Commo-
dores tarquhar and Watson and next be-
low Commodore J. c. Remey. thus making
a decided difference in his relative position
on the naval list.
The Presidcnt's Civil Service Order.
Tne President has said to several con-
gressional callers in the past few days that
he will issue the long-delayed civil serv-
ice order after the November elections and
not before. The order, or orders, has been
ready for the Presidents signature for some
time and much pressure has been brought
10 bear to have the President sigh it.
1t has been pointed out the chief eX-
ecutive that to release large number of
places from the civil service now would
encourage the republican workers in the
coming elections and aid materially in the
fight.
The President has firmly refused to sign
the orders and has said that he does not
propose to his high Office TO engage
in what might be Classed small poll
ties He said that the orders would have
been promulgated months ago but for the
war coming on If he could have attended
to the work then it would have been all
right, the President has said He will not
do so now, when such action might be look
ed upon as peanut politics.
The orders viii be issued in about a
month and will exempt from the operations
of the civil service several thousand posi-
ttons throughout the country. The ma
jCrity of these will be in the revenue and
customs service. All deputy marshals,
deputy collectors and storekeepers and
saugers will be taken from the classified
service, will many places in the Post
Office Department.
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