The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1898-08-18
VERYQUIkT DAY.
The White House and Army and Navy
Assume Usual Sunday Quietude.
The Most Serious Problem Before the
Pence Commiss ion viii BE the PM.
ippines-Ad m inistration Civ.
ing 1t Close Attention.


house, the war department and the
navy department Sunday resumed
their usual Sunday quietude, a condi.
tion which has not prevailed since the
Maine was blown up in Havana har-
Dor, February is. Secretary Alger was
at the department few minutes, and
also went to the white house, but did
not remain long. Gen. Corbin came to
his office during the day and looked
over his dispatches, but did not re-
main constantly on duty as he has
been doing. There were few clerks
about the departments, but scarcely
Sunday passes in peace times that this
does not happen. The busy war-like
attitude has entirely disappeared and
Washington has settled down to q
peace basis.
The president believes that the most
serious problem which the peace COM
mission will be called upon to deal
with is the Philippines. Before the
commission Assem- bles it is hoped the
affairs of Cuba and Porto Rico will be
found in such process of adjustment
as to leave little for the commission to
consider under that head. The alb.
solute REIMBURSEMENT by Spain
Of all sovereignty over the islands
in the West Indies will allow only
the property questions to be settled
between the governments, that is what
Spain shall take away and what shall
remain as captures of war and the
protection Of Spanish subjects and
their property in the islands. The
greater questions growing out of the
war as relating to Cuba and Porto Ri.
CO will have to be dealt with by the
United States alone. The fact that the
Philippines will present the
difficult problem in the peace
negotiations has caused the
administration to give it a great deal
of careful attention. Several sugges-
tions have been made as to what shall
be done, one being the retent ton of the
Bay City and harbor of Manila. just
what the protocol gives temporarily.
Another is that Subig bay and q suffi-
cient amount of territory for a naval
and coaling station be secured and the
building up of an American city
at that place begun. Still another
idea, which is being considered
is the retention of the Island of Luzon,
the advocates of that plan believing
that there would be trouble between
the governments which occupied por.
tion of the island with a line of de.
marcation, such as would exist in
case Manila and the bay only was
retained. The Island of Luzon is
the largest of the group and
contains about 1000, 900 people, which
are said to be the better class in the
Philippines. 1t is believed, however.
that the administration and the com.
mission will be greatly Influenced by
the reports which Adm. Dewey and
Gen. Merritt will make on the subject.
Their reports are expected before the
commission meets.
The final determination as to the
government of Porto Rico and the set
tlement of the government of Cuba are
problems for settlement, but the i'm.
preston prevails that these islands will
become quite rapidly Americauized,
and every encouragement for them
to do SO will be given. Porto Rico will
be under military control for the pres.
ent Cuba also will be similarly gov
erned, but it 10 probable that Ameri.
can reforms in the matter of gov.
ernment will be such that the people
of Cuba will see the advantage of
becoming annexed to the United
States. 1t is thought the sanitary i'm.
provement of Havana and other cities.
the management of the munici cipslities
and liberality offered the country peo-
pie will be of such character as soon
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 and the reception which the
American troops have received in that
island is justification for the belief.
Porto Rico will be treated at once
as an American possession. The
first movement in this direction will
be the sending of delegation of
officials from the post Office depart
ment to investigate and report upon
the mail facilities there now and to
make such recommendations as they
determine upon. Mail routes, methods
of transportation and the condi-
tions of post offices generally
in the island will be exam
ined Military post offices will be
established at once wherever troops
are stationed, and at su CHI other points
as may be demanded by the interests
of Americans and the people of the is
lands, If the present offices are not
available.
Gen. ShafuArsa Conn mnnd.