The record-union., 1898-11-02

count or PENSIONS 4ncAoeAIdA "
the War.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 1.-THE Cabi-
net to-day devoted most of its atten-
ton to consideration of the question
in connection with the administration
of affairs in Cuba and Porto Rico
The administrative feature of the Phil
ippine question also received some con-
sideration. Nothing has been heard
from the commission at Paris as to
yesterdays proceedings, and it is re-
allied that nothing is to be expected
in the way Of developments until Fiji
days session.
While the Cabinet gave little atten-
ton to-day to the peace negotiations
at Paris, there is no longer any doubt
as to the general purposes of this Gov
ernment to retain the entire Philippine
archipelago. If, after final balancing
of the 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 in a
lump sum.
It is pointed out that at the time the
protocol was signed the United States
did not have and had not since ac-
quired any part of the Philippine ISL
ands outside of Manila City and har-
Dor, and that the United States has
never entertained a purpose to ac-
quire any territory by the power or
conquest. What the United States will
insist upon is that she must be fully
reimbursed for every dollar expended
by her on account of the war, and in
the statement will be included an
amount sufficient to cover all pay
ments, present and prospective, on ac-
count of pensions incidental to the
war.
No Spanish bonds of any character
or amount, other than local or munich
pal bonds. will be paid or assumed by
this Government. The question of the
status of municipal obligations under
the circumstances like the present is
fully settled by international law. They
must be recognized as valid and bind
ing by the conquering power, s-llg
hence it is assumed that the United
States will not raise any question on
this point, but promptly consent 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 ac-
count is rendered it is believed that
the balance due Spain will be small
probably not exceeding $25,OOO,0O0 or
$30000,000
The belief still prevails among the
majority of the Cabinet that the Span
iards will accept the terms laid down
by the United States, and that what
ever 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 acceding
to our demands.
The possibility of disagreement Of
the Commissioners and the failure OF
the conference, however, is now con-
templated with greater equanimity
than at an earlier stage of the negotia-
tions. The Administration has salts
fed itself that Spain is neither able nor
willing to resume hOstilities on any
scale that would make her a danger
Gus opponent to the United States.
Therefore, supposing the Paris confer
ence fails, all that would be imposed
upon our Government is an immediate
duty to take complete military pos
session of the Philippines. This, it is
believed could be accomplished by us
without loss of time or life. The last
vestige of Spanish military power in
the islands is that under Colonel Rios.
Commander-in-C Chief of the Viscayas
Islands, and by deputized authority in
charge of all Spanish territory not di-
rectly within the control of the United
States in the Philippine Islands, His
force is insignificant from a military
l.. point of view, and it is doubted if he
could hold his own against the insur-
gents, had the Tagals been allowed
by Admiral Dewey to make Manila
the base of an expedition directed
against the Spanish commander.
So far as Cuba is concerned, the diff
ficulty might be more serious, but even
in Cuba the Spanish military forces
are not in condition to offer pro-
longed resistance to the American con-
quest of the island. and with the Span
ish navy at the bottom of the sea they
could not be reinforced by troops from
Spain Therefore, about the worst that
could happen would be the necessity
imposed upon US of struggling along
without the signature of treaty or
peace. but in full possession of all the
territory we desire, and that such con-
ditions can exist without damage to
material interests is shown by the ex-
istence of the Spanish-American re-
publics, who revolted from SPANS
rule.
SO far as the Cabinet discussion to-
day touched upon Cuba and Porto
Rico, it was the purpose to develop
views as to the best means of collecting
the revenues and customs, providing
some means of equalizing the duties
which will be collected locally upon i'm
ports from the United States as well
as from other countries, and providing
for the peaceful and satisfactory gov
ernment of the cities and towns until
Congress shall have ordered otherwise.
1t is the intention of the President
to maintain a military government in
both Cuba and Porto Rico for the
time being, but his purpose is also to
mitigate the harsher features of such
form of government, so far as lies with
in his power. For instance there was
taken into serious consideration a view
put forth by Secretary Alger. that it
would be well in Cuba to use the Cuban
soldiers, who seemed to be fitted for