Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-11-01
FORMAL DEMAND
Made by Commissioners fol
All Of the Philippines.
Will Assume Certain Part Of Debt
Time Given for an Answer.
Madrid As.ounded Feeling Grows that The
Demand Should Be Resisted.

commissioners, each Of them carrying a
portfolio containing records and per-
sonal memoranda, left their headquar-
tiers in the Continental hotel for the
meeting with the Spanish commission
ers, at the foreign office, shortly before
l o'clock, this afternoon.
The health of the president of the
Spanish commission, Senior Montero
Rios, had improved to the extent of
enabling him to attend today's meet
ing. He arrived at the foreign office
in closed carriage, with his colleagues
shortly after the Americans reached
the meeting place.
Soon after 2 o'clock, the 10 commits
sioners confronted each other across
the tables on which, in 1898, Benjamin
Franklin and his colleagues signed the
treaty of independence of the United
States. The day was black with flying
clouds, fitrul sunshine, whirling leaves
and raw air.
The Americans were removing their
wraps when the Spaniards entered the
anteroom and polite and cordial greet
ings were exchanged as the two groups
passed through the grand salon where
a buffet was spread and entered the
leaving, the Spaniards would learn the
attitude of the United States toward
the Philippines.
The Spanish commissioners took their
| accustomed places at the historic table,
the afternoon light full in their faces.
while the Americans ranged them
selves opposite with their backs to the
light, and with the interpreter standing
1,A tpI IL ,;.rl,t -
and the left of Senior Montero Rios and
between the two secretaries, Mr.. Moore
and Senior Ogeda.
Mr.. Moore, upon the request of Judge
Day. passed to Mr.. Ferguson the inter-
prefer, the formulated demands of the
United States regarding the Philip
pines, which were read to the Span
iards in their own tongue by rapid
| rendering from the English, in which
they were written. Although the Span
ish commissioners did not betray any
anxiety, their attention to the reading
was keen. They had anticipated that
the United States would take over the
islands; but the terms and details Of
| transfer had all along been subject
of speculation.
The reading disclosed the fact that
the United States government had de-
termined to possess for itself certain
territory and parts of land bounded by
and lying within such parallels of lati-
| tude and longitude as marked the linn
its of the Philippine debt of $4,000. 900.
but they are willing to be responsible
to Spain for sum of money equal to
the actual expenditures by Spain in the
Philippines for the advantage of the
islands and for the good of their people.
for permanent betterments and for i'm
provements both physical and mental.
The reading of the presentment spec
ifies that the United States will reim-
burse Spain to the extent of her ''paci-
fic expenditures" made in the archipel-
ago. This phrase pacific expendi-
lures is employed to differentiate the
expenditures by Spain in combating
instructions in the Philippines. The
one is felt by the American commits
sioners to be a fair burden upon the
acquiring power; while the other, and
latter class of expenditures is held to
have been logically assumed by Spain
as the inevitable hazard to nation re-
sorting to arms to enforce order in it's
own territory.
Such is the determinative, and there
fore, the vital portion of the present
ment made by the Amrican commits
sioners, today, and it is to be observed
that, while the main proposition as to
possession and financial responsibility
is clear and definite, many details have
been left to the developments of the
discussion between the two commits
sons. Thus while the Spaniards are, |
tonight, quite certain that the United
States intend to reimburse them for
pacific expenditures" they remark
that they are not enlightened as 10
whether the Americans expect to en- +,
dorse the Spanish obligations to the
extent of pacific expenditures" in the
archipelago, or whether they will hand
Spain a lump sum of gold large enough |
to cover Spain's outlay so designated. !
Possibly the American commissioners |
themselves are not at this moment full |
ly determined on this point. 1t is un-
likely, however, that the Americans
will care to become identified in the |
slightest degree with Spain in her re-
sponsibility to her creditors. The |
clearer method seems to be to hand |
to Spain spot cash, or something as
good, and to bid her to apply on her
debts by whatever name known, or to
put it in her wallet for whatever use |
she may elect.
While the United States has designated
''pacific expenditures as those they will |
reimburse to Spain, the presentment of
the American commissioners, today, did |
not demand either schedule or inven-
tory of the same from the Spaniards. But
the suggestion naturally raises an in
quiry as to the kind and quantity of
Spains pacific expenditures in the
Philippines, and some light may be given
on that matter now.
There is considerable traffic between
the islands and some time ago system
of lighthouses became necessary. Spain
set out to supply this and projected As
light stands. OF these she has already
constructed II of the first-class and 16 of
the second What they cost is not YET
known here, but in American waters
those of the first class cost from $4,000 TO
S250, 900 EACH so that, on an average basis
of the minimum costin the United States,
Spain's 80 lighthouses may represent an
outlay of $S25O00.
Spain has constructed breakwaters at
Manila at an expense not vet known
here. and wharves of small value along
the Pasig river. She has recently built
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