The record-union., 1898-11-01


an average basis of the minimum cost
III the United States, Spain's thirty
eight lighthouses may represent an
outlay of $S25, 900.
Spain has constructed breakwaterS at
Manila at an expense not yet known
here, and wharves of small value along
the Pasig River. She has recently built
barracks for "a, 600 men, now occupied
by American. troops, the cost of which
is not yet ascertained. At Cavite Spain
had built a naval station, which, be-
fore it was sacked by the natives, was
said to be equal to the Mare Island
station and may be worth 81, ,00OOU0.
Whether or not the last two items can
| be strictly designated pacific ex-
penditures" must be determined in con-
| ference, but the lighthouses, water i'm
provements, barracks and naval station
are necessary to the United States, as
the owner of the Philippines and are
deemed worth fair price.
Spain has also built some school
| houses, which the Americans are will
ing to take over at cost.
The Spanish Commissioners listened
attentively, though not without some
evidences of impatience and surprise at
the financial suggestions in the Amerf-
can presentment and finally asked un-
| til Friday to consult the Madrid Gov
ernment and make reply.
| Adjournment was then taken to that
day
| After the conference was dissolved
| the Spanish Commissioners expressed
the opinion that the American demands
would create in Spain, as they had upon
| her Commissioners, an exceedingly
grave impression. Were the Spanish
| Commissioners pushed to final determl-
nation tonight they would reject the
| American demands, but the changing
tone of the Spanish press recently urges
the consummation Of a treaty OF peace,
however rigorous, the argument being
that although the Spaniards bow to the
American demands, the Commissioners
do not acknowledge the justice or admit
the legality of them.
| Tonight the Spanish Commissioners
feel that the United States to ali in
tents and purposes have not offered
any financial inducement to Spain TO
cede by treaty any part of the Philip
! pines. Had the American Commission
ers even offered to take over the entire
Philippine debt of about $4O,00O0OO,
the Spaniards affect to feel that 1t
would have been as nothing, and they
regard to-day's position so meager as
not to warrant even a schedule OF
Spain's pacific expenditures" in the
archipelago.
IN LINE WITH THE INSTRUC-
TTONS FROM WASHINGTON.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 31.-The ad-
| vices from Paris to the effect that
the United States Commissioners have
determined to demand the cession to
the United States of the entire Philip
pine group is in line with the instruc-
tions that have been issued to the rep
resentatives of the United States. Up
to a very recent date the United States
Commissioners had no precise instruc-
tions on this vital point. Of course, be-
fore they departed from Washington
much consideration had been given to
this important subject by the Presl-
dent, Secretary Day, Assistant Secre-
| tary Moore and the members of the
! commission. But there was lack OF
data sls to the financial and political
affairs of the Philippines, and so it
happened that when the United States
Commissioners sailed they were not
committed beyond change to any line
of policy A majority of their num-
Der leaned toward a restriction OF the
demands to be put forth as to the Phil
ippines, varying all the way from the
retention of Manila Bay and the i'm
mediate surrounding country to the ac-
QUESTION of the whole island of Luzon.
But since that time the President
has been convinced that it would be
proper to annex the whole Philippine
group, and he is disposed to defer to
that sentiment. Besides, there is
ground to believe that in an official
manner the informal communication
with Agoncillo, Aguinaldo's agent in
Paris, or perhaps through some direct
dealing between that chieftain and Ad-
rnirals Dewey, the United States Com
missi oners have satisfied themselves
that the difficulties in the way of an
nexatiDn, so far as they might be ex-
pected to depend upon the will of the
natives have been very much exagger-
ated. If this be so, then there has
been removed as a factor in the cal
culations one of the most disturbing
eleme ats for it could scarcely be con-
templated with equanimity that our
Government, after having expelled the
Spaniard should willingly be placed
in the. position of attempting to gov
ern an unwilling people.
1t cannot be learned definitely what
money~ consideration is to pass with
the title to the Philippines. Indeed,
there is reason to believe that even
the United States Peace Commission
ers have not yet been able to fix the
amount exactly. Assuming that they
are to- repudiate all portions of the
debt OF the island which do not repre-
sent rnoney spent for the betterment
of the Islands, it will be seen at once
that the task presented to the Com
missio ners of differentiating this debt
. is not an easy one, particularly in view
. tof the notoriously loose financial meth
DDS of the Spanish colonial authori-
ties.
That this debt should be assumed
by the United States in some proper
ton is said at the State Department
to be inevitable, if annexation is to
follow. The conditions presented are
entirely unlike those in Cuba. In the
, latter case there was justification in
: international law and precedent for
our refusal to be saddled with the
debt when we had received no tangible
asset. But in the case of the Philip
pines, rich and we'll populated, the
) Uni9ed States would acquire what in
; the eyes of the world, is most valu-
: able possession and it is believed that
: the holders of all government obliga-
, tions without regard to nationality
, would insist that the lien should pass
: with the property.
t Quite unofficially, but in a manner
? to carry conviction as to the accuracy