The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-08-15

usual Sunday quiet, a condition which
has not prevailed since the Maine was
blown up in Havana harbor. Feb. Is.
Secretary Alger was at the department
a few minutes and also went to the
white house, but did not remain long.
General Corbin came into his Office
during the day and looked over his dis
patches, but did not remain constantly
on duty as he has been doing. There
were a few clerks about the depart
ments, but scarcely a Sunday passes
in peace times that this does not hap
pen. The busy warlike attitude has
entirely disappeared and Washington
has settled down to a peace basis.
The president believes the most seri-
Gus problem which the commission will
be called upon to deal with is the Phil
ippines. Before the commission as
sembles it is hoped the affairs of Cuba
and Porto Rico will be found in such
process of adjustment as to leave lit
tie for the commission to consider un-
der that head. The absolute relinquish-
ment by Spain of all authority over the
islands in the West Indies will allow
only the property questions to be set
tied between the governments as to
what Spain shall take away and as to
what shall remain 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
Rico, will have to be dealt with by the
United States alone. The fact the Phil
ippines will present the difficult prob
lem in the peace negotiations has
caused the administration to give ii a
great deal of careful attention. Sew
eral suggestions have been made as to
what shall be done, one being retention
of the bay, city and the harbor of Ma
Mia, just what the protocol gives tenn
porarily. Another is that Subig bay
and sufficient amount of territory for
naval and coaling station be secured
and the building up of an American
city at that place begun. Still anoth-
er idea, which is being considered is
the retention of the island of Luzon,
the advocates of that plan believing
there would be trouble between the
governments who occupied a portion of
the islands with a line of demarkation,
such as would exist in case Manila and
the bay only was retained. This island
of Luzon is the largest of the group
and contains about 100000 people
which are said to be the better class i'm
the Philippines. 1t is believed, howev-
er. the administration and the commits
sion will be greatly influenced by the
reports which Admiral Dewey and Gen
eral Merritt will make on the subject
Their reports are expected before the
commission meets.
The final determination of the gov
ernment of Porto Rico and the settle
ment of the government of Cuba are
problems for settlement. but the i'm
preston prevails that these islands will
become quite rapidly Americanized ans
every encouragement for them to do so
will hp piNpn Porto Ri will ha
military control for the present. Gu
ba will also be similarly governed, but
ii is probable American reforms in the
matter of government will be such that
the people of Cuba will see the advan-
tage of becoming annexed to the Unit
ed States. 1t is thought the sani-
tary Improvement of Havana and other
cities, the management of the munich
palities and liberty offered the coun-
try's people will be of such a charac-
ter as to convince the people the chang
ed conditions are for their good.
There has been little doubt about
soon settling the transfer of Porto
Rico, which will be treated at once as
an American possession. The first
movement in this direction will be the
sending of a delegation of officers from
the postoffice department to investigate
and report upon the mail facilities there
now and to make such recommended
ilOIlS DIS lHtN utltIHllHe MelnOuS
of transportation and the condition of
postoffices generally in islands will be
examined. Military postoffices will be
established at once wherever the troops
are stationed and at such other points
as may be named by the interests of
Americans and the people of the island,
If the present offices are not available.
A similar course will be taken in Cuba,
but this is likely to be delayed. as the
immediate removal of the Spanish and
the occupation by the United States is
not expected.
No more troops will be sent to Gem
eral Merritt unless he asks for them.
are sufficient 10 garrison Manila and
the ground which the United States
Will occupy for the present. All of the
troops that were with General Shafter
in the Santiago campaign will be out
of Cuba by Friday of this week. Gen
eral Shafter will accompany them to
Montauk Point. There will remain at
Santiago five regiments of immunes to
do garrison duty. General Miles has
about 1900 men in Porto Rico. They
will be sufficient for the occupation of
the island, and perhaps more than are
needed after the Spanish evacuate
The remainder of the troops will re-
main in the various camps, to which
they have been assigned. for the pres
ent, though something may be done
looking towards diminishing the num-
ber when Ii becomes apparent that
they are no longer needed. The gov
ernment will dispose of the transports
that have been in use as fast as they
can be released and are no longer re-
quired for service
All vessels of the navy tha. can be
spared from service in the West Indies
will be ordered 10 ports in the states
where the men win be given brief holi- !
days The big battleships Of the fleet |
will be put in dry docks as soon as
possible and undergo repairs. There /