Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1898-11-05
ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES.
The Next House-The Sunken Span
ish Vessels The Race Trouble
in North Carolina.
FROM our Regular Correspondentl

MChluity hdS nv AN~@ ANA
ever had any idea Of guaranteeing one
dollar of the bonded Indebtedness OF
Spain, in the treaty Of peace, and our
commissioners are acting under his
orders in everything they do. The
story that this government, in return
for the Philippine islands, would agree
to assume $40, 900, 900 of Spanish
bonds, issued as lien upon the Span.
ish revenues from the Philippines, was
originated and circulated in this
country by yellow journals and IN
Europe by journals in the pay OF
Spain, and has no foundation in fact.
At Joint session of the Peace Com
mission, held today at Paris, the
American Commissioners, acting under
instructions from President Mckinley,
informed the Spanish Commissioners
that we demand full possession and
ownership of the Philippine islands.
1t is expected that Spain will en-
deavor to secure a money indemnity
for the islands, on the ground that 1t
has spent large sums, including the
money raised from the sale Of $40,
ooo, 900 of bonds issued several years
ago, in making public improvements
on the islands. The result OF that en-
deavor is as yet undetermined, and
will depend largely upon the showing
that Spain will be able to make, as to
money actually spent upon the island.
In determining to acquire possession
of all the Philippine islands, Presi-
dent Mckinley has merely complied
with the almost unanimous sentiment
of this country, which he has made
special efforts to ascertain since the
signing of the procotol. He has no
desire to be unfair to Spain in any
way, just because we have the power
to be, and there is no reason to doubt
that if Spain shows its right to be
paid an indemnity, he will agree to
pay it, but it will be paid in cash,
with which this government is abund-
antly supplied, as he will never agree
to anything that will mix this govern
mcnt up in any way with Spanlst
bonds or the spectators who hold
those bonds. 1t is not expected in
Washington that the treaty OF Peace
will be completed and signed before
about the 18th of November, but 1t
may be set down as certain that the
treaty, when completed, will provide
for U. S. ownership of the Philippine
islands.
Revised reports from every Con
gressional district in the country have
been received by Chairman Babcock
within the past week, and he is now
perfectly satisfied that the next House
will be Republican, the only question
remaining to be decided by election
being the size OF the Republican ma
jority. The Republican majority in
the present House is 81. The most
conservative estimates are that this
will be reduced about one half owing
to the loss of districts which are ordi-
narily Democratic, but which went
Republican in the Presidential cleo
ton
President Mckinley, Secretary Al
ger and Adjutant General Corbin
have virtually decided just what
troops are to be sent to Cuba, when
they are to go, and where they are to
be stationed, but they have concluded
not to make the decision public just
yet.
Lieutenant Hobson has made an
exhaustive explanation of the condi-
ton of the Spanish ships upon which
he has been working and the prospect
and probable cost of saving them, to
a Board composed of the Chiefs of
Bureaus Of the Navy Department, and
that Board will decide whether the
prospects Of success are sufficiently
strong to justify the expenditure.
Ever since Senator German carried
New York for Cleveland in a campaign
full Of tricks, he has occupied a high
place in the good graces Of Tammany,
and has been invariably called on for
advice whenever the party was in
hole, so to speak. Dick Croker sent
for German several days ago and the
two had a long private conference. 1t
is easily possible that German may
have given the Tammany boss some
new tricks, but the Roosevelt boom
has reached such a momentum that