The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1898-08-18
VERY YQUIETDAY.
The White House and Army and Navy
Assume Usual Sunday Quletude.
The host Serious Problem Befor. IN.
Peace Commission VIII BE th. Phil.
ippines-Ad n,inistration OIv-
Ing Il Close Attention.

navy department Sunday resume
their usual Sunday quietude. a cond
lon which has not prevailed since tn
Maine was blown up in Havana har
Dor February lo. Secretary Alger wa
At the department a few minutes. an,
also went to the white nous, but di,
not remain long. Gen. Corbin came I,
his Office during the day and looked
over his dispatches, but did not re-
main constantly on duty as he ha,
been doing. There were a few clerk,
about the departments, bu, scarcely 9
sunday passes In peace times that thi.
does not happen. The busy war.like
attitude has entirely disappeared and
Washington has settled down to a
peace basis
The president believes that the most
serious problem which the peace COM
mission will be called upon to deal
with Is the Philippines. Before the
commission assemblies 1t is hopcd the
affairs of Cuba and Porto Rico will be
found in such process of adjustment
as to leave little for the commission 10
consider under that head. The alb.
solute relinquiskmcnt by Spain
OF all sovereignty over the islands
in the West Indies will allow only
the property questions TO be settled
between the governments, that is what
Spain shall take away and what shall
remain as 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 Ri
co Will have to be dealt with by the
United States alone The fact that the
Philippines will present the
difficult problem in the peace
negotiations has caused the
administration to give II great deal
OF careful attention. Several sugges-
tions have been made as TO what shall
be done, one being the retent tion OF the
Bay City and hsrbor OF Manila, Just
what the protocol gives temporarily.
Another is that Subig bay and sufli-
cient amount Of L rritory for a naval
and coaling station be secured and the
building up of an American city
at that place begun. Still another
Idea, which Is being considered
Is the retention OF the Island of Luzon,
the advocates of that plan believing
that there would be trouble between
The governments which occupied por-
lion of the island with line of de-
such as would exist in
'ase Manila and the bay only was
'otained. The Island of Luzon Is
ho largest OF the group and
contains about 8, ,0OO, 900 people, which
IRE said to be the better class in the
1t is believed, however.
hat the administration and the COM {
mission will be greatly Influenced by |
he reports which Adm. Dewey and S
zen. Merritt will make on the subject. (
heir reports are expected before the '
meets. G
The final determination as TO the +
of Porto Rico and the set d
emcnt OF the government OF Cuba are S
roblems for settlement, but the inn C
ression prevails that these islands will J
ecome quite rapidly Americanized. h
nd every encouragement for them S
} do so will be given. Porto Rico will h
, under military control for the pres
IT. Cuba also will be similarly gov II
ned but II is probable that Ameri- Fl
n reforms in the matter of gov c.
nment will be such that the people II
Cuba will see the advantage of w
coming annexed TO the United Il
ateG 1t is thought the sanitary inn
ovement of Havana and other cities,
e management of the unicipalities c,
ID hberality offered the country peo- N
e will be of such character as soon NJ
convince the people that the changed -,
nditions are for their good. -,
There has been little doubt about ~
on settling the transfer of Porto H.
CO and the reception which the ~,
nerican troops have received in that s-
and is justification for the belief. "a
rto Rico will be treated at once a.,
an American possession. The no
st movement in this direction will ,h
ihe sending of delegation of a 8,
cials from the post cffice depart co
1T TO investigate and report upon 81
mail facilities there now and TO ho
Ike such recommendations as they
ermine upon. Mail routes. methods
transportation and the condi-
MS of post offices generally cia
the island will be exam Wi
d. Military post offices will be he
ablished at once wherever troops va
stationed. and at su ch other points res
nay be demanded By the interests Sta
Americans and the people OF the is
DIS, II the present offices are not COZ
liable. an'
-
Gen. shafter's Command.
TAsnISGTON, Aug. 15.-Bv Wednes-