The Philipsburg mail., 1899-10-20

her of persons to the square mile thir-
ty-tive. The births in 1897 and 1898
were G.4GO. This shows decrease of
Onr-Scvcnth in the population in two
years. The pay of unskilcd labor is
10 cents in silver II day. Cost OF living:
Rice. q cents per pound; cornmeaI. 4
cents per pound: beans. cents per
pound; dried meat - cents per pound
General Wilson states that he made Il
tour OF Inspection of his province be-
tween April 29th and May 9th 1899.
He found the towns defended by
trenches. obStructiuns and block
houses. as in the province of Matan-
ZaS. The country outside OF the towns
( WAS devastated ana not one farmhouse
or hut. 50 far as his observation went,
! had escaped destruction
All signs Indicate that the President
/ is determined to stake his political
! fate upon the success of General Otis
! during the coming dry season in the
/ Philippines. He hears daily from the
| prominent men ali over the country
OF the unpopulality of General Otis.
and criticisms of his ability as a sol
/ der. but fails to act upon the advice.
/ lie has been informed that the failure
of General Otis to end the iilsurrection
during The next few months means the
| probable failure of the Republican par
| ~ at the polls. and has been advised
! that /, would entail almost certain de-
! feat of his candidacy before the next
nominating convention. Fully appre-
clatlng this sentiment he is permitting
the time 10 pass without superseding
General Otis. Ii is reported at the War
| Department. however. that General
Otis command will he only nominal.
He has outlined Il campaign with the
advice ana approval of the War De
pnrtmcni officials ana the President,
nut Generals Lawt0n ana Macarthur
will be intrUstcd with carrying it into
execution with little interference from
General Otis. They will be- told what
is expected Of them nnd be permitted
to execute their orders in their own
way. being held responsible only for
the results obtained
Ihc comptroller of the currency has
received applications for Increase Of
circulation from four of New YOrk's
banks amounting to about 81 800 600.
rms action ON the part of the City
banks is not at all unusual at this sea-
son of the year. and so far rs known mt
the treasury department there is no
concerted movement on the part Of
the banks to increase their circulation
by any very large amount. as has been
rumorcd. Fractional silver coins are
in almost rs great demand at the treas
'ry as are small bills The revival of
business all over the country has alb
sorhed the supply of dimes. quarters
ana half dollars so rapidly that the
treasury will soon be entirely out os
coins of these denominations. Spcre-
1ary Gage last year recommended TO
Congress legislation authorizing the
coinage of additional fractional silver.
but no action was taken. Both he and
Alr. Roberts the director of the mint.
VIII make urgent recommendations
tllS year that authority be given TO in
crease the supply. AS there is no lin
l'atlon III law on the amount of these
coins thar can be issued. they are be-
ing supplied. AT the Philadelphia mint
seven coinage presses. One-half of the
capacity Of the mint. are working on
nickelS.
The friends of General Otis are be-
coming hopeful that they will succeed
in having him retained in his present
command. Last week they were
deeply discouraged. and one. high
ofilclal OF the war department.. openly
admitted that he believed popular
clhmor would result in his friends re-
call and the assignment OF General
Miles or General Merritt to Manila.
The prediction is now being confident
ly made by General OTIS admirers
that he will be permitted to demon
strate what he can do with a larger
army before being censured for his
failure to make more progress during
the last campaign. The President has
repeatedly expressed his confidence in
General Otis. and Secretary Root has
commended his reports for clearness
and conciseness. But the latter Official
has been inclined to the suggestion
that an officer of high rank. the major
general commanding the army being
preferable. should he placed at the
head of the fighting forces Secretary
Root has viewed the situation from an
unprejudiced standpoint. and his rec
concentrations were placed upon Gen
eral Otis ability as a soldier. He has
taken the broad ground that where the
army Is there also should be the
ranking officers. He is opposed to the
proposition to permit the major general
commanding to remain at his desk
performing routine work. another ma
jor general acting as military governor
or Cuba. and the third as commander
OF the department Of the east, while
the army is in the Philippines under
the command OF II brigadier general
which is General Otis" rank in the
regular army.