The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-05-05
REPORT FROM COMMISSIONER
SCHURMAN.

SCHURMAN.
The stated partment has received a
long report by cable from President
Schurman, Of the Philippine commits
sion, of the conference hat was held
at Manila Saturday between the men,
bers of the commission and the repre-
sentative of A~guinaldo. The text of
the dispatch was not made public, but
it was stated that Mr.. Schurman's re-
port agreed precisely with the Associate
ed Press statement Of the proceedings
in conference as cabled from Manila.
1t is declared at the state Depart
ment that the proclamation issued by
the Philippine commission just before
the beginning of the last campaign re-
ports the maximum concessions to De
made to the insurgents by the United
States government. It is realized now
more strongly than at any other period
that the capacity of the Philippines for
self-government is an undetermined
question. The United States govern
ment is willing to accord the natives
an opportunity to test their abilities,
for the Philippine commission proposes
to allow them almost complete control
of their local affairs, exercising only
such supervision through the United
States army as may be necessary to
guard against the consequences of mis-
takes on the part of the native munich
I pal and provincial officials in the first
experiment at
! The experiment is already in progress
in some points in the Philippines out
side of the island of LuZon, where the
United States authorities have hOisted
the flag and resumed sovereignty, yet
have continued the local governments
nuder native direction. So far as the
reports indicate these experiments are
working we'll and promise to have a
good influence in shaping the attitude
toward the United States Of a consid-
cradle element among the Philippines.
which has been suspicious of our inteh-
ions.
DISAPPEARANCE OF CAPTAIN
ROCKEFELLER.
The war department has received no
advices from Otis since Saturday con-
corning the conditions in the Philip
pines. In the two dispatches received
today no mention is made of the ne
gOtiatiOns with the insurgents, nor of
any fighting.
General Otis reports that Captain
Rockefeller, of the Nineteenth infantry,
has been missing since the 2Sth of
April. Captain Rockefeller was making
some Investigations about Caloocan
and has not been seen since that date
given. Some of his personal papers
lave been found about two miles from
Caloocan. 1t is feared hat he has
been captured by some of the insur-
gent bands.
Captain Charles NJ. Rockefeller enter
ed the army as a private in the Sew
enth New York in 1861. He served
through the civil war, reaching the
rank of lieutenant of volunteers. He
became a second lieutenant in the
Ninth infantry in 1867, and has been
with that regiment ever since. He has
always been known as a good soldier.
He vas we'll up in the list of captains
and would have received a majors
commission in a short time.
CABLES FOR THE PHILIPPINES.
New York, May 1.-The United States
cable steamer Hooker said this after
noon for Manila to connect by cable
all the principal points in the Philip
pines. The Hooker was formerly the
Panama, n of the first prizes cap
tured in the Spanish war, and has beer
extensively altered to fit her for cable
service. She has three great tanks
sunk into her decks which contain 800
miles of cable. This length of cable
A., which is an inch in diameter, with it,
coverings, is only a part Of that to b.
laid, and more will be obtained a
Hong Kong when it is exhausted. Lieu
tenant John L. Maxfeld is in command
and with him go a full detachmen
from the signal corps, who, with TIL
crew, number 125 men.