Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-01-31

| the ccssion of LuZon island only of
the Philippines. and he told them that
full sovereignty should come with It,
The reading of the correspondence re-
ceived the closest attention from SEN
atorS.
~ BRIEF MESSAGE
In submitting the papers the Presi-
dent sent brief message, saying that
he transmitted them in accordance
with the resolution. The reading con-
sumed the entire executive session,
lasting from 2 to $50, except few
| minutes at the close.
Much of the matter covered the same
ground as that already published, but
1t was presented in the form in which
the proceedings were outlined from day
to day In the cable correspondence be-
tween Secretary IIay.as the Presidents
representative, on the one hand. and
Commissioner Day, as the representa-
tive of the American Commissioners,
on the other.
The principal interest among the Sen
ators attached to the Presidents in
structions to insist upon the ccssion of
the Island of LuZon, and after that
in the decision to take the entire group
or islands. This latter development
appeared from the correSpondence to
be growth. and the suggestion was
made by the commissioners to tile Pres
ident as the result of occurrences at
Paris after the arrival there of the
commissioners. In his dispatch con-
corning LuZon he said there was but
one alternative: The United States
must either take the island and assume
sovereignty or return it to Spain, and
of the two courses he preferred the
former.
SPAIN AT FIRST UNWILLING.
Spain was from the first unwilling to
cede any of the Philippines. and she
made especial objection to letting go
with the exception Of Senator Gray,
urged that to take Luzon and have tht
other islands in the archipelago in the
hands of the Spaniards would be to in
wife innumcrable complaints with other
nations. and especially with Europe and
with Spain. Much stress was laid upon
the probability of future trouble with
Spain. With LuZon under tho Ameri-
can administration there would be soon
such Il vast Improvement. they wrote.
tha+thc- nther-i&Iands- xnillG-sAnn grow
more and more rcbclliouS, and with
Spain's oppressive methods of govern
ment we would soon again find that
we had another Cuba at our door.
Furthermore. there would be constant
ilibustering and we should find our
selves spending millions Ia preserve n
state of neutrality just as we did in
the case of Cuba prior to our dcclara-
ton Of war on account of that island.
General Merritts testimony on this
point was cited and was made the roa-
son for much of the argument in favor
of taking the entire group.
The President does not appear to
have at any time given explicit in
Structions TO consummate the bargain
by taking all the Philippines. but ra-
tier. after hearing a full explanation.
10 have left the matter to the discre-
ton of the commissioners.
The entire controversy was prac;l-
cally over the Philippines. and the
question OF assuming responsibility for
the payment of the Spanish bonds for
which the Cuban revenues were pledc-
ed. The Spaniardss from the first in
sisted upon an indemnity for the Phil
ippines. and their correspondence shows
that after the proposition to pay 500
100000 was made the negotiations pro-
ceedcd much more smoothly, and were
soon brought TO a close.
COMMISSIONERS OF ONE MIND.
The American commissioners appear
to have been OF one mind as, TO the
wisdom OF taking over all the Philip
pines with the exception OF Senator
Gray. who. Notwithstanding he signed
the treaty. held out to the last against
the policy OF assuring these islands.
In one notable dispatch he pleaded
zealously against the policy as unpa-
triotic un-Amcrican ana inconsis tent
with prohity and good craftsmanship.
After n brief debate the Senate re-
fused To print the correspondence.
THE ARMY ELL.
Washington. Jan. 30-Th. House nut
in a hard days work on the Army bin
to-day and Tonight when it adjourned
IL OF the 20 pages had been completed
Inc committee amendments giving the
President discretionary power To reduce
the size OF the infantry companies ana
cavalry troops 10 sixty mon each were