The times., 1899-05-06
THE CABINET MEETING.
Edward Atkinson and Other Alleged
Traitors Discussed.


The Cabinet meeting yesterday was at
tehaed by Secretaries Hay, Long. Hitch
COCK, and Wilson, and Postmaster General
smith general discussion Of past events
consumed the greater part of the session.
Postmaster General Smith reopened the
discussion of the seditious and reasonable
communications sent to the American SOL
dlers IN the Philippines by recommending
that the letter written by Edward Atkin-
son, of the Anti-Imperialist League, to
the War Department, be given out for pub
lication, in order to repudiate his asser-
tions that his circulars had been sent only
to few army officers at Manila, and to
show that 1t was his intention to have his
pamphlets circulated among the soldiers.
This will be the last step taken by the
Administration against Atkinson, unless
in some way he antagonizes the action of
the Postoffice Department in barring his
literature from the Manila mall or en-
deavors to circulate the Objectionable lit
erature among the troops by some other
means.
The investigation begun for the purpose
OF learning the identity of the senders of
anonymous cablegrams to soldiers in the
Philippines is being continued. and the
war Department does not intend to al
low these offenders against military law
to go unpunished. No steps will be taken
by the department toward Furnishing the
authors of these cablegrams, which have
caused even more discomfort among the
troops than the pamphlets of Atkinson, un-
til their identity has been more clearly
established. Considerable evidence has
already been secured, which, it is said,
points strongly toward members of the
Anti -lmperialist League as being the guilty
persons.
The Cabinet yesterday also considered
the appointment of assistant paymasters
in the Navy. President Mckinley informed
his advisers that there were but eleven
positions left untitled, and that he would
take pleasure in appointing any persons
the Cabinet would care to recommend.
When the Navy Personnel bill passed the
last Congress, allowing twenty-five addi-
tional paymasters, it was the intention of
Secretary Long to fill the positions by
competitive examinations. President Nc
Kinley requested, however. that he be per-
mitted to make the appointments, in order
that the volunteer officers who served in
the Navy during the war with Spain might
be rewarded for their services by being
given the first chance at passing the ex-
animation. The President has made four
teen appointments, and thus far only one
has been given to a volunteer naval Of
fcer. although there are eighteen eligible
applicants.
Secretary Long said after the Cabinet
meeting yesterday that he did not be-
lieve any preference would be shown the
volunteer officers, and intimated that the
remaining positions would be filled from
civil life. Those officers who have already
been appointed to the pay corps OF the
Navy are either sons of naval officers or
friends of prominent politicians. For in
stance, Senator Hanna has secured two of
the positions for his friends.
The Philippine situation was discussed
informally. The President and his asso-
ciates consider the outlook as very prom
isng, and believe that the termination OF
the insurrection is in sight. The vigorous
and aggressive tactics now being pursued
by General Otis Will, it is believed, thor
oughly demoraliZe the Filipinos.
Secretary Long said yesterday that no
action would be taken against Rear Ad
miral Kautz for his alleged indiscreet let
ters. sent to relatives, speaking in con-
demnatory terms of the German Consul
at Apia. Secretary Long said he had no
assurances of the authenticity of these
letters, and, even were the letters writ
ten by the admiral, they would not come
officially to the notice of the department,
as they were personal communications
which were not meant for publication.