The National tribune., 1899-06-08
NEWS OF THE WEEK.
THE PHILIPPINE TROUBLES.

THE PHILIPPINE TROUBLES. -
Secretary Alger on May 81 cabled Gen.
Otis to notify the War Department as ~ the
force he thinks will be needed when the
campaign in the Philippines. will be re-
Sumed again with activity. Gen. Otis the
next day cabled in reply that he was still
of the opinion that 10000 troops would he
necessary for the effective control of the
Philippines" Secretary Alger- took Gen.
Otis's message to the President. and a
conference was held. Secretary Alger
stated publicly afterward that the Regu-
lars now on their way to the Philippines
would give Gen. Otis, altogether, 24,OO0 or
25,OG0 men, after the withdrawal of the
volunteers. The additional 5000 or 6 900
men estimated as needed might be taken
from Cuba and Porto Rico, or volunteers
called for. and in the latter instance 10000
would be the number.
The next day the Cabinet at its meeting
decided that there was no present necessity
for the enlistment of volunteers. The Presi-
dent, it was stated, stood ready at any time
to authorize the enlistment -of volunteers
should more be deemed necessary. Gen.
Otis is to have the number he asks for.
While there is an ifnpatience among. those
in authority to round UP The campaign, yet
the rainy season has begun and troops will
nave to wait till nearly the Fall before they
can pursue the campaign witryigOr.s = . q
Meanwhile Prof. Schurman. of the Philip
pine Commission, has been informing the
Administration of the condition of affairs in
an optimistic tone. The Commission gave
a grand ball at Manila on June 2, it being
one of series of entertainments intended
to foster friendship between the Americans
and the natives. The commission has the
handsomest residence in Manila, overlook
ing the harbor. ...,t... 49,. ......s &. -
Gen. Charles King, who has just returned
home from the Philippines, says the situa-
up guerrilla warfare for 6i1o,lg time, he
thinks; they will retire to the fastnesses of
the mountains when they are whipped, and
subsisting on practically nothing have no
need Of base of supplies. 1t will necessi-
tate large force to subjugate. them COM
pletely. The volunteers, he says, are a
splendid lot of men, capable and accom-
plished fighters.
A dispatch from Manila dated May
30 stated, Capt. George II. Tilly, L. S.
Vol. Signal Corps, was killed through
treachery of the natives on the Island OF
Eegros. The cable company's vessel was
placing a cable between Iloilo and Ceburan
to Escalante. Capt. Tilly, with the Captain
of the vessel and three other men, went
ashore, the natives making friendly demon
strations They fell into an ambush. The
vessels Captain and one man escaped,
while lilly and two others took to the wa
ter and were not rescued. The body of
river, with marks of violence about the
head. ...-.. o..
Two officers of the United States hospital
ship Relief on May 81, lying in the harbor
in front of Manila, went out in one Of
the ships boats along the shore opposite the
Gained near the shore, and some rebels put
out and captured the two men, who were
Third Officer Fred Heppy and Assistant
Engineer Charles Blandford. The shore
was quickly shelled by the Monadnock,
which sent boat full Of sailors ashore, but
the natives got away with their prisoners.
Friendly natives arriving at Manila from
the country around San Isidro and San
Miguel report that reign of terror has pre-
vailed since the American army was with
drawn from those parts of the island. The
returning insurgents now are dealing ven-
geance upon those of their eountrymen who
have shown any friendship towards the
Americans during their occupation of the
territory.
The Cabinet took up the Philippine stu
alton at its meeting on Monday. 1t was
decided that active operations against the
insurgents should continue, notwithstand-
ing the rainy season. lie ,,ndarS.ood that
Gen. Otis settle upon plan of campaign,
and this vas submitted to the President and
approved.
RESUMING RELATIONS wITHSPAIN.
The United States resumed formal
diplomatic relations with Spain on June 3.
At IL o'clock on that day President Nc
Kinley received the new Spanish Minister,
Duke d. Arcos, at the White House. After
the introductionS the Spanish Minister
handed to the President his credentials and
said that, looking only TO the future, Spain
wished that her relations with this Re
public might be as friendly as they were in
times past. 1t was his task to contribute
to the renewal OF these relations, to strength
en- them and draw them closer, and he hoped
to be aided by the kindness and co-opera-
ton of Mr.. Mckinley and our Government
Mr.. Mckinley tsld him he would find a
cordial welcome in this country from all the
people, who rejoieed in the renewal OF the
ancient bonds of amity. Every member Of
our Government would cooperate with the
Spanish Minister to confirm friendly re-
lations between the two countries. The
occasion was very pleasant all around.
Cambon, formally surrendered his repre-
sentation Of Spanish interests.
NOTES.
Secretary Gage made statement as to
the recent civil service order of the Presi-
had not made a change in the rules that
was not urged by the head Of a Department
concerned, with satisfying reasons why the
change would be beneficial to the trans
| action OF public business. Ihe order IS
not yet well understood" said Secretary
Gage, nor have the reasons for the changes
which the experience of the Administration
may explain, been comprehended by per-
sons not close to the administration Of pub
lie affairs. The only large class of places
| in the Treasury service exempted are the
Deputy Collectors OF Internal Revenue, and
politics has had nothing to do with that
exemption. l have given that question a
most careful study, and do not believe it was
either lawful or just to have the places OF
Deputy Collectors of Internal Revenue in
cludei in the classified service"
At the Navy Department on May 81 bids
were opened for the furnishing of armor for
the battleships, cruisers and monitors
authorized by Congress. 1t might be more
proper to say a bid was opened, because the
only actual bid offered was that by San
Francisco firm, at a price above that fixed
by Congress and on condition that delivery
was to begin five years hence. Both the
Carnegie and Bethlehem Companies sub
mitted statements elaborately stating thai
they refused to bid on the ground that the
armor could not be furnished at the prices
fixed. The result was very disappointing
to the naval authorities. Congress will bt
appealed to at the next session to remedy
the matter.
| The monthly statement of the public deb
shows that at the close of business May 81
the debt less cash in the Treasury amounted
to 81 ,16S, ,S91 ,407, a decrease, as compared
with last month, of So 1896, ,S57..
A statement of the Government receipt:
and expenditures SHOWS that the receipts
were S44,786,013 and the expenditure!