Gilpin observer., 1899-07-20

tecting all of the new possessions
against a foreign invasion. Officers of
the corps of engineers are now en-
gagged in studying these reports and in
preparing a general plan and estimates
for Hawaii and Porto Rico. In view
of the uncertain status of Cuba and of
the continued war in the Philippines,
nothing will be done toward outlining
n coast defense project for these islands
during the present year. Extensive
plans for defending Hawaii and Porto
Rico will be completed before Congress
assemblies when an estimate of several
million dollars will be submitted for
beginning the erection of heavy bat
teries ut different points in those new
possessions.
AT the Cabinet meeting Tuesday
cable from Colonel DENLY. member
of the Philippine commission was read
1t showed fairly satisfactory state ON
affairs, one of the Cabinet officers said,
but it did not say that negotiations
with Aguinaldo were in progress. Sec
retary Hay also had cable from Am
bassadOr Choate relative to the bound
ary line negotiations, but it was not
encouraging. Later it was ascertained
that the decision was reached to allow
the ''round robin" matter to drop. At
an informal conference held at the
White House last night the subject
was thoroughly discussed and such
policy agreed upon. This. it is stated,
was confirmed at the Cabinet meeting.
Officially the matter will be ignored
and General Otis will be allowed to
treat it as he may deem best. Privately
it was intimated that the President
might give General Otis some unofii-
cial suggestions as to the desirability
of less rigid censorship of press dis.
patches. His present purpose, however,
is to allow General Otis to deal with
the situation as he sees fit. This was
the advice given him by at least
two members of the Cabinet. In the
light of the latest advices from the
Philippines. the President believes that
the situation has so much improved
that the complaints made by CORE
spondents. however much justified AT
the time they We're submitted, do not
now exist
Spain will, upon the signature of the
present treaty. release all prisoners of
war and all persons detained or i'm
prisoned for political offenses, in con.
nection with the Instructions in Cuba
and the Philippines. and the war with
the United States" Though seven
months have passed since the signing
of the treaty of peace between the
United States and Spain. containing
this provision, Spain has taken no
action, so far as the authorities have
been advised. looking to the release of
the Cubans and Filipinos imprisoned
at Fernando, Philippine islands, and
at other Spanish penal prisons. Minis
ter StOrer, at Madrid, has been IN
structed by Secretary Hay, at the in
stance of Senor Qucsada. the repre-.
sentative of Cuba in Washington, to
call the attention of the Spanish gov.
ernment to the provision of the treaty
cited above and to request that the 4
Cubans and Filipinos still in confine<
ment be granted their liberty without
further delay. Senor Quesada said
recently that he thinks there are
about twenty Cubans in Spanish
prisons. The number of Filipinos
held by Spain is not known. In some
circles here there Is disposition to
believe that Spain's delay in liberating
the prisoners she holds is due to the
delay of the United States to secure
the release of Spaniards held by the
Filipinos. Immediately upon the sig.
nature of the treaty of peace the spies
held by this government were released
and since, In accordance with the
terms of the treaty, this government
has undertaken to obtain the release
of all Spanish prisoners in the hands
of the insurgents in Cuba and the
Philippines" Under instructions,
which, at the request of Due. de ARGOS,
were recently repeated, General Otis
has been cooperating with the Span.
ish commissioners at Manila to secure
the release of the Spanish subjects and
sollinrs in fhn ,f
pinOs, and the fact that he has made
no report as to the progress of the ne.
gOtiations leads the authorities TO be.
lieve that success has not yet crowned
them.
The general land office has directed
Colonel w. 4. s. May, superintendent
or forests mt Denver. to report whetli<
er the open areas within the Uinta res.
ervaton may be grazed by limited
number of sheep, such us the open
areas will be supposed to maintain
without injury. for not exceeding two
months during the grazing season. In
order to avoid the charge OF favoritism
inasmuch as but n fractional part of
the large number of sheep which
would seek the reservation can be-
grnzed there, the superintendent is
called upon to report whether the
sheepmen can agree among themselves
as to pro rata which each owner may
contribute to the limited number pro
vided to enter the range. The superln
tendent is also Informed that If his re.
port should favor the grazing Of SHEEP
under these restrictions. that only the
sheep which are properly the produce
of Utah. can be considered rs entitled
to this permit. as II Is the policy OF the
department that sheep outside of the
state in which n part OF Uinta reservn.
ton Is situated cannot have access to
that reservation where grazing is nj
all permissible. The superintendent
Is furthermore directed to report
whether the open areas are so defined
by natural landmarks or streams that