Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-24
AT THE WHITE HOUSE
No Serious Questions Discussed at
Today's Cabinet Meeting.
KEY WEST LABORERS TOBE GIVEN WORK
Registration Certificates for Ameri-
can Vessels in the Philippines.
M'KINNON CALLS

NO grave or wefghty matters were dis
cussed by the cabinet today. The ques-
lions under consideration We're of routine
nature. One OF these was the subject of
what to do with about 240 colored laborers
at Key West, Fla. These men were en-
ployed by army and navy contractors en-
gagged in the work of publications., jetties,
&c, around Key West. When yellow fever
broke out in Florida these laborers nearly
all of them strangers in the town, were
quarantined and the contractors suspended
work. All the men were thrown out of en-
ployment and, being unable to get work.
have reached the verge of starvation. After
going over the situation the conclusion was
reached by Secretaries Root and Long to
send peremptory orders to the contractors
to resume work, thus giving employment to
the idle men, who were taken to the town
by the contractors and abandoned. 1t was
decided that there was no reason why work
should have been discontinued at all The
quarantined men could have been kept at
work all along, it is said
Registration Satisfactory.
The cabinet also had up for consideration
the matter of giving certificates of regis
tration to vessels owned by American cit-
zens in the Philippines so that the vessels
may engage in the coastwise trade of the
which apply to the Philippines, none but
American vessels can engage in the coast
wise trade. When the peace treaty with
Spain was signed Spain was given equal
rights in trade matters with the United
States for ten years in the Philippines.
This entities Spanish vessels to do u coast
wise trade in the islands, and they have
been doing so at the expense of vessels pur-
chased by American citizens for the same
purpose, but held back for lack of rights
The admins ration has decided to telegraph
orders to the Philippines that all vessels
bought hone.uy and fairly for coastwise
commerce ana owned by American citizens
shall be given certificates and allowed the
freedom of this trade. The orders will be
so positive as 10 leave no doubt.
Conference With Father McKinnon.
Father McKinnon, the soldier-priest of
the 1st California Regiment, was accorded
d long interview with President Mckinley
this morning, during which he gave his
view of the situation in the Philippines.
The President listened attentvely and ask
ed many questions.
Father McKinnon was not only the chap
lain of the LIST California Regiment, but he
was for months the superintendent Of the
Manila city schools and of the Manila ceme-
teries. He organized the public schools and
the system put in operation by him Is still
in force in that city.
Father Mckinnon has been asked to re-
turn to Manila with Archbishop Chapelle,
and will do so. 1t is expected that he will
be of great assistance to the archbishop.
Insurrection Petering Out.
Father McKinnon said this morning that
the insurrection would have ended last
April had not Aguinaldo and his hackers
received encouragement from this country.
Notwithstanding this encouragement, the
instruction is petering out" said Father
zone by one the insurgent
a ha
strength is concentrated in one man, Aguin-
aldo OF the original number of leaders
out one of importance remains to aid
Aguinaldo. He is Mabino. the hunchback
lawyer. Mabino is not much over four feet
tall, and his record has never been an en-
viable one. He is as great villain as the
others who first started the Instruction
The history of some of these fellows is in
teresting. General Luna, the most brilliant
man in the insurgent army, and who was
killed by Aguinaldo's bodyguard, was a
and mother-in-law in Paris and fled to the
General Pho del Pillar who
wants to be bought out, is a horse thief
and all-around convict and outcast. The
only really honest man who aided in begin
ming the instruction was Palermo He
was newspaper editor in Manila before
the lighting. He has repented and is prob
ably back in Manila. He had sent his ia mi
ly back into Manila before l left, and was
to return just as soon a he could
get away from the insurgents"
Friend of Gen. Otis.
Father McKinnOn is a strong friend of
General Otis. He does not believe that the
Philippine commission, which is about to
assemble here, will report adversely to Cen
eral Otis. He knows that most of the
members believe in General Otis.
There is no truth in the stories that |
General OTIS has so much to do that he |
never goes to the front" said Father Nj
kinnon. He does go out on the firing |
lines, and in addition has every foot of he |
ground divided into plats. He has this |
map IN front OF him always, and knows |
what he is doing"