The record-union., 1899-07-01
It Was Discussed in the Cabinet
Yesterday.
Satisfaction Expressed at the Administra-
~ tion's Plans.
They Contemplate the Re-opening
Of Active Operations ON a Large
Scale When the Rainy Season
Closes-Volunteer Officers Who
Have Rendered Meritorious
Service Will be Given the Pref
erence in the New Regiments.

Service Will be Given the Pref
| WASHINGTON, June 30.-The stu
alton in the Philippines was discussed
at the Cabinet meeting to-day, and
general satisfaction was expressed in
the Administrations plans for the re-
Inducements of General Otis, which
contemplates the re-opening of active
operations on a large scale when the
rainy season closes, September 10Th.
Secretary Alger reported that the en-
| listments were coming up to expecta-
tons.
| With view to differing the regi-
| ments raised under the volunteer pro-
visions of the army bill, the records
| of the officers Of the volunteer organi-
| cations which saw service in Cuba and
Porto Rico, and which are now serving
| in the Philippines, will be carefully eX-
amined, in order that recognition may
| be given to such of them as may de-
| sire to re-enter or continue in the serv-
| ice, according to their ability and mer-
| it. Some of the meritorious non-com-
| missiOned officers may also be recog-
nized. State lines are to be ignored
Some regular officers are also to be
commissioned as volunteer officers.
! Secretary Gage expressed the opinion
| to his colleagues that the deficit for
] TIL 6scal J ear would fall below $780,
| COT. 100. A petition was read from
some Cuban planters requesting the
abolition of the duty ON breeding cat
tie. Although the duty is emily 81 per
head, the request will probably be
granted. In Porto Rico Secretary AL
| ger reported that some of the planters
we're being considerably embarrassed,
owing to a provision of the old Spanish
| law, which reserved twenty feet along
the coast all around the island. This
interferes with the plans of some of the
planters for building piers
| A statement prepared in the office of
the Adjutant General of the army
shows that with the departure of the
Pennsylvania from San Francisco,
about $500 reinforcements were dis
patched to the Philippines this week.
These troops were carried on the trans
| ports Zealandia, Sheridan, Valencia and
Pennsylvania, and include 80 officers
and 3,444 enlisted men. About half
of the troops are recruits intended to
| fill gaps in the regiments in the Phil
| ippines caused by deaths. disabilities
and discharges. There are about 5000
recruits in San Francisco which are
also intended to recruit the regular
regiments In the Philippines up to their
maximum strength of 12S men to
company. Including the Nineteenth In
| fantry, under order for Manila, and
| troops at San Francisco, there are 1000
ready to start for Manila as soon as
| transportation can be provided. The
| War Department is awaiting advices
| from General Otis before proceeding
with the enlistment of volunteers under
the recent decision of the Administra-
| ton to organize nine regiments of
three brigades each, including the
three skeleton regiments in the Philip
pines, amounting in all to about 10000
volunteers. Everything is in readiness
| for the proposed increase in the army,
and the entire machinery of enlistment
and organization can be put into opera
ton at moments notice. The neces-
sary orders will be given as soon as
the information desired from General
| Otis is received.
Since the announcement that about
| 10000 volunteers were to be mustered
into the army for service in the Philip
pines. the President has been deluged
with applications for commissions. AL
| most every Congressional caller has
one or more applicants whom he presses
on the Presidents attention. The
President requests all his visitors to
file their applications with AdjutaEt
General Corbin. At the same time he
makes it clear in the general way that
the policy of the Administration in
granting commissions will be to grant
commissions to volunteer officers who
showed ability and who performed VAL
liable. service during the Spanish war.
Some regular officers are also to be
given volunteer commissions in the be-
lief that one or two regular officers in
a regiment will be of great advantage.
The number of officers to be commits
stoned is to be carefully guarded to
prevent a scramble.
One of the members of the Cabinet,
speaking in connection with the cam
paign in the Philippines, said tonight:
THE President has given General
Otis to understand that he is to have
all the men necessary in the conduct
of operations against the insurgents.
General Otis has been told this in so
many words, the President having said
to him in effect that if he, (Otis) did
not have enough men, it was his own
fault The President also realizes that
the better the men are cared for and
their health preserved, the more capa-
BILE they will be Of doing effective work,
and before the rainy season began Gen.
eral Otis was instructed to prepare for
| it in various ways and was given to
understand the President desired that
the soldiers should be we'll cared for
and well fed"
THE LEASE CONCLUDED.