Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-10-19
THE NEW COLONIES.
Civil Governments Mapped Out fol-
Porto Rico and Hawaii.
REPORT OF CONSTRUCTOR HICHDORN
Report on the Gallant Conduct Of Sailors
In an Engagement at MalabOn-Dead
American Soldiers In the Philip
pines to BE Brought Home.

Washington, Oct. Ex-senator Davis,
chairman of the senate committee on
foreign relations, is Of the opinion that
nothing will be done by the coming
congress toward formulating policy
for the future government Of the Philip
pines Of Cuba. He believes that prompt
action will be taken this winter on
measures providing for civil govern
ment for Porto Rico and for Hawaii.
The senator has been in Washington
for a month studying the important
questions affecting the new dependen.
cies which will come before his com.
mittee during the coming session.
When the time comes for civil govern
ment in the Philippines the senator
favors the largest latitude possible in
allowing the Filipinos to govern them
selves The senator does not think
that the war In the Philip
pines will be closed in time for the
coming session of congress to formu-
late any plans for the substitution of a
civil government for the military.
Nor does he believe that any
thing will be- done this winter toward
independence or evacuation of Cuba.
He does not think the time has
yet arrived for Withdrawing our mill
tary forces. Porto Rico, however, he
says, is entirely ripe for civil govern
ment. and he is in favor of providing
form of government similar to that
contemplated for Hawaii. The presi-
dent will have definite form of gov
eminent for Porto Rico mapped out in
his forthcoming message, and it is ex-
pected that Senator Davis will draft
bill in accordance with his recommend
atoms. Gen. Davis, military governor
OF Porto Rico, has informed the war
department that he has just concluded
and forwarded a detailed plan Of civil
government for the island. This will
be made the basis for the plan which
will be recommended by the admins
tration to congress- Concerning Ha-
wall Senator Davis said that his COM
mittee would be prepared to bring in a
measure providing for the new gov.
eminent of those islands as soon as
congress convenes. He thought it
very simple matter to accomplish. All
that is needed, in his opinion, is to
make an organic act of the present
constitution of Hawaiian government
with few minor changes to conform
to our institutions
CHIEF CONSTRUCTOR HICHB0RN's REPORT.
Washington, Oct lin his annual
report to the secretary Of the navy
Chief Constructor Hichborn lays spe-
cial stress upon the Importance of con-
tinuing the work of improving the
plants at the various navy yards, in
viting particular attention to those at
Boston and League island. Marine
railways also are said to be necessary
for the economical handling of torpedo
boats and two such are recommended
at New York and one each at Ports
mouth, League island, Norfolk, Port
Royal and Mare island. Fourteen YES
sells, with the exception of the Chesa-
peake and Princeton, torpedo boats or
tugs were added to the navy during
the last fiscal year; four Spanish YES
sells sunk during the war were raised
and added and II small gunboats were
purchased or captured on the Asiatic
station and placed on the list. On the
other hand Al vessels were dropped
from the naval list, including the
American line chartered ships, num-
Der of auxiliary vessels sold, the reve-
nue. cutters and lighthouse vessels
turned back into their old service and
a couple of monitors. On July there
were building for the navy 4s new, YES
sells in addition to those enumerated.
REPORT ON ENGAGEMENT AT MALABoN. |
Washington, Oct l6.--The navy de-
partment has made public report
from Commander Tarssig, Of the
Bennington, with appended reports Of
subordinate officers, concerning an en-
gagement at Malabon the 4th of March
last. The purpose Of the department
in making public the report appears to |
be solely to make known the gallant
conduct of the sailors engaged and par
ticularly that Of Assistant Engineer
Winship. Winship is especially recon-
mended for gallantry by Commander
Taussig. He said he fred the 81 MILL.
metre on the Balanga 81 times and,
although wounded early in the action,
retained charge of the gun and the
Balanga, not only throughout the &C.
ton, but until the ship returned to
her anchorage about noon.
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