The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-05-04
MR.. FoRMANs COPPER.
How a Spanish Commission Continued
to Draw Salaries in Manila.

~ ~~@Nf NN%ANAAN1 AAA AAOAAAeAs
Correspondents OF Associated Press.)
MANILA. March 25.-when the rep
resentatives Of Spanish sovereignty in
the Philippines officially departed
from Manila a year ago they left be-
hind them 6.7l6 Spanish prisoners in
the power Of the insurgents and much
war material consisting largely Of old
cannon, ammunition and condemned
implements Of various sorts. A COM
mission Of Spanish officers was ap-
pointed from Madrid to remain in Ma
Mia to receive their fellow country
men as they escape from the rebels and
to dispose Of or ship back to Spain
this material OF war. The greater part
Of this commission has just sailed for
Madrid. 1t was composed Of thirty
five officers from colonels down. head
ed by General Nicolas Jaramillo.
Their duties being to receive and
provide for the Spanish prisoners in
rebel hands as fast as the Spaniards
got away and drifted into Manila. and
to dispose OF Spain's property remain
ing in the Philippines. they conse-
quently had little to do. The work
in regard to the prisoners could have
been done by six officers.
The Spanish government in August
last offered for sale a great quantity
of old metal, being practically "the
war material" which it was the duty
of this commission to dispose The
greater part of this metal was bought
by the representative Of an American
firm end the payment therefor was
made directly to the Spanish minis
ter OF war in Madrid.
AS fast as the material was paid for
the minister of war notified the COM
mission that such material could be
delivered TO the Manila representa-
tive Of the American buyers, where
upon the commission here would in
form this gentleman, who may be call
ed Mr.. Forman. that he was at liberty
to remove his property. He procured
charters on vesselh TO the United States
ana slowly this old metal vas started
on its voyage to the Atlantic coast.
The last payment of 10000 pesetas
for copper was made to the Spanish
government in Madrid about the mid
die of December. 1899 and Mr. Forman.
in Manila, sci about providing trans
portation for this last lot Of metal
He went frequently to the office Of the
Spanish commission. asking them if
Madrid had sent .hem Instructions to
deliver the copper.
Now as this copper was the last of
the war material, its delivery would
bring an end to the commissions ex-
cuse for remaining in the Philippines
and the whole commission agreed that
they did not then want to return home
and as their hope of remaining was
dependent upon the non-delivery Of
the copper. it was understood that Mr..
Forman should not get the property
Oitf DClOiE II ndS AGNNSSdig
AS a matter Of fact. Mr.. Forman did
not want the copper at that time, but
he went every day to see the commits
sion and they always told him. mot
yet. Mr. Forman; Madrid has not sent
instructions"
On February s, he finally arranged
for the transportation of this copper
and all delay after that date was a
loss of time and money to his firm.
His persistent demands upon the COM
mission for the delivery of his goods
always brought the same answer.
mo instructions from Madrid" On
February 16, he cabled the Spanish
minister of war that he could not OBJ
tain the delivery Of his goods paid
for in December as the commission de-
clared they had received no instruc-
tions. Three days after sending the
cable to Madrid. MIR. Forman hap
pened to be at the Spanish arsenal