The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-07-16
DOUBLE THEIR MONEY.
COunterfeiters Do a Thriving
Business at Manila.

Correspondence of Associated Press
Manila, June 10.-The large circula-
ton of silver money in the Philippines
has made an opportunity for counter
feiters, and there is evidence of one or
more gangs in Manila and the prov
inceS who manufacture spurious coins.
The counterfeiterS make Mexican dol
lars from a baser and cheaper metal
the American nickel is cOunterfeited
and the brown five dollar bills have
been successfully initiated. But the
cleverest and most successful scheme of
all is the coming of American silver
dollars from Mexican silver dollars The
silver in a Mexican dollar, if stamped
with the facings of our American sill
yer dollar at once doubles in value. for
any one will give you two dollars Mexi-
can for one dollar American The adj
vantage of this scheme is that a suf-
ficiency of good metal can be obtained
when stamped with the American fac
ings the new coins produce one hun
bred per cent profit.
Raids have resulted in finding sew
eral baskets full of bad money in the
rear of Chinaman's house and a Fill
ipino was discovered with several dol
lars worth of counterfeit five dollar
bills and a box of recOined American
silver dollars in his possession. The
Chinaman and the Filipino have made
partial confessions and given damaging
testimony. 1t is now evident that they
are members of gang operating on a
are several Americans or Europeans as
leaders.
The military authorities have ordered
the formation of four troops of native
cavalry, to be recruited from the Maca-
bebes and Differed by Americans. Ma
jor Batson, the originator of the idea. of
employing Macabebes tribesmen as
American scouts, is to be commander.
The officers will be: Captains James
N. Monroe, William c. Gerger, Francis
H. Cameron; First Lieutenants David
H. Bfddle, James Conway, Clarence c.
Culver.
The Macabebes have long been used as
scouts and their value in such work has
already been demonstrated The pres
ent plan of mounting them is intended
to render them more effective by in
creasing their mobility. Many of our
army officers declare that we must
eventually come to a very general use of
native troops to preserve order in the
provinces of Luzon and elsewhere. While
several of our regiments are today us
ing small details of Ilocanos Vizayans
and even Tagolos, as scouts and guides
the organization of native soldiers, with
the notable exception of the Macabebes
has been objected to by the authorities
of Manila When the Macabebes are
controlled they do good work in their
own line, but they are very hard to re-
strain from outrage, looting and fndis-
eliminate killing. Several American Of
ficerS have declined service with the
Macabebes on the ground that it was
impossible to restrain them in moments
of excitement The Filipino country
people in certain districts remain in the
mountains instead of coming back to
their village homes because of their fear
of a visit from the Macabebes scouts ]
and Macabebes are separated
by fierce tribal hatreds and are always
hostile to each other Each native cav
airy man in the new mounted organiza-
ton will take the following oath.
I'VE, the undersigned, do severally |