The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-04
DILATORY SPANISH WAYS.
How the Commission at Manila Sought
TO Prolong Its Life.

Correspondence of the Associated Press.
MANILA, March 25.-When the represent
atives of Spanish sovereignty in the Phil
ippines officially departed from Manila a
year ago they left behind the s.7l6 Spanish
prisoners in the power OF the insurgents
and much war material. consisting largely
of old cannons, ammunition and condemned
implements of various sorts. A commission
of Spanish officers was appointed from
Madrid TO remain In Manila to receive
their fellow-countrymen as they escaped
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.
This commission was officially styled "the
commission for the selection and transpor-
tation OF material of war; and at it's head
was General Nicholas Jaramillo. IL
composed of thirty-five officers. from
colonies down, and those who were APP
pointed thereon considered themselves for
tunate, because. in consideration of service
n the tropics, they drew a considerable
increase over what their pay I'm Spain
would have been; their work was light.
averaging two hours day, and the fact
that they constituted SPANS last official
representatives in Manila gave them a GER
tain prestige. 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 dis
pose Of SPANS property remaining in the
Philippines, they consequently had little TO
do. The work in regard TO the prisoners
could have been done by six officers as well
as by thirty-five, and the duties in connec-
ton with the property were made the prin-
IL. Erws h. ufa ~
this numerous commission in Manila.
The Spanish government In August last
offered for sale great quantity OF old
metal, being practically the war material
which ii was the duty of this commission
to dispose of. The greater part of this metal
was bought by the representative OF an
American firm, and the payment therefor
was made direct 10 the Spanish minister
of war in Madrid. AS fast as the material
was paid for the minister of war notified
the commission that such and such ma
terial could be delivered to the Manila rep
resentative of the American buyers, where
upon the commission here would inform
this gentleman. who may be called MI
Forman, that ne was at liberty TO remove
the property. Mr.. Forman procured char
tiers on vessels TO the United States ana
slowly this old metal was started on Its
voyage to the Atlantic coast.
The last payment of 10000 pesetos Tor
copper was made to the Spanish govern
ment in Madrid about the middle OF De-
cember. 1899 and Mr. Forman. In Manila.
set about providing transportation Tor TINS
last lot of metal He went frequently 10
the office of the Spanish commission over
in the walled city, asking them II Madrid
had sent them instructions TO deliver the
copper. As this copper was the last , OF tne
end to the commissions excuse for remain
ing In the Philippines. and the whole COM
mission agreed that they die not then want
to return home. They delayed making the
delivery until Mr.. Forman was obliged TO
cable to the Spanish minister of war, who
promptly ordered the commission 10 deliver
the goods and to return home.
There are yet some 2.555 Spanish prisoners
I'm the hands of the rebels. and commits
sion of six members. with General Jsra-
milo at it's head, remains In Manila 10 care
| for them as they come in. When Spanish
soldiers arrive in Manila their government
gives them each two suits OK underclotning,
| two uniforms, hat. pair OF SHOES ana
cape. They are sent 10 the Darrae ses,,. -.
| for Spain. They are also given one month
| pay, which, for sergeants. Is $ss. Tor cor
porals s27 and for privates vi Ihese
amounts are in Mexican currency, ana
| their gold equivalents are determined by
halving them. The Spanish government also
supplies these soldiers with food ana med
ical attendance while they are wa,s ,ls,s -
| paws their passage back to Spain beIore
| they go on the ship they are given tur-
| Their supply OF clothes and upon landing IN
| Spain they are handed seven month"; pay:
The American soldiers and the escaped
Standards fraternize heartily The Amerf-
can soldier. as a rule. has little use for the
| Filipino. and contenptuousiy calls him a
| s.nigger" But IL is noticeable that the
Standards hate and detest them mucn more
| bitterIv than do our men, and the gist or
| the advice given by the private OF the boy
| king to the enlisted men OF the great Re
| public Is this You trust them TOO much.
| When you know them as well as we DO you
| will see they may not be trusted. You VIII
| only know them by experience. ana the
| experience will cost you many lives, Out
| eventually you will think as we 90.