Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-03-08

buried 81 Of the enemy. whose total
loss in killed and wounded was esti-
mated at 40. From Lithuanian the eX-
petition proceeded to Neuvacaceres. the
gunboat Paragota arriving ten minutes
ahead Of the troops. The town was
found partly deserted, the Americans
daily scouting in the vicinity, report
ing the eiemy had retreated into the
Insurgents around Lee
gaspi and Albay province of South
are harrassing the Amer
leans nightly, Foreigners doing bus
mess at Legaspi are living on ships in
the harbor or in American barracks.
President Gives Report.
Washington, March 6.-The president
sent to the senate yesterday the CORE
spondence called for by Senator Hoar
asking for information as to our course
in the Philippines The record con-
tains much that has already been made
public
Referring TO the Otis proclamation,
the president says: No disapproval
of said proclamation was expressed by
my authority or that of the war de-
partment. 1t was in fact approved by
me, although no formal communication
TO that effect was sent to Gen Otis v
Included in the correspondence of last
October between Gen. Macarthur and
Aguinaldo in regard to the delivery OF
sick Spanish prisoners is a
protest against what Aguinaldo
terms the suspiciousness'
Of Americans. He says: The treat
ment awarded necessarily corresponds
with our political condition, adding
that in the name of soldierly honor
| protest against such suspicion, as
we have never resorted to indirect
means in order to wrest by artifice
| the recognition % Oar beloved indie
pendence. In this connection the cable
gram from Gen. COrbin, is given dated
Nov. 10, endorsing Gen. Otis course
| in the matter Of the Spanish prisoners
He says: Letters of insurgents i'm
| ply threat. Unless you see strong
reasons to the contrary notify Aguin-
aldo that he and his advisors will be
held personally responsible for any in
jury done Spanish or American pris-
oners in violation of laws and usages
of war among civilized nations"
Instructions to Gen. Merritt are
transmitted but not those to Gen
| Otis, which The report says were given
| in cipher. Instructions from the pres
ident to Gen. Merritt May % direct
| the issuance Of q proclamation saying:
We come not to make war upon the
people of the Philippines nor upon
any party or faction among them, but
TO protect them in their homes, in
| their emplOyments, in their persona
and religious rights. All persons who
either by active aid or by honest ad
mission cooperate with the United
States in its effort to give effect tt
this beneficent purpose will receive
the reward of it's support and protec
ton. Our occupation will be as free
from severity as possible"
The presidents instructions to the
/ Philippine commission are given il
full, the president saying: "The
commission may render valuable ser
wees by examining with special care
the legislative needs of the Yariou:
groups of the inhabitants, and by re
porting, with reasons, measures which
should be instituted for the maintanct
of order, peace and public welfare.
is my desire that in all their re-
lations with the inhabitants o.
the Philippine islands, the
commissioners exercise due respect fol
all the ideals, customs and institution:
of the tribes and races which compost
the population, emphasizing upon al
occasions the just and beneficent in.
| tentionS Of the government Of IN,
! United States. 1t also is my wish ant
! expectation that the commissioner.
may be received in a manner due the
| honOred and auth rized representative
of the American republic duly commits
stoned on account of their skill and in
! tegrity as bearers of the good will, pro
| lection and richest blessings of a lib
Grating rather than a cOnquering ma
ton" The record shows that on May
+, 1899, President Schurman of the com
mission received from Secretary Hay
the fol lowing orders: You are au-
thoriZed TO propose to the natives tina
under the military power of the presi-
dent, pending the action of congress
the government of the Philippines shall
consist of a governor general appoint
ed by the president, a cabinet appoint.
ted by the governor general, and a
general advisory council elected by tn:
people, the qualifications of the electors
| to be carefully considered and determ-
ined and the governor general to have
absolute veto"