The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-12-25
IRE TIED Up BY CONGRESS
WAR DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS
HAMPERED BY LAWMAK-
ERS' DELAYS
CAN'T BRING TROOPS HOME
Until Arrangement Have Been Com
pleted to Send Others to the
Philippines to replace
THEM.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 24.-AS a result
of a conference between the secretary of
war and Quartermaster General Luding-
ton, it has been decided that no fur
Their action can be taken with regard
to the return Of the volunteers from the
Philippines until congress shall make
provision for their replacement The
war department is considerably embar-
raised by the failure OF congress to make
provision before the recess for the relief
of the military situation in the Philip.
pines. Acting upon representations
made by General Macarthur, the depart
ment has concluded that it is absolutely
necessary to maintain an army of Co.
600 men in the Philippines until the cur
rent policy of establishing municipal
governments throughout the archipelago
has been executed. 1t is stated at the
department that any reduction of the
military strength below that figure under
existing conditions would prove most
disastrous to the interests OF the United
States.
There are now about $1,000 troops, reg
ulars and volunteers, in the Philippines
and arrangements have been made al
ready for bringing home 5000 of that
number. No further reduction will he
made Until the war department is advis-
ed fully Of the purpose of congress with
regard to army legislation. When the
necessary authority has been given 1T is
the purpose of the department to bring
home as rapidly as possible all the vol
unteers and regulars whose terms of
enlistment expire on the Goth of June
next, but not before it is possible to re-
place them, man for man, with new re-
cruits enlisted under the. terms of the
new army bill. 1t therefore appears
that after the 1910 volunteers have left
the Philippines no more troops will be
withdrawn from that country until they
can be relieved by fresh troops recruited
in the United States, in accordance with
legislation yet to be- eraet
1t is expected that eoagress will act
promptly on the armwsaSll soon after it
reaSsembles in JanuarY8 but even in
that event, it is said at ahe war depare-
ment, it will not be possible to get the
fresh troops to the@@Philippines inside
of two months time. The general home
coming movement OF the mass of VOL
unteers therefore, will have to be post
poned until about the first OF FEBRUARY.
That will give the quartermasterS de-
partment but five months to bring home
regular troops whose terms will expire
at the same time, aggregating about
40,00C men, before the first of July.
This undertaking iscbe1ieved to be be-
yond the capacity of the transport SER
vice as at present organized and may
necessitate the charter of additional
steamships All arrangements in that
line, however, will be in allegiance
until definite information has been re-
ceived of the intention of congress with
regard to the proposed increase of the
regular army.
Recent cable advices from Gen. Mac
Arthur indicate a strong desire on the
part of the volunteers generally to re-
turn to the United States and that COM
nor Nv Of lxol to
enlist without the most liberal induce
ments are offered. 1t is understood that
Gen. Macarthur has recommended that
a bounty of $3.50 be allowed to each
soldier in the Philippines who re-enlists
for another term and the plan is said to
meet with the favor of the officials of
the war department. g.
COLONIAL CASES ADVANCED ii.
The United States supreme court today
adva1 =, two more cases involving the
question IF the relationship between the
United States and their insular possess
sions to be heard on Jan. z. There are
now eight of these cases for that date.
One of the cases advanced today involves
the collection of duties on goods imported
from Hawaii.
CUBAN DAMAGE CLAIMS.
The German embassy has laid before
the state department the claims of a
number of German subjects for damages
to their interests in Cuba, as a result Of
the Spanish-American war and the in
surrection which led up to the ward it
self. This action of the German gov
eminent has raised a most important
issue and the department. of state has
given it the closest consideration. 1t has
been concluded, however, that the United
States government cannot accept respon-
sibility for the claims, They are regarded
as practically the same in principle as
the claim of Porto Rico against Cuba.
for $2,5G0,O00 on account Of a war loan.
Although in that case Coy. Allen of Porto
Rico represented the United States
government in preferring the claim, that
government was obliged to deny its la
bilfty, or the liability Of Cuba under pres
ent conditions. The answer to the Ger
man presentation will be based upon the
reply to Gov. Allen, recently made. 1t
is known that other governments besides
Germany have claims: aggregatng very
large sum, based on the Cuban insurrec-
tion,. and succeeding events. They will
not be abandoned on account of the at
titude of the United States government
but on the contrary they will be he'd
in allegiance until such time as Cuba
shall have become independent when
they will be presented directly to the
government of the island.