The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-06-12

Hong Kong junto, Aguinaldo is warned that
Mr.. Spencer Pratt. the American consul at
Singapore, is "a d. d. traitor"
The letter book contains copies OF letters
to all sorts CT people. One to the Empress
of Japan accompanied a gift of a sword
sent as token or appreciation OF the
kindness" shown by the Japanese govern
ment TO the Filipinos, the nature of the
kindness being unexplained
These documents the authorities are
sending TO the War Department and
they are reticent about the contents. The
publication in the Manila papers that let
tiers were found duplicating prominent bus
mess firms in the city. is said by the
gossips at the English Club to have
brought great uneasiness to sundry guilty
consciences. Records of contributions by
Manila firms TO the insurgents are also
found -A
Buencamine, the secretary of state of
the Filipino revolutionary government.
who is in Manila, says none of the really
important secret papers were found, that
among them was correspondence with for
eign governments and letters from promi-
nent anti-imperialists. including W. j.
Bryan and Senator Hoar These. he says.
were sent to Hong-Kong last September
for safe keeping in the hands of the junto.
The purporl of the letters from the anti
imperialists. according to his recollection.
were that the Filipinos should adhere to
their demands for independence and that
they would eventually be sustained by the
American votes.
pres
ervation of their records no matter how
unimportant. Down in Albay province our
troops recently found the yearly financial
statement of the rebel government. While
1t is thought these figures are untrue, 1t
is interesting as an example of how the
rebels do business and maintain their pres
tige among the people. In the balance
sheet for 1S99-1900 the insurgent minister of
81 the expenses of the Spanish govern
ment for last year only amounted to
Sl7.474,020, Mexican, but thanks to the ca
pacity of the revolutionary leaders, the
total expenditures OF the insurgent govern
ment or last year only amounted to
s6,S42,4 07. All this economy was effected
while the Manila custom house, a most
lucrative source of income, was in the
hands of the Americans. 1t was promised
that as soon as the rebels gained posses
sion of Manila, which would be In a few
weeks, they could manifestly reduce the
rate of taxation. In the meantime money
was needed and IL was incumbent on all
good patriots to pay all the tax collectors
asked of them. With few words describ-
ing Aguinaldo's glory and invulnerability.
and the good time coming to everybody,
from the islands, the minister of finance
accounted for his income. One item of
Extraordinary contributions, $4,000, 900, ("
probably covers the multitude OF forced
payments not included in the other
sources of income.
The insurgent government undoubtedly
handled considerable money last year. but
whether they collected $4,000 Mexican Is
not known to outsiders. Their expenses
have been especially heavy In the matter
of arms. Filibusters and others have made
them pay exorbitant prives for every
thing. Two, of their generals. Pana and
Lutbanare, are said to have large ac-
counts in the Hong-Kong banks. Accord
ing to this annual report, the yearly pay
of a lieutenant general is $3.50; a general
commanding a division gets $500: brigadier
general gets $40: colonel $3.50: lieuten-
ant colonel $40; major is allowed $3.50;
a captain draws $500: first lieutenant $780,
and second lieutenant $780, The wages of
a sergeant are s72 a year: corporal gets
$50 and the man with the gun is allowed
$42 for twelve months service to his coun-
try. This balance sheet further makes
provision for 1900 soldiers. 5000 OF whom
are sergeants and 1850 corporals and the
cost of keeping them in provisions for one
year is put down at sSl4,S00, Mexican cur
rency. ,-. ..,.....