The state herald., 1900-02-16

Grams of Grand Rapids, Michigan.
The appointment of Judge Taft marks
the first selection for the new Philip.
pine Commission. There will be Ave
members on the commission. Mr..
Schurman, president of the existing
commission, has declined, for business
reasons, to remain on the commission.
SO Judge Taft will be president In his
place. Mr.. DENLY and Professor Wor-
cester have been invited to accept ap-
polntments. but so far have not signi-
fled their intentions. Admiral Dewey
will not go back to Manila, and Gen
eral Otis will give way, like him. to n
civilian. Secretary Root said Tuesday
that no instructions had been framed
for the new commission as yet, but it
would be easy to perceive from the sen
timents set out in the Presidents mes
sage on the subject what these in
structions would be.
Secretary Hay is determined that the
State Department shall observe with
the most scrupulous fidelity whatever
obligation may rest upon 1t toward Nj
caragua and CostO Rica In the matter
Of the construction of the Nicaragua
canal. 1t has not been possible to
move In that matter pending the re-
moval of the obstacle in the way of
canal building presented by the Clay
ton-Bulwer treaty. There has not been
the slightest disposition to ignore the
governments of our sister republics in
the matter, but, in the view Of the de.
partment, 1t would not have been dig
nified or safe to make 0vertures to
them before the United States had ac-
quired the power to deal with n free
hand with the canal problem so far as
Great Britain WIS concerned. Now.
however, the department will address
itself to the governments of Nicaragua
and Costo Rica, looking to the acquire
meat Of whatever privileges are
deemed essential to the construction
of the canal and its operation. About
the same time, or rather as soon as the
Senate shall have ratified the treaty
and the ratitlcations shall have been
exchanged, the department will address
identical notes to the great maritime
powers of the whole world. to secure
their adhesion to the project Tor the
perpetual naturalization of the canal.
1t is proposed to appropriate $4,000
slr topographic and geological sur
vey of the island of Puerto Rico, So
900 for the Hawaiian islands, $4,000
for Cuba and $4,000 for the Philip
pines, the expenditure for Cuba to be
made from the revenue of that coun-
try. The maps of all these Islands are
Incomplete and inaccurate. They indi-
cate roads and streams that do not eN-
ist, and omit some that are of import
ance. 1t will be of great value TO fu-
ture immigrants TO have maps show
ing the geological formation of the
country, the location OF the different
soils and rocks, the size of the different
streams. the height of the hills and
mountains and other information of
this character Although the Spanish
have occupied Cuba and Puerto Rico
for 400 years, portions of these islands
have never yet been explored. and their
mineral resources have not been meas
ured. There is no accurate informa-
tion concerning their water supply.
their building material. their timber re-
sources, and their tables of distance ap-
pear to have been compiled by guess
work The knowledge of the Philip
pines Is even more meager and inaccur-
ate. There is not even good topo-
graphical map OF Luzon. the most
thickly settled island in the archipela-
20, and Its resources are practically
unknown. II Is proposed to have the
typographical and geological surveys
made under the direction of expert
enced men who have conduct d the
geological surveys OF our own country.
To those who have been urging the
ratification of the treaty of The Hague.
which commits the United States and
other nations to arbitration as n meth
cd Of settling disputes, in order that our
government may properly intervene In
South Africa. will now learn to their
surprise that II contains clause under
which the United States pledges itself
not to Interfere In International affairs
outside OF the American continent. In
fact, President Mckinley Is prohibited
from rendering his good offices either
TO the Beers or to Great Britain by the
terms OF The Hague treaty, now that
II Is ratified by the Senate. The stlpu-
latlon to which l refer reads as fol
lows: Nothing contained In this con
ventlon shall be so construed ns to re-
Qulre the United States OF America 10
depart from Its traditional policy of not
intrudIng upon. interfering with or en-
tanglng itself In the political questions
OF policy or Internal administration OF
any foreign state: nor shall anything
contained In the said convention he
construed TO imply REIMBURSEMENT by
the United States of America OF Its ira
dltlonal attitude toward purely Amcrl.
can questions" This paragraph was
inserted In the treaty ritter careful de-
liberation upon the demand OF our dele
gates, expressly for the purpose OF com.
pclilng the nations OF Europe to recog
nize the Monroe doctrine nv II principle
OF International poliiy and information
nj law. Those who read the above quo
tntlon carefully will notice how com
pletely this purpose was accomplished,
for when Great Britain, Germany,
France and the other nations who are
parties to the peace conference nj The
Hague. have signed the conventions
adopted there they admit and approve
the right OF the United States to main
tain Its traditional attitude toward
purely American questions.
Representative W. =. Knox of Mass.
nchusetts. chairman Of the House com
miitcc on territories, has completed Ills
report on the hill for the creation OF the
territorial form Of government In lln-
wall. The report IN u volunlnous doc
umcnt. going exhnustivcly Into nll the
questions Involved. nnd thoroughly COW
cring every phase Of the bill which the
committee Inns agreed upon. after many
hearings and much investigation. The
form OF government proposed by the
bill for the Hawaiian Islands II terri
torlni la form. similar 10 that Of the
later territories OF the United sint"s-
n governor, n secretary, both appointed
by the President, n treasurer. attorney
a. IA.