The Lamar register., 1900-02-14


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-
pointments, but so far have not signi-
fed their intentions. Admiral Dewey
VIII not go back to Manila. and Gen
eral Otis will give way, like him. to 2
civilian. Secretary Root said Tuesday
that no instructions had been framed
for the new commission as vet, but II
would be easy 10 perceive from the sell
dments set out in the Presidents mes
sage on the subject what these in
structions would be.
1t is proposed to appropriate S16,OoJ
for topographic and geological sur
vey Of the island of Puerto Rico, So
600 for the Hawaiian islands, $4,000
for Cuba and $4,000 for the Philip
pines, the expenditure for Cuba to bt
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.
fst, and omit some that are OF import,
ance. Ii will be of great value TO fu-
ture immigrants 10 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
ton concerning their water supply
.hatr al frrtI. rI
sources. and their tables OF distance au
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 Il good torO
graphical map Of Luzon, the most
thickly settled island In the archipela
go, and its resources are practically
unknown. II is proposed to have tht
typographical and geological survey
made under the direction of expert
eneed men who have conducted the
geological surveys OF our own country
To those who have been urging tlt
ratification OF the treaty Of The Hague
which commits the United States aud
other nations TO arbitration as a meth
cd OF settling disputes, In order that on.
government may properly intervene IN
South Africa, win now learn to their
surprise that Il contains clause under
which the United States pledges itself
not TO Interfere In International affairs
outside OF the American continent. In
fact. President Mckinley IL prohibited
from rendering his good offices either
to the Beers or to Great Britain hy the
terms OF The Hague treaty. now that
II is ratified by the Senate. The stipu-
lation TO which refer reads as fol
lows: Nothing contained in this con-
vention shall be so construed as to ne
Quire the United States of America to
depart from its traditional policy of not
intrudinE upon. Interfering with or Ell
tangling itself In the political questions
of policy or internal administration Of
any foreign state; nor shall anything
contained in the said convention be
construed to Imply a rellnquishmcnt by
the United States of America OF Its ira
tltlonal attitude toward purely Ameri
can questions" This paragraph WIS
Inserted In the treaty after careful de
liberation upon the demand of our dele
gates. expressly for the purpose Of com
pellfnE the nations OF Europe to recpg
nIze the Monroe doctrine ms n principle
OF international polity and Information
al law. Those who read the above quo
tation carefully will notice how cont
pletely this purpose was accomplished
for when Great Britain. Germany
France and the other NATIONS VINO ARE
PARTIES to the peace conference al The
Hague, have signed the conventions
adopted there they admit and approve
the right OF the United States to main
tain It's traditional attitude toward
purely American questions.
Representative W. S. Knox of Mass
achusetts, chairman OF the House COM
mIttee on territories. has completed his
report on the bill for the creation of the
territorial form Of government in Ha-
wall. The report is vOluminous doc
ument. going eNhaustlvely into all the
questions involved, and thoroughly GOV
ering every phase of the bill which the
committee has agreed upon, after many
hearings and much investigation. The
form of government proposed by the
bill for the Hawaiian islands Is terri
torfaI in form, similar to that of the
later territories OF the United States
governor, a secretary, both appointed
by the President. a treasurer, attorney
general. commissioner Of public lands,
commissioner of agriculture and for
estry, superintendent of public works,
superintendent of public instruction,
auditor and deputy auditor, surveyor
and high sheriff appointed by the gov
ernor. A legislature is provided. con
sisting OF a Senate Ond House of Rep
resentatiVes appointed by the people.
The territory is 10 be represented by