The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-06-30
CIVIL Rule IN ISLANDS
Err SCHURMAN DISCUSSES THE
SUBJECT WITH MKINLEY
THAT sKAGwAY FLAG ROW
Authorities Both at Washington and
at Ottawa Consider Significance
of the Incident Has Been
Much Masnified.

WASHINGTON, June 2s-Presidert
Jacob G. Schurman, head of Cornell uni
| versity and the president Of the first
Philippine commission, had a long con-
| ference with President Mckinley today
! President Schurman il delighted over the
| prospect of civil government in the Phil
ippines. Most of the provinces In the
| Philippine Islands, said he, ARE ready
| for civil government. Tney we're ready
when our commission was over there
| but some of them will not be ready for
years. There are Mindanao, the Sulus
and Sambo in the Viscayan group. The
people of these islands are no more civ
iltzed than our American Indians In the
! civilized and Christian provinces Of Luzon
| and the other Vizcayas there is no rea-
son why civil government should not be
a success DR.. Schurman thinks that the
| civil government to be instituted will be
! established under the war power of the
president and not under the authority
conferred upon him by the Spooner
| amendment, and that in this way the ad-
| verse decision of the supreme court in
the De Lima case Will be avoided
H. l.. Higgins, superintendent Of the
Manila and Dagupan railway, had an in
terview with Secretary Root today in
| which he made request for permission
to build extensions and branches OF the
| road into different parts Of Northern Iu
| zon. The secretary informed him that
under the law, he had no power to grant
| such franchises and permits as that pow
er rested with congress.
/ There is no intention on the part of
! the war department to reduce the mill
| tary force in Cuba at the present time
! or in the immediate future The present
| force of nearly 5000 men is held In Cuba
| on the recommendation of Gov Gen
| Wood, and the secretary will depend on
| Gen. Woods advice as to the reduction
| of the force.
| Mrs. Mckinley enjoyed her usual drive
! this morning. Preparations are about
| complete at the White house for the de-
parture of the president and Mrs. NC
! kinley for Canton next Friday
sKAGWAY's FLAG TROUBLE.
The state department has not received
! any repre- sentatlon concerning the flag
lrcident at Skagway, where much excite
ment is said to have been caused by the
! hauling down of a British customs en-
| sign raised at that point. Based on the
| press reports of the affair the offlc;a;S
| do not attach serious Importance to the
! incident itself although 1t is recognized
| that the matter might assume Importance
| II the raising of the flag was an asser-
ton of British sovereignty over the To-
| cality. In that event there is no doubt
! that the state department would take
| cognizance of the matter, but as II now
stands the flag appears to be that of the
| customs officers for the convenience Of
| designating where customs may be paid,
! and not the British emblem indicating
any claim Of sovereignty.
! The modus vivendi made on Oct. 18
1889, between Secretary Hay and the
! British charge here established a pro-
! visional line running some distance
north Of Skagway, the summit of the
| Chilkoot pass and Of the White pass, be-
| ing the two main trails in that locality
! Reference to the official map Indicates
| that Skagway is dearly within the Amer
) lean line according to this modus vivendi.
also all tidewater Of the Lynn canal. If
| customs officer is at SkagWay he is
| there as a means of convenience of local
ing imports before they reach the wild
region through which the actual pro-
visional line runs. Under such cfrcum-
stances 1t Is felt that scme liberation
should be shown on both sides. At pres
| ent no attention will be given the incident
| as 1t is before the department in any
! form
! Assistant Secretary OF the Treasury
| Spaulding today stated that for some
time past Canadian officials have been
! allowed TO go over the border I'm order
| that they might look after their one
| toms interest in United States territory
| ana that our officials are given a like
! privilege.
According to advices from Ottawa. the
canadian government authorities have
| not heard full particulars of the flag in
| cldeht at SkagWay, but are inclined to
! think that it's impoi lance is exaggerated
| Inc dom1n on has no customs COLLECTORS
at tnat a. as no customs duties for
J TINS country are taken there, but the
I dominion maintains what Is known az a
| transit Office for the examination of
! goods des gned to pass through the dis
puted strip of territory to the Yukon
district beyond, the object be ng to facr
/ ltate through shipments AMI to preve7t
their Being delayed at the provisional
boundary which laps half way across
the line or the Whi1e Pass railway. The
| arrangement is one used By the Canad An
| government at Tacoma attic, CHICAGO
| Duluth, Portland and other American
| ports by the American ports by the Do
mnlon Usually the officers are quar-
tered at the railway stations where It
| would be absurd to have flags fying.
! Ihere Is a. special office at SkagWay II
was not known here whether it flew
! nag, pat the impression Is that the nag
is not necessary to the business the office
| has to transact.
CASE OF DIR. GIoCoMo
| At the request or the Italian charge
|
| It's good office to prevent from violence
| Dr. Giocomo, an Italian residing in Wv
om1ng. Gocomo is accused by the local
1 authorities of an offense against a
/ woman. He was arrested and brought
before local judge, who showed a pIr-
! pose to re ease the accused On ball. This
! brought out much local clamor and tn re
were fears that the accused would be
| lynched. This led to the application by
the Italian authorities in Washington.
| The state department having made IN
| qutry. has learned that there is no i'm
| mediate apprehension Of violence TO
Giocomo.
The state department adopted the
| usual course In dealing with a criminal
| matter arising under state Jurisdiction
| and addressed the COVE nor Of Wyoming
informing him of the Representations
made by the Italian charge In repIy
the governor made known that the s.tua
| ticns was not serious and that the ST re-
! authorities would take due precautions
| to avo d violence
SPANISH TREATY CLAIM.
The Spanish treaty claims commits
| sion held a session today and heard
/ argument on the question Of taking tes
| timony in Cuba or other foreign terri
tories. Several attorneys presented
arguments on the sub ect but no decis