The age-herald., 1901-03-09
DISAPPOINTMENT
 EXISTS IN MANILA Spooner Amendment to Army
 Bill the Cause TIMBER INTERESTS SUFFER Bill Will Operate in Interest of Few Who Own Timber Lands-Two Million Acres of Government
 Lands Available.
TIMBER INTERESTS SUFFER

Manila, March 6. = Disappointment with the limitations of the Spooner amendment to the army bill Is increasing its provisions are better known. It Is expected to be especially unfortunate in apparently prohibiting the issuing of H. censes for the cutting of timber upon public lands. If this interpretation proves correct, 1t will be a bonanza for the few owners of private timber lands in these islands, and the beginning of building ac- tivty in all towns will be considerably retarded.
 An inquiry has been cabled to Wash ington asking whether this prohibition of timber cutting is to be construed as included in the amendment. The forestry department of the Philippines hitherto has issued licenses for cutting of timber upon public lands for one year.
 The question of sales and apportion- ments of land and mining rights, although importantly affecting the growth of busi- ness and the settlements of Americans In the Philippines can wait until the regular session of Congress, but lumber Is In such great demand today for building purposes that it would be considered most unfor- tunate should the control of its produc- ton be vested In those few men who now own timber land
 Timber cutters paid the government an average of cents per cubic foot for timber cut on government lands, of which there are today about 100000 acres avail able for cutting. About 5000 acres of timber land were owned privately, chiefly by the Tabacalera Company of Manila.
 There is some talk here of sending pe- tition to Washington for an extra session of Congress, but the fear is general, how ever, among a certain element that the action might not result in any material good.
 Regret is expressed here at the fact that Congress does not entrust the tim Der, mining and land questions to the discretion of the American representa- lives here.
 The United States trading ship Buffalo has completed the exchange of crews with the warships at Cavite, and has sail ed to exchange 700 men recently from the United States for the members of the crews of several American warships at Hong Kong and Shanghai. Meanwhile the navy boat Seafire has taken 200 men to the navy vessels in southern Philippine waters for the same purpose. The flagship Brooklyn goes to Pechi u gulf, in north ern China, in April, to conduct the man. euvers. The Kentucky, the Oregon, the New Orleans, the Albany, the Monterey and the Monadnock will participate in these maneuvers The American fleet on the Asiatic station now numbers fifty four vessels.
 Captain Duncan of the Fourth Infantry has captured a squad of insurgents and twelve rifles, near the town of linus. In Cavite province, twelve miles south of manila
 General Lloyd Wheaton, commander of the department of northern Luzon, re- ports the troops of his department to be in excellent health. Less than 8 per cent of them are sick.
 The Manila board of health has an nounced that on an estimated population of 300, 900 for the city of Manila, the an- nual death rate is S4 per thousand.
 Unconhrmed information coming from native sources says that Aguinaldo is in hiding In the province of Isabella, on the northern coast of Luzon island. Amer ican troops are scouting in that section of the country.