New-York tribune., 1901-03-01
REBELS ABDUCT NATIVES.
CONSERVATIVE PARTY AT MANILA ASKS
COMMISSION To INSPECT PLATFORM
OPPOSED TO AMENDMENT.

Manila Feb :S-A band of seventy armed in
surgents entered the town of Suog. in the prov
ince of South Iocos, Luzon. where they killed
one native and abducted i've At midnight Of
the same day they attacked the town of Santa
Maria. burning fifty houses The insurgents
were repulsed by the Americans. who had one
man wounded: one native scout and two civil
ians killed The Insurgents retreated 10
the mountains. closely pursued; their losses
not learned.
The projectors of the CoEservative party have
asked the American Philippines Commission to
inspect their platform. but Judge Taft postponed
action in the matter until Tuesday They subse-
quently visited General Macarthur. and outlined
to him their programme. saying that the ulti-
mate views of the party would be submitted
later and would in way conflict with the
principle of American sovereignty. General
Macarthur responded that any Philippine party
under the present circumstances should have
the establishment of peace throughout the ISL
ands for its primary object. and advised the
avoidance of the discussion of other political
principles until peace should he declared He
said tha situation to-day did not permit the en-
coura cement of extreme party ideas. The Con-
servatives are apparently receiving encourage
ment from those church authorities who oppose
the Federal party.
The ports of Inabango and Qulndulman.
the island Of Bohol have been closed to inter
island commerce on account of the withdrawal
of American troops.
The news that the tIoar amendment pro-
hibits the sale Of land. timber and mining con-
cessions has alarmed those here who are de-
pendent upon such concessions for their bust
ness success. The three chambers Of commerce
of Manila, the International, the Spanish and
the American are teIegraphins protests
Many business men in the Philippines are
awaiting the esta bIishment of civil government
TO apply for railway timber and mining
cessions.
The government cable has been finished TO the
island of Jolo. in the Su1u group. and messages
are transmitted TO all the southern islands
The cable system connects Panay. Negros.
Cebu. Leyte, Samar Mindanao and Jolo. and
messages are conveyed by means of the hello
graph from Bohol to the north end of the island
of Mindoro.
1t is said that the recommendations OF the
Military Board of Claims in the matter Of test
ing the question of the allowance OF claims for
damages TO property resulting from the military
operations in the Philippines will be sent TO
Washington by mail tomorrow for reference TO
Congress. The recommendation of the Board
of Claims that the claim of Holman & Co,
Swiss firm, doing business at Ioilo. on Panay
Island, he disalOwed. has been approved by
General Macarthur. None of these claims for
damages have vet been allowed. with the
ception of a few minor Ones in which the
circumstances were peculiar exceptional:
these have been paid from the insular funds.
The claim against the American Government of
the Manila -Dagupan Railroad, involving mill
ion and half. will also be sent 10 Washington
when the case is completed.
Major-General 5. B. NJ. Young and staff. with
the 34th United States Volunteer Infantry and
nine companies of the SD. have embarked on
the United States transport Logan, and sail to-
morrow; they will stop at CandOn. the west
ern coast of Luzon. to take on board Companies
c. E and NJ, of the 3}d United States Volunteer
Infantry, who have been released from the
quarantine imposed by reason of a slight out
break of smallpox
There have been festivities the town Of
Catbalogan, the island of Samar, under the
auspices of the Federal party, and the OC-
casion of WashingtOns Birthday; that evening
and during the festivities the Insurgents at
tackled the town in force. but quickly
driven away in disorder There were no Amer
lean casualties.
1t is rumored that the insurgents from neigh
boring Islands are concentrating the island
of Samar.
All the Spanish military officers in the Philip
pine Islands have been ordered, through the
Spanish CoasuI-GeneraI. Senior Marina to re-
turn TO Spain. There are probably seventy of
these officers. who. account of business In
terests. We're permitted TO remain in the islands
after the Spanish troops were sent home; they
receive salary from the Spanish Government
An American company has negotiated the pur-
chase of the Manila street railway, which il pro-
poses to convert TO the electric system.