Evening star., 1901-06-01
AT THE WHITE HOUSE
Cuban Question Discussed With Sec
retary Root.
ANSWER TO THE CONVENTION READ
No Change to Be Made in Philip
pine Situation.
COM MIS- SIONS SIGN E D

The Cuban and Philippine problems arc
such that the President is compelled tC
give attention to them, and during the
| morning he had conference with Secre-
| tary Root and Senator Foraker on these
| matters. Secretary Root is understood tC
| have laid before the President the answer
to be sent to the Cuban convention as tC
its modified acceptance of the Platt amend
ment. The President and Secretary Root
discussed the answer for some time, theiI
purpose being to give the Cubans no Of
fense, but at the same time to give them tC
understand that this country cannot con-
sent to having it's laws interpreted by
others. The Platt amendment is put before
Cuba as a law which is interchangeable by
the President or any other authority than
Congress itself. Secretary Root is also
thought to have had some kilograms from
General Wood representing the state OF
| public opinion in Cuba the receipt OF
| the unofficial news of the refusal of this
country to accept the work of the conven-
ton.
Secretary Roots Attitude.
Although Secretary Root will not talk for
publication at this time respecting the
Cuban complications. it is said that he ad-
| vocates firm and unyielding policy with
respect to the relations that should exist
between the United States and Cuba He
is credited with having stated privately
that there should be no temporizing in the
| matter, and that Cuba should be made to
understand, without equiv ocation, that the
Platt resolutions represent the extreme
limit of this country's indulgence in the
matter of the independence of Cuba.
1t is said that he has also privately ex-
pressed the opinion that it would not be
sale to allow the ('uhanS a
clse of autonomy than is expressly con-
ferred by the Platt amendment and that
the character of the ruling class is such
that their administration of the affairs of
the island will require the restraining in
fuences of the United States government
Tor many years to come, even if it does not
eventually become necessary for this gov
ernment to take direct and absolute con-
troll of Cuban affairs
With Senator Foraker, who is the author
of the Porto Rican act that was declared
G"hstitutlonai by the Supreme Court, the
President talked for a while on the bearing
of the recent decision on the Philippines
Philippine Case Not the Same.
1t can be definitely announced on the best
Of authority that no changes will be made
in the Philippine situation as a result Of
the Supreme Court decision, and that the
matter will be left just as it stands until
Congress meets in December. Republican
lawyers who are leaders In the administra-
ton have told the President that from their
points of view the Supreme Court NAV not
noid IN the Philippine diamond ring case as
IN the Porto Rican case. They point out
that the majority Of the court distinctly
held that there must be "cession'' and
possession before territory became do
mestlc. In the case of Porto Rico possess
sion was not disputed when the island was
ceded. In the Philippines the court may
hold that up to the time when the case
was brought this country could not be con-
s1dered in possession, and that everything
was conducted under a military establish
ment, the tariff regulations of which were
supreme and continued to be supreme until
the President by proclamation announced
military rule would everywhere be sue
ceeded by civil law. The belief Is ex-
pressed that the Supreme Court will not
hold that this country is in full possession
or the Islands until military rule ceases
1t is pointed out by some Of those who
nave talked with the President, and who
rank among his advisers, that no procla-
nation has yet been issued by the Presi-
dent proclaiming and confirming uninter-
rupted possession. Of the Islands.
Thinks McSweeney Did Right.
Representative Livingstone Of Georgia
heartily approves the course Of Governor
McSweeney of South Carolina in refusin q
to accept the designations of Senators Till
man and McLaurin. Governor McSwee-
ney did exactly right" he said. "I1llman
and McIaurin did wrong in resigning. A
campaign would tear the state ali to
pieces and no good would come to any-
body. Such a campaign would have been
full of bitterness The people OF the state
nave been torn by politics for eleven Years
and hot campaign this year would mn
couptedly have been detrimental"
A New Auditor Selected.
President Mckinley has appointed r, A.
Person of South Dakota as auditor for the
Interior Department, to succeed Col w. A.
ioungblood, who has resigned his position
to take effect June 15 MIR. Person has been
the deputy auditor under Col Youngblood
for four years, and knows the business of
the office thoroughly. He Is prominent
republican of his state, and his appointment
has been steadfastly urged by Senator Gam
BILE and Representative Burke.
The President today signed the commits
sions of the following naval officers:
To be a commander Corwin p Rees
10 be lieutenant commanders Frank w
Bartlett, Frederick c. Bieg
10 be lieutenant, Frank L. Chadwick
10 be neutenants, junior grade Andrew
p. kalbach, Edward McCawley, Roland l.
Curtin.
To be surgeon. with the rank of ,ieuten-
ant. Edward S. Bogart jr
TO be assistant surgeons. with the tank
or lieutenant, junior grade, Jesse w Back
us, Frederick A Anderson, Royal Il. Rich
ardson, VIM. Seaman, John F. Murphy
10 be warrant machinists, Jno. l.. King
Francis z. Mugan Richard Jeffares John
I. Pennysook John +. Cleary
10 be a gunner, Robert E. Simonson
To be a boatswain. John Mccarthy. VIM.
r. Holdsworth, John NJ a. Shaw.
Declining All Invitations.
President Mckinley has received a num-
Der of invitations from points in Massa-
chusetts, but he has declined them with re-
gret. He Will accept no invitations for this
summer from any direction at least not
for some time to come. His movements for
the next few months will depend entirely
on Mrs. Mckinley's health.
Surgeon Recf&man Restored to Duty.
Acting Assistant Surgeon Peter w. Beck
man was tried by general court-martial at
Dagapan, Luzon, in March on the charge
of disobedlence of orders. He was con-
victed and sentenced to have his contract
annulled and to forfeit all pay and allow
I dino HfV