The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-04-04
So-CaIIed Frauds Due Merely to an Ir-
regularity in the Sales of
Savings, He Asserts.
AGUINALDO TO BE TESTED
MUST SHOW HIS FAITH BY WORKS
BEFORE HE is RELEASED.
Instructions Forwarded by the War
Department to Manila-Interview
with Chief Justice AreIano.

WASHINGTON, April s-The following
cablegram was received to-day at the War
Department from General Macarthur at
Manila:
Brig. Gen. Robert p Hughes reports
surrender at Banga. northwest Panay.
March 81, 30 officers, 1S5 men, 1O3 rifles.
General kobbe reports twenty-one men
northern Mindanao.
''Commissary frauds are being investi-
gated They are not of sufficient gravity
10 cause concern. Apparently due to irreg
ularity in sales of savings. Press reports
inexact and misleading"
General MacArthur's dispatch. as well as
other information received concerning the
frauds, leave considerable doubt as TO the
exact character of these alleged pecula-
tions. General Macarthur speaks of
sales" These sales consist OF savings
by the soldiers on the regular rations
issued. which they allowed to dispose
or for their own benefit. Generally the
savings are made company matter and
are disposed of in bulk to the highest bid
der. They may be returned to the commits
sary department and bought in by the gov
ernment at cost price, but there is no rea-
son why they should not be sold elsewhere
II the managers of the company fund
should so desire. AS army rations do not
pay the usual duty imposed on similar
goods used for private consumption the
soldiers could make quite profit on their
savings If they were of considerable
amount. Sales from commiss6ry stores,
not including the regular ration, made
to officers and men, but only upon a GER
tificate or declaration that they are for
the personal use of the purchaser. 1t is
said that no great amount of such sales
could be used by any person persons
without detection. Officers or men pur-
chasing such stores and reselling them
would be guilty of violating the army regu-
lations and would be subject TO court
martial. As TO the other savings, they
are upon the regular rations issued to
each company. They might be III -four
meal, sugar or any number of staple arti-
cles included in the ration The money
procured for the sale of such savings is
usually devoted to the purchase OF such
supplies as are not included in the ration
and many delics cies and varieties of food
are thus secured by the men in garrison
camp.
After consultation with the President
Secretary Root tonight sent cable mess
age to General Macarthur. giving him in
structions regarding Aguinaldo. and the
views of the administration of some
recommendations as TO Philippine affairs,
made by General Macarthur. The con-
tents of the cablegram will not be made
public for the present. 1t was stated az
the War Department to-day that General
Macarthur had made no communication
relative TO Aguinaldo to-day and that the
attitude of this government toward the in
surgent chief has not changed he is yet
held prisoner and while he will be
treated with kindness, there is no disposi-
tion to allow him liberty unless IL is demon
strated that he intends to comply fully
with the amnesty terms and his oath of
allegiance Aguinaldo is more than an ordi-
nary prisoner, and ii has not yet been de-
termined whether or not he is responsible
for violations of the laws of war. His cap
ture was made with a view of securing
results and while General MacArthurs dis
patches indicate that these results will be
very satisfactory. they have not yet fol-
lowed. The cable message sent tonight
was of considerable length and was quite
specific as to the policy of the govern
ment. 1t is understood that Aguinaldo
would like certain assurances or promises
from the government and the message in
formed General Macarthur just what the
government would do. While Ii is believed
that the insurrection would end before
long without the assistance of Aguinaldo
the government would be glad to make use
of him to hasten the pacification of the
islands If 1t can be done consistently with
Aguinados former attitude and with the
best interests OF the United States. Re
ports received to-day show small bands
are constantly surrendering i'm the Phil
ippines and that general conditions are
most satisfactory TO the military authori-
ties.