The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-07-23
PROBABLE REDUCTION IN FORCE
OF OCCUPATION IN THE
PHILIPPINES
MINOR POSTS TO BE CUT OUT
Troops Are to Be Concentrated I'm
Three BriEades, With Head
quarters at Manila, Da-
gupnn and uOiIO
LARGE SAVING IN EXPENSE

MANILA, July 22.-The conference be-
tween Adjt. Gen. Corbin and Gen. Chaffee.
recently held here. probably will result
IN radical economical and administrative
reforms in the army of occupation II
IS estimated that the total cost of main
tanning the American army in the Phil
ippIne islands can be reduced by 60 nor
cent The principal change will be the
aeuucllon OF the present force to between
zO'UOO ana 10000 men. The aboIishnlenr Of
the present army districts is contamDla--
ca and three brigades, with permanen+
headquarters at Manila, Dagupan and
Ilolo or Casu Will be substituted in
their stead. The troops Will be concen-
tldted at three points selected abandon
ing adj minor posts. These changes will
result in an enormous saving i'm the
transportation Of supplies and the paving
Oh rental Tor barracks for the soldiers AT
present. In most towns the tr0Ons ara
CHARTERED in churches, converts and puh-
lie and private buildings, for the use OF
Whlch considerable rentals are paid In
the majority of other cases, where the
troops do not occupy public buildings. it
Is believed rental should be paid for tba
soldiers quarters if their occupancy is
continued, since these regions are pac.fed
and their inhabitants have sworn ale
glance TO the United States.
NEW BARRACKS FOR MANILA.
Adjt. Gen Corbin and Gen. Chaffee have
decided upon the construction of barracks
at the pumping station (about six miles
from Manila), and the source of the citv's
water supply, to accommodate three regt-
ments OF infantry, one Of cavalry ana
eight batteries of artillery, as well as a
general commissary and quartermaster'
stores, to cost S190OO0 The erection OF
this latter building will reduce expenses
$20OV month, being the rentals paid for
quartermaster and regimentaI stores in
Manila alone. An electric railroad con-
Meeting the docks on the Pasig river and
the new storehouse will be constructed.
Generals Corbin and Chaffee have also
decided upon one single general military
hospital to replace the seven military hos
pitals In Manila and vicinity; one OF the
latter buildings to be converted into a.
hospital.
The reduction Of the great fleet Of gov
eminent launches and small government
steamers has already begun.
Permanent barracks have been erected
at Dagupan to accommodate all the
troops necessary to garrison Northern
Luzon
Government vessels will carry supplies
for the southern brigade from the United
States direct to Iloilo, without touching
at Manila.
INSULAR CONSTABULARY
The insular constabulary is now being
organized 1t will be maintained by the in
suiar government and is expected to be
amply able to preserve peace and enforce
the law. This cOnstabuary will, as a
general rule, be armed with rifles, but
its members have been given 5000 shot
guns and 1900 ponies, relinqushed by the
army.
The telegraph system throughout tho
archipelago established by the signal
corps has been taken over by the civil
government
Much wheeled transportation formerly
belonging to the army has already been
disposed of.
The concentration of the troops in Ma
Mia, Dagupan, Iloilo or Cebu Will begin
at the close of the rainy season next No
vember. AS further measure of econo-
my arrangements are being perfected to
stop the buying by various civilians and
civil government employees of commissary
stores, heretofore sold them at the army
rates.
Adjt. Cen Corbin will sail from the
southern archipelago on the transport
Lawton. From there he will go direct
to China returning to the United States
via vancouver.
WHITMARSH EXONERATION.
H Phelps Whitmarsh, civil governor Of
Benguet province, Luzon, has been ex-
onerated of the charges against him by
the civil commission. On account Of the
impossibihty of their continuing together
the resignation of Scheerer, secretary to
Gov. Whftmarsh, has been accepted.
Whitmarsh was censured by the COM
mission for violence against Scheerer on
the occasion of the public meeting OF
Iggorroto tribesmen, when Scheerer de-
clined to act as secretary on account Of
alleged interference in the meeting by
the American authorities.
The commission accepted Gov. Whit
marsh's denials to the charges lodged
against the latter that he had misappro-
priated native stock, worked convicts and
other natives upon his farm and had util-
ized his official position to further his pri-
vate interests.
The commission further decided that the
burning Of a few native huts during Gov
Whitmarsh's expedition against the head
hunting Iggorotes had been warranted by
the exigencies Of the situation.