The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-03-01
AFFAIRS AT MANILA
CONSERVATIVE PARTY GETS THE
COLD SHOULDER.
SPECTATORS ARE ALARMED
SOONER BILL MAY KNOCK ouT
THEIR SCHEMES.

The Three Chambers OF Commerce
Mt Maniin Arc wiring Protests
Many Were Expecting to Apspiy for
Railway, Timber and Mining Con-
cessions--GOvernme cable sSs-
tenn Now i'm Operntion-The Thirty
third and TbirtS-fourth Volunteer
Infantry Embark for Home.
Manila. Feb. 2S.-The projectors of the
Conservative party have asked the Amer
lean Philippine Commission to in
spect their platform, but Judge Taft post
poned action in the matter until Thurs
day. They subsequently visited Gen. Mac
Arthur and outlined to him their pro-
gramme, saying that the ultimate views
of the party would be submitted later, and
would in no way conflict with the princi.
pie of American sovereignty Gen. Mac
Arthur responded that any Philippine par
ty! under the present circumstances
should have the establishment of peace
throughout the islands for its primary 90.
ject and advised the avoiding of the dis
cussion of other political principles un-
til peace should be declared. He said
the situation to-day did not permit the
announcement of extreme party IDEAS.
The Conservatives are apparently receiv-
ing encouragement from those church au-
thorities who oppose the Federal party.
The ports OF Inabanga and Quindulman,
on the Island of Bohol, have been closed
to inter-island commerce on account OF
the withdrawal of American troops.
Island Spectators Alarmed.
The news that the Spooner amendment
prohibits the sale of land timber and
mining concessions has alarmed those
here who are dependent upon such con-
cessions for their business success. Three
chambers of commerce of Manila, the In
ternational, the Spanish and the Ameri-
can. are wiring protests. Many business
men in the Philippines are awaiting the
inauguration of civil government TO APP
ply for railway, timber and mining con-
cessions
The government cable has been finished
TO the Island of Jolo, in the Sulu group,
and messages are now transmitted TO all
the southern islands. The cable system
row connects Panay, Negroes, Cebu,
Leyte, Samar, Mindanao and Jolo. and
messages are conveyed by means of the
Photograph from Bohol 10 the north end
of the Island of Mindoro
Report Army Damage Claims.
The correspondent of the Associated
Press here is informed upon good author
ity that the recommendations of the mil
itary board OF claims in the matter OF
testing the question of the allowance OF
claims for damages to property result
ing from the military operations in the
Philippines will be sent to Washington by
mail tomorrow for reference to Con-
gress. The recommendation of the board
of claims that the claim of Holman &
Co, Swiss firm, doing business at To-
lilo, on Panay Island, be disallowed, has
been disapproved by Gen. Macarthur.
None of these claims for damages have
been allowed, with the exception OF a
few minor ones in which the circum-
stances were peculiar or exceptional
these have been paid from the insulai
funds.
The claim against the American gov
eminent of the Manila-Dagupan Rail-
road, involving a million and half, will
also be sent to Washington when the
case is completed.
Volunteers Embark for Home.
Maj Gen S. B. NJ. Young and staff
with the Thirty-fourth United States Vol
ullttT ltildiltIS diAQ biiC companies Va
the Thirty-third, have embarked on the
United States transport Logan and will
sail Tomorrow En- route they will stop
at Candon, ON the western coast of Luz
on, to take on board Companies c, e and
NJ of the Thirty-thrd United States Vol
unteer Infantry, who have been released
from the quarantine imposed by reason OF
a slight outbreak of smallpox.
There have been festivities at the town
of Cataiogan, on the Island of Samar, I'M
der the auspices of the Federal party, and
on the occasion of Washington's birthday
That evening ana during the festivities
the insurgents attacked the t. vn in force
but We're quickly driven away in disor-
der. There were no American casualties.
1t is rumored that the insurgents from
neighboring islands are concentrating on
the Island of Samar.
Spanish Officers Ordered Home.
All the Spanish military officers in the
Philippine Islands have been ordered
through the Spanish consul general to
return to Spain. There are probably sew
enty of these officers, who on account
of business interests, were permitted TO
remain in the islands after the Spanish
troops were sent home. They received no
salary from the Spanish government.
An American company has negotiated
the purchase of the Manila street rail-
way, which they propose to convert inta