The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1901-07-24
REFORM IN PHILIPPINES
Changes Agreed Upon BY
Chaffee and Corbin.

Military WIN Be Concentrated Mt Thre,
Most Important Points and Minoi
Posts Abandoned and other Eco
nomic Changes WIN Reduce Expenses Gt
Per Cent.
MANILA, July 23.--The conference be
tween Adjutant General COrbin nnc
General Chaffee, recently held here, viii
probably result in radical economical anI
administrative reforms in the army OF
occupation. II is estimated the total cosl
Of maintaining the American army in the
Philippines can he reduced by 90 pei
cent in the course OF one year.
The principal change will be the rcduc
tion of the present force to between 90,
900 and 10000 men. The adjustment
of the present army districts is contem
plated and three brgades, with perma.
nent' headquarters at Manila, Dagupar
and llOilo or Cebu, will be instituted in
their stead The troops will be concen
trated at the three points selected aban
doning all minor posts. These changes
will result in an enormous saving in the
transportation Of supplies and the pay.
Ing of rental for barracks for the sol.
diers. At present. in most towns, the
troops are quartered in churches, con.
vents and public aud private buildings
for the use of which considerable rentals
are paid. In the majority OF other cases
where the troops do not occupy public
buildings. il is believed rental should be
paid for the soldiers quarters il their
occupancy is continued, since these re-
gions are paci6cd and their inhabitants
have sworn allegiance to the United
States.
Adjutant Corbin aud General Chaffee
have decided upon the construction of
barracks at the pumping station (about
six miles from Manila, and the source Of
the city's water supply to accommodate
three regiments OF infantry. one OF cav.
airy and eight batteries Of artillery, az
well MS II general commissary and quar-.
termastcr's storchouse to cost 100000
The erection Of this latter building will
reduce expenses 10y 10000 month.
being the rentals paid for the commits
sary and quartermaster's storehOuse In
Manila alone. An elaborate railroad
connecting the docks on the Pasig river
and the new storchOuse will be CON
structed.
GcLerals Corbin and ChalTce have
also decided upon one single general
military hospital To replace the seven
military hospitals in Manila and vicin-
ity; one Of the latter buildings will be
converted into a public hospital.
The reduction OF the great fleet Of
government launches AM small govern
ment steamers has already begun.
Permanent barracks have been erected
at Dagupan to accommodate all the
troops necessary in Northern Luzon.
Government vessels will carry supplies
for the Southern brigade from the Unit
ed States direct to Iloilo without touch
ing nj Manila.
The inSular cOnstabulary is now being
organized. II viii be maintained by the
iusular government and is expected to be
amply able Ia preserve peace and enforce
the law. This constahulary will, as Il gem
eral rule. he armed with rifles. but its
members have been given 5000 shot
guns and 1000 ponies relinquishcd 10y the
army.
The telegraph system throughout the
archipelago, established by the signal
corps, has been taken over by the civil
government. Much wheeled transporta-
ton. formerly belonging to the army,
has already been disposed of.
The concentration Of the troops to Ma
Mia. Dagupan. lloilo or Ccbu will be-
gin at the close of the rainy season next
November.
AS a further measure of economy ar
rangemcnts are being perfected to stop
the buying 10y various civilians and civil
government employees of commissary
stores. heretofore sold them at the army
rates.
Adjutant General Corbin will sail for
the Southern archipelago ON the trans
port l.awton. From there he will 90 d.
rect to China, returning to the United
States via Vancouver.