The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-06
ONLY $4,000 REQUIRED
MORE TROOPS TO BE BROUGHT HOME
FROM THE PHILIPPINES.
Teachers Mistaken when They Sup
posed Supplies Could he Pur-
chased at Commissary DepOts.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 5.-The War De-
partment has decided to bring the Twenty
third Infantry, now i'm the Philippines,
home on the transport Buford, which sails
for New York. via Suez. the 18th inst.
The Fitzpatrick. which sails the same day
for San Francisco, will bring the Eight
eenth Infantry. On her next trip, in De-
cember, the Fitzpatrick will bring home the
nine batteries of heavy coast artillery.
When these commands reach the United
States there will be left in the Philippines
about 5000 officers and men, and the pres
ent plans do not contemplate a further
reduction of that force. Both General
Macarthur and General Chaffee have ex-
pressed the opinion that about 10000 men
will be required in the Philippines for an
indefinite period.
The cabled report from Manila to the
effect that the newly arrived American
teachers at a mass meeting yesterday de-
cided to cable to the President complaining
that promised cOmmissary privileges were
denied them. and that they found their ex-
penses double what they were assured they
might expect attracted considerable atten-
ton at the War Department. The privi-
lege of purchasing commissary stores at
the government warehouses in the Philip
pines was taken away from all civilian
employees by order of the secretary of war
issued in June, and as that order was wide
ly published it was presumed the teachers
who sailed subsequently TO its issuance
were aware of its existence. The letters
and circulars issued by the War Depart
ment TO applications for these positions in
the Philippines contain no direct statement
upon the subject of commissary privileges
but the promise that they would have these
privileges might have been assumed from
some statements contained in a manual
of information relative to the Philippine
civil service" which was published in
Manila early in the present year and TO
which attention was invited by Colonel
Edwards, chief of the division Of insular
affairs. in his circular TO applicants. This
pamphlet in setting forth the conditions in
the islands for the information of Ameri-
cans seeking positions in the civil service
there contains the following regarding the
purchase of commissaries;
MANY of the Americans secure rooms
with private families and board in messes,
the provisions being purchased from the
commissaTy. The food obtained from the
average cost for room and board for those
who live in this manner is about SIS "A
month. IL is also proposed TO establish
stores similar TO the army commissary
stores for the benefit of civilian employees.
The stores will be well stocked with pro-
visions, groceries and other necessaries OF
life and civilian employees probably will
be able TO purchase from these stores at
about 10 per cent. above the cost 10 the
government
The pamphlet containing the above state
ment was mailed TO each OF the achers
appointed. but attention was not called to
the fact that the privilege of buying sup
plies at the government cOmmissary had
been discontinued. The government was
compelled TO cut off this privilege 10Th 10
stop the frauds which were discovered 10
be due To its operation and also TO satisfy
the regular merchants In the islands who
were complaining bitterly that the fur
nishing Of supplies by the United States
was closing one Of their main channels OF
revenue