Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1902-12-05

Godfrey Hunter, jr., son of the
United States Minister at Guatemala
City. will be tried in the Guatemalan
courts for the murder of William A..
Fitzgerald. The United States govern
ment valves all diplomatic immunity
that would interfere with the course
of Justice in the case. Secretary JAS.
c. Bailey of the legation will testify.
DIR. Hunter claims that self defense
was his son : sole motive for the shoot
ing.
Five native Filipinos, acting AS
guides to the constabulary who were
hunting ladrones. were captured Sat
urday by the latter and four of them
are believed to have been murdered.
The fifth man was blinded and his
tongue cut out, after which he was
conducted to the outskirts of the town
in which he had been captured and
abandoned as an example to other ma
tives. Strong forces are in pursuit of
the ladrones who are under the com
mand Of Manalang, the last ladrone
leader in Zambales province.
Capt. Pershing, with GO men, has
Just completed peaceful march across
the island of Mindanao, possibly the
first time white men have ever made
the Journey He found the Moros We're
surprised to learn that Americans were
not monsters 10 feet tall, with horns
and tail. At Marahui he addressed
800 Moros, telling them of the friendly
purposes of the Americans. Represen-
tativeS of the Nato and Bocayutan
tribes, which are now at war, asked
Capt. Pershing to arbitrate the differ
ences between them. No hostility was
shown the column anywhere.
BY the proposed Panama Canal trea-
ty now under consideration at Wash
ington. the United States offers Colon
ba a lump indemnity Of $4,000. 600
and an annual rental of $1,000 or an
indemnity of 5000. 900. and an an
nual rental of 800, 600. Neither of
these is satisfactory to Colombia. The
latter now enjoys an annual income of
more than 800, 600 in gold from the
strip of territory to be leased to the
United States, Therefore she demands
a lump indemnity of 5l0,OOO,OOO, and
an annuity, after II years, of $500, 600.
As equivalent for this she surrenders
her right to port dues and almost all
local taxes, together with her claim on
the new Panama company for per cent
of the earnings of the canal, and the
customary right to full ownership of
the canal 100 years after its completion.
Senior Concha, Colombian minister at
has been recalled and
Thomas Herran, present secretary of
legation, has been given authority to
the negotiations. Minister
Concha has been charged with OBJ
structing canal negotiations.
An emphatic declaration in favor of
the repeal of the anti-canteen law was
issued from the war department last
week Indications are that vigorous
effort for the establishment of the
canteen in the United States army will
be made as soon as Congress Convenes.
Official reports from the Philippines
say that American soldiers there are
being driven crazy through drinking
vino the native liquor. 1t Is found
by a careful census. that in GO com
panies every enlisted man used liquor
IF some kind at time of enlistment: in
100 companies. between 30 and 100 per
cent in % companies, between so and
10 per cent. in % companies. between
20 and 80 per cent. in 20 companies.
between GO and 70 per cent. Many of
.he men habitually drink to excess and
it is believed that this number will
Increase deplorably if the men are
obliged. as now, to resort to native
liquors The recent annual reports
IF officers throughout the army show
10 uncertain sentiment in favor of
return to the canteeu. In the an
lual report of the Acknowledgement
t was pointed out that l,400 sa
oons exist in the vicinity of army
posts, of which from go to 300 are said
o have been opened since the closing
If the canteens. The War Department
urther states that drunkenness. court
assertions and other offences
lave increased and that the morality,
discipline and health of the troops have
,een lowered since the closing of the
.anteen. There are now p, 0OO Ameri
AN soldiers in the Philippine. This
orce will be reduced to 5000 within
wo weeks and to $1,000 by March |
lext The report of the department
lso gives credit to General Wood
or Cuba's condition: advises doub
ing army post accommodations; de-
lares that the Moros constitute the
My Philippine problem left; advises
he reorganization of the militia and
ndorses the creation of a general staff.
The crown prince of Siam and party
\