The Somerset reporter., 1902-07-17
At Washington.


teal letter to persons complaining that
teachers in the Philippines have been
proselyting and attempting to convert
Catholics to the Protestant faith In
the letter he says: sit is the purpose
of the Philippine government to main
tain in the (Philippine) archipelago the
same kind of free, non-secretarian in
struction which exists in the United
States, and which has proved to be for
the interest of religion and all religions.
The government MEANS 80 far as it can,
to give education to the people of the
discrimination for or against any church
and sect. 1t does not mean that any
officer or teacher of the public school
system shall use his position to build up
or pull down any church whatever,
whether Catholic or Protestant.
The Philippine commission is trying
to adjust the radical differences that ex-
ist between the Friars and the people.
The commission has the authority from
Congress to purchase the Friars' lands
and the church authorities are ready to
sell. But the commission will not pur-
chase the lands unless the Friars with
draw. In his instructions to Gov. Taft
Secretary Root said: 1T is not, how
ever, deemed to be for the interests of
the people of the Philippine islands that
in thus Transforming wholly unproduc-
tive tracts of land into money capable of
productive investment, a fund should
thereby be stated to be used for the at
tempted restoration of the Friars to the
parishes from which they are now sepa-
rated, with the consequent disturbance
of law and ORDER.
The secl etaries of War and State are
not inclined to give up hope that Cover
nor Taft's mission TO Rome will event
ually be successful. They realize that
Rome and the Vatican is the center of
diplomacy, and that the Cardinals are
almost incapable of approaching ques-
ton of this kind direct as would Cover
nor Taft. They will find, however, that
the proposition of the Philippine Com
mission to purchase the Frars' lands de-
ponds on the proposition to have the
Friars withdrawn from the Philippines.
1t is understood at Rome the question
of the withdrawal of the Friais from the
Philippine Islands could be settled i'm
mediately If Washington would accept
the oral assurance of the Vatican that
they will be withdrawn gradually. 1t is
believed there that only President Roose
welt can decide whether such promise
shall be accepted.
Gen Chaffee has been relieved of
command in the Philippines and order
ed to the command of department of
East by an order issued Monday, by Sec
rotary Root. The order reads as follows:
"By direction of the President, Major
General George w. Davis will relieve
Major General Chaffee of the command
of the division of the Philippines, Sept.
80, 1902. On being relieved, Gen. Chaffee
will, with his authorized aides, repair
to Governors Island, n. Y and assume
command of the department of the East.
Maj Gen. Lloyd Wheaton closed his
active military career, Monday, having
reached the statutory retiring age of Ga
years. He recently arrived from the
Philippines. The vacancy caused by his
retirement has been anticipated by the
appointment of Brig. Gen. John G..
Bates, now commanding the department
of the Missouri at Omaha.
Minister Bowen, considers the situa-
ton in Venezeula such that the navy has
decided to send an additional ship to La
Guaira and shortly upon the arrival
of the Marietta at Kingston, ia, for
which place she sailed Monday from
Cape Hayden, she will be met by orders
to proceed to La Guaira.
The President has issued a commission
to Director Merriam under the new per-
manent census laws, director of the
census,
A dispatch from Admiral Growing
shields, received Monday, was to the eff
feet that his flag ship, Illinois, run
aground in the harbor of Christiana,
Norway, and hole stove in her hull,
necessitating putting her in dry dock
for repairs.
One of the good things which Con-
gress did in the hurry of the closing SEES
sion was to pass bill giving Porto Rico
delegate in Congress, with the same
rights and privileges as the delegates of
our own continental territories, Oklaho-
ma, Arizona and New Mexico Presi-
dent Roosevelt signed this bill with es
pecial satisfaction Porto Rico already
has a commissioner in Washington, and
this gentleman, Mr. Degetan, will pro-
baby be the first elected delegate.
1t is now said that as the result of the
conference between the President and
Secretary Root, Governor Taft will be
directed not to insist on the summary
removal of the friars from the Philip
pines, but to accept a promise of gradual
change such as the vatican intimated in
its recent note that it was willing to
give In this way the administration
will accomplish all that is desirable,
though not quite 80 quickly as was hop
ed, and avoid endorsements such as
might arise If we insisted on a summary
removal, and the vatican refused.
President Roosevelt has reviewed the
findings of the court martial in the case
OF Gen. Jacob II. Smith, admonished
him as required by law and retired him
from the army.
To CVTRE nOI.n IN ONE nav