Gilpin observer., 1902-04-17

y
in the Christmas report, told of meet
ing Christmas, whom he considered a
cultivated man, who had become entan-
gled with sharpers. The witness said
he never bribed any one, and nothing
Of the kind was ever contemplated; he
never received any money from Christ
mas. In response to questions from
members of the committee, Mr.. Knox
specifically denied that he had intro
duced Christmas to w. J. Bryan, or
that he had claimed to Christmas that
he was an intimate friend of Senator
Hanna.
The report of the testimony given be-,
fore the Senate committee ON military
affairs by General Schofield, formerly
the commanding general of the army,
on the bill to create general staff,
has been made public. He en-
dorsed the bill, saying that he
had long since come to the conclusion
that there is no room under our Gonsti-
tuition for two commanders, and that
the President, whom the constitution
makes the supreme commander, must
act through the secretary Of war. He
added: The very exalted individual
office, so-called, of commanding general
of the army, must disappear. There is
matter who occupies it: it Is not Ques-
ton of personality at all, or the charac-
ter of the Individual, so far as this
great question is concerned. He must
be what other nations of the earth
have, a chief of staff, not a command
ing general"
By strict party vote the insular
committee of the House voted down a
substitute proposed by the Democratic
members, Ito establish a stable and au-
tonOmous government in the Philip
pines," and then by a like party vote
ordered favorable report on the meas
ure prepared by the Republican men,
bers establishing a complete form Of
civil government for the islands. The
chief interest was in the substitute
proposed by the Democratic members
and prepared by Representative Jones
of Virginia. 1t proposed eventual in
dependence to the Philippines, the
islands to remain under the Philippine
commission until July 4. 1908. then
eight years of qualified independence,
then complete independence; the insur-
rection meanwhile to cease The I'm
tied States to have three coaling sta
tons and two naval stations. There
were twenty-six sections in the subsu-
tute.
Senator Teller has introduced a reso-
luton directing the postmaster general
to report to the Senate the amount of
salary due Colorado postmasters for
services required of them under the
postal regulations of 1866 and unsettled
by the government. The aggregate
claims of Colorado postmasters for SER
vices rendered and unpaid amounts to
$4,000. in claims running from $50 to
$50. Similar claims are held by post
masters in all the Western states
where the rapid growth of mining in
the years between the years 1866 and
1888 made it necessary for the post
masters to employ extra clerical help
for which the department later refused
to pay. When the resolution was in
troduced objection to its immediate
consideration was made by Senator AL
lison. who said the allowance of the
Colorado claims would open the way
for claims of other states and would
involve an outlay of several millions of
dollars. The resolution was finally re-
ferred to the postoffice and postroaas
committee.
At its session April 10Th the Senate
committee on the Philippines began its
proceedings by adopting a resolution
all the orders, circulars and official re-
ports received from commanders and
their subordinates in the provinces Of
Tayabas. Batangas. Samar and La
Guna. In his testimony before the
committee General Macarthur stated
that there are facts which show that
the cooperation of Aguinaldo's army
in the attack on Manila was not n vol
untary one on our part. General Mac
Arthur then related that the evening
previous to the attack on Ma
Mia. after General Merritt had issued
his order Of battle. he (MacArthur) was
in consultation with General Anderson
when the latter received a communica-
tion from General Merritt directing
him to inform AguinaldO that the bat
tie which was to take place the next
day was to be between the Americans
and the Spaniards, and that he must
not participate under any circum-
stances. Aguinaldo was at that time,
General Macarthur said, five miles
away, and the message was sent to
him by wire. He knew however, that
the Filipino leader had received it, be-
cause he had declined to accept the
suggestion. and he and his native
forces participated in the engagement
next day.
In his testimony before the Senate
committee on the Philippines General
Macarthur took up and discussed econ
omlc conditions in the archipelago, say
ing that they are the finest group of
islands in the world, occupying STRAIT
egic position absolutely unexcelled.
Continuing, he said that the archipela-
go must necessarily exert an active
and political influence upon the affairs
of the entire East, both in n political
and military way. The China sea, only
15O miles wide, he considered safety
moat. The islands would therefore
stand to protect our interests In the
Orient without the exertion of much
physical power on our part Hence.
he concluded that our presence in the
Philippines will always insure all the