Evening star., 1902-03-19
TESTIMONY RESUMED
GEN. OTIS TELLS OF RELATIONS
WITH AGUINALDo.
Extension Of Military Authority to All
Parts Of the Philippine
Archipelago.

Gen. Otis continued his testimony before
the Senate Philippine committee today.
Referring to his order Of September 8, 1888,
directing the withdrawal of the insurgent
troops outside the defenses Of Manila. Gen.
Otis explained that commission from
Aguinaldo's cabinet visited him.
In the discussion which followed, he said,
the commission did not mention the fact that
the towns Immediately adjacent to Manila
were not a portion of the city. He classed as
ridiculous Aguinaldos request to receive a
portion of the northern part of Manila oc-
cupied by the Spaniards in trade for some
of the southern part of the city held by the
insurgents.
Gen. Otis said he did not give the insur-
gents actual permission to occupy the block
houses which AguinaldO claimed had been
given. What he had said was. Il don't
care anything about the block houses; we
are not going to take possession of them"
Aguinaldo's Demand.
Gen. Otis said that Aguinaldo had de-
manded Of Cen Merritt the right to occupy
the palace and to make appointments in
the civil government, which caused Gen.
Merritt to cable Washington for instruc-
tions. The reply was that there must be no
dual occupation of Manila.
Gen. Otis then detailed the circumstances
attending the capture of Iloilo. the offer OF
the Spanish general Rios to hold the
place against the insurgents pending the
arrival of United States troops, and the
capture of the town by the Visayans before
the arrival Of the United States troops.
Agunaldo. he said was overjoyed when he
learned that the detachment had been sent
out, because he tAguinaldo> declared that
the first shot would be fired at Iloio which
would bring on war between the United
<11 ~ 10
said he had cabled Washington. saying that
the taking of Iloilo meant war in the
islands, and had received the response to
defer action, which he did until the insur-
gents made war on the United States forces
in Manila.
Extending Military Authority.
He had he said, issued his proclamation
extending military authority to all parts OF
the archipelago under instructions from the
President.
Senator Rawlins sought to show that
many Of the things done by the United
States military authorities were in con-
traVention of the protocol, but Gen. Otis
explained that he felt 1t his duty to protect
lives and property.
The committee adjourned until 2:3O pm.
in order to permit Gen. Otis to conclude his
testimony today.
Proposed Monetary Changes.
Jacob Hollander, former treasurer of
Porto Rico, was before the insular COM
mittee of the House today and gave his
views regarding the proposed monetary
bill for the Philippines. He said he did not
believe it would be wise to place the Ameri-
can gold standard in force at once in the
Philippines-that is, to the extent of making
silver redeemable In gold. He believed the
change should be brought about gradually,
something after the plan pursued by Eng
land in India. He expressed the opinion
that under the present circumstances, while
we are trying to win the confidence of the
F'ilipinos. it would be unwise to attempt to
force upon them the American coinage sys-
TEN.