A-case of international importance has just been disp sed of in Cebu. Several months ago ths Sprish Consul of that city was assaulted one night at the theatre. The Manila "Times" gives the following particulars of the exse Two men were involved in an altercation and the consul taking them to be Spaniards, advised them to go with the police who were attempting to arrest one of the men. A little Ister the consul was assaulted and beaten by the native polices. A complaint was sent to Spain. The Spanish Guvern ment asked that the par.ies he apprehended and punished and particularly the presidente of Cebu. Ins'ruction was received from Washingt that the matter be thoroughly sifted and the guilty parties punished. Owing to the fact that the native fixeal might be considered remiss in proccuting his countrymen, from the Spanish point of view, Mr. Haucerman, Assistant Attorney-General, was sent to Cebu to prosecute the ease. Judg ached to sit on the case, as he knew nothing concerning the facts of the trouble. Seventeen natives were arrested, four of whom were found guilty and sentenced to twenty-two months each at hard Jabour. The court dismissed several of the other prisoners over the objection of the prosecuting attorney and the others could not be held under the evidence. The case has been appealed to the Supreme Court. It was alleged at the time that the Spanish Consul was drunk and insulting. This was disas acting within the scope of his authority at the time the assault was made. There was no evidence to connect the presidente of Cebu with the assault but there are many of the opinion that it was at hiv instigation.
Discontent among the Police.
From the same paper we take the following extracts anent the present dissatisfaction prevailing among the men of the Manila Police Force Perhaps no body of men in Manila have had so much good said of them as the metropolitan police, and perhaps no body is more worthy of it, However much we may differ with Senator Beveridge in polities yet we are all of us at one with him in his statement that no finer body of men serve as guardians in any city of the world. We therefore view with apprehension anything which tends to breed discontent, among them and impair their efficiency. As has so often been said, the source of supply for such men is continually growing less, and the time is hound to come when we shall no longer be able to secure such quality as we now have. Tha volunteer contingent still in the Phitippines is gradually dvereasing and the police force Has alrendy contribared its quota to, the number of the home-going. Even as it is, it is generally admitted that the police force of to-day is not what it was a yel ago. When originally organised it was composed of the cream of the non-commissioned men of the volunteer regiments, Fyom one cause and another, many of these have left the police rauks, and by so much hive created a tendency to deterioration. From the sentiments prevailing among the men at this time, there is every indication that the next few months will witness 4 still further defection from the ranks. The chief <riovanco seems to be the new uniform; although others, such as the delay in the promised increase of salary, also exert a pernicious influence. So far as the new uniform is ¢ cerned, we do not know who wis its author or its originator. We do know, however, that he has flagrantly disregarded all hygienic ideas as to cloth-'Even our school primers used to tell us that white cloth does not absorb, heat wi black cloth does. Further along. our books on physics demonstrated this principle by the illustration of laying pieces of cloth, ranging in shade from black to white, upon a field of snow while the sun was shining. When lifted, it was found, of course, that under the black cloth, the snow had been melted to avery perceptible dezree, while under the white it had scarcely melted at all, and so on up through the series according to the degree of lightness or darkness, thus showing the inherent tendency of dark cloth to absorb heat and light cloth to radiate or to refuse it. But this principle is too well known to need mention. It may be, of course, that in this case the dark cloth is only intended for the rainy season. But even if this be so, the change involves more expense—more money, a most important desideratum with the average policeman, Furthermore, it appears that the cloth, to give' it a common name, is a shoddy, or very little better. As to the helmet, if anyone wants information regarding its comfort or adapt ability, he can, in the slang phrase, "ask a policeman."" The policemen want a sensible and rational uniform. They should have it, or at least they should not, have had forced on them the one they now have. A few more changes like the p sent and we shall soon be without a police force, In fact, in spite of the well-meaning
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.