Many most interesting questions arise in connection with the capitulation of the Spanish army.  It was agreed that the Spaniards, upon surrendering and giving up the public property, should be entitled to the honors of war.  It was expressly understood that the arms the troops gave up were to be retained.  In case the Americans abandoned the islands or the Spaniards departed the rifles should be given them, and usage would seem to determine that this return of weapons must include the Mausers in the hands of the troops now prisoners of war and the cartridges they would carry if they took the field.

Then arises a difficulty as to the precise meaning of the words “public property.”  There were laid down by the Spaniards about 12,000 Mausers and Remingtons, and there were 10,000 in the arsenals—­22,000 in all.  It is admitted that 12,000 personally surrendered rifles go back to the Spaniards, whether they or we go away from the islands—­as one or the other is sure to do—­but the 10,000 stand of arms in the arsenals come under the head of “public property,” and so should be retained permanently by the Americans.  The number of ball cartridges a soldier starting out to make a march carries is 100.  There were surrendered more than 500 rounds to the man.  The public money was public property, of course, and General Greene demanded the keys to the vault containing it.  The Spanish authorities objected, but yielded after presenting a written protest.  The money consisted of Spanish and Mexican dollars, a lot of silver bars and change fused into one mass, and some gold in the same state, also $247,000 in copper coin, which was regarded, under the old dispensation, good stuff to pay poor wages to poor men and women.

There are some fine points about customs.  The American flag floats over the city, and the importers and exporters want to know what the charges are and how much the private concessions must be.  Some of these people ran around for several days with the object of placing a few hundred Mexican dollars in the hands of officials, where they would do the most good, and could not find anybody ready to confer special favors for hard cash.  These pushing business men had been accustomed to meet calls for perquisites, and did not feel safe for a moment without complying with that kind of formality.  They turned away embarrassed and disappointed, and were surprised to learn that they were on a ground floor that was wide enough to accommodate everybody.

It should be mentioned in this connection, also, a Mexican dollar passes in Manila for 50 cents American.  The price of Mexican dollars in the banks of San Francisco and Honolulu is 46 and 47 cents.  The way it works is illustrated in paying in a restaurant for a lunch—­say for two.  If the account is $2 you put down a $5 United States gold piece and receive in change eight Mexican dollars.  If you buy cigars at $40 per 1,000 a $20 American gold piece pays the $40 bill.