The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-11-15
McKinley's Plan For Government of
the Islands.
STRONG MILITARY RULE
GOVERNMENT ADMINISTERED
BY ARMY OFFICERS.
Mckinley Has Decided to Postpone
Final Settlement For One Year
New Possessions Will Be Kept
Gut of Politics-Period of Proba-
ton For Natives.

Chicago, Nov ia special to the
Times Herald from Washington says:
President Mckinley has developed his
policy toward Puerto Rico and the
Philippines. There has been much
speculation as to the form of govern
ment to be given these islands, and
the president has been studying the
problem with great earnestness. He
has decided to save the country from
the plumbers of hasty action, and will
delay the final decision for year. This
statement is on the authority OF one OF
the presidents most intimate advisers,
who gives the following outline of his
programme:
First-There will be no extra session
of congress next spring. barring grave
emergencies.
Second-The conquered islands will
be continued under a strong military
government.
Third-AIl fiduciary positions will be
administered by army officers.
Fourth-The islands will be kept out
of politics as much as possible until the
American people have had an oDDor-
tunity to study them and the national
sentiment can crystalline as to the re-
Iation they should hold to the United
States.
Fifth-The islands will probably re-
tain their present currency systems,
but these may be bolstered by DEGREES
which will insure stability.
Sixth-Being in effect military col
onies, the conquered islands will have
| tariffs of their own. which will be levied
on imports from the United States, as
well as those from other countries.
Seventh-The United States will col
| lect duties on imports from the islands
! the same as though they still belonged
to foreign sovereignty.
The presidents programme is said
| to be based on the ground that the
American people are not sufficiently in
formed about Puerto Rico and the Phil
| ippines to decide off-hand whether they
| should be treated as territories or as
| colonies somewhat after the British
| system. Many Americans believe the
natives of the conquered islands are
not suited to be taken into full mem
bership in Uncle Sans family. The
president has held that position, at
! least, toward the F'ilipinoS, and his re-
luctance to take all the Philippines was
based on the various stages of civiliza-
ton of their inhabitants.
The president himself is at loss to
/ say what form of government should
be provided for the newly acquired
islands. The habits of centuries of
formation are not to be uprooted by a
| mere act of congress, and civilization
does not necessarily follow from the
use of the ballot-box. The government
! of the islands presents a tremendous
problem and the president wishes to
attack it's solution intelligently. He
wants time for himself and he wants
time for the American people.
The presidents programme is based
on the theory that the coming session
/ hQ haT nd GU
to permit legislation for a comDrehen-
sive system of government for the con-
quered islands. The appropriation bills
and other important measures will alb
serb most of the time of the outgoing
congress, and the constructive work
for the new possessions will go over to
! the next congress.
There is a movement to have the
present congress appoint commissions
like that which has visited Hawaii.
Their mission would be to visit Puerto
Rico and the Philippines, study the pep
pie and their needs, familiarize them
selves with the special conditions that
| must be considered, and. on their re-
turn, recommend to congress forms of
government for those islands The
president wants more light, and COM
missions such as that which visited
| Hawaii will give an intelligent basis for
legislation for Puerto Rico, and esDec-
tally for the Philippines. President
Mckinley has already established a
military government in Puerto Rico and
parts of Cuba and the Philippines,
by virtue of his authority as
commander-in-ch of the army
and navy. 1t is by that
authority that he will continue in con-
tinue in control until congress takes
the responsibilities of government from
his hands. If congress fails to take the
necessary action at the coming short
session, the president can continue his
military management until December
of next year. A military government
has the advantage of being flexible anC
quickly adaptable to special needs.
! If a change is needed in the laws OF
Puerto Rico in the opinion of the Amer
lean officers on the ground, the presi-
| dent can order it on a moments notice
With army. officers scattered over the
island all earnestly studying the need:
of the situation and reporting to tht
president, he can make such adapta
tons from day to day as may seem de
sirable, and when congress takes III
the problem a year hence it will fine
the groundwork for a government wei
laid. The Puerto Ricans will be giver
| a. civil government under the genera
supervision of the military power, anC
it will be the aim of the presiden
gradually to shape that government t.
the system of the United States.