The Red Cloud chief., 1898-11-18
70 Be C.[ON Is FOR A YEAR
The Presidents Plan Of Govern
ment for New Possessions.
WILL BE- NO HAsTy ACTION,
Porto Rico and tho Philippines win he
Retained Under Military uovernmont
un,u Commissions Have Fully Inves-
tigatcd ths Islands

-
WASHINGTON. Nov. 10. - President
Mckinley has developed his policy to.
ward Porto Rico and the philippines.
lie will save tho country from the
blunders of hasty action md will de-
lay the final decision for a year. One
Of the Presidents most intimate ad.
visers gives tho following outline oil
his program:
The conquered islands will be con-
tinued under n strong military gov
ernmont.
All fduciary positions will be al.
ministercd by army officers.
The islands will DO kept out OF poll
ties ms much N possible until the
American people have had IN oppor'
tunity to study them and the national
sentiment can crystalize as to the re-
iation they should hold TO the United
States.
The islands will probably retain
their present systems, but they may DO
bo,stcred by DEGREES which will insure
stability.
Being In effect military colonies. tho
conquered islands will have tariffs OF
their own which will be levied on Inn.
ports from the United States as well
ns those from other countries.
The United States will collect duties
ON imports from the islands the same as
though they still belonged to u for
eiRn sovereignty.
The Presidents program IL said TO
DO based on the ground that the Amor.
lean people are not sufficiently In
formed about Porto Rico and the Phil
ippircs to decide off hand whether
they should be treated as territories
or colonies, somewhat after the British
system. Many Americans believe that
the natives OF tho conquered islands
are not suited TO DO taken into full
membership into the Unloa. The
President has held that position nj
least, toward the Flipinos, and his
reluctance TO take all the Philippines
was based on the various stages of civ
~slization OF their inhabitants.
The Presidents program Is based or
the theory that tho coming session oil
Congress will be too short and busy to
permit legislation for n comprehensive
system OF government for the con.
qucrod islands. The appropriation
bills and other important measure.
will absorb most OF the time Of the
outgoing Congress, aud tho construc'
ton work for the new possessions will
90 over to tho next Congress. There
Is q movement to have the present
Congress appoint commissions similar
TO that viii visited Hawaii. Their
mission will, DO 70 visit Porto Rico ant
she PHILIPPINES, study the people ant
their needs, familiarize t~hemselve.
with the special conditions that mus
be considered and on their return
recommend to Congress forms Of gov
eminent for those islands.
President Mckinley has already es
tablishcd n military government IL
Porto Rico and parts of Cuba and tn,
Philippines by virtue Of his authority
as commander 'in.chief OF the arm,
and navy. II Is by that authority tina
he will continue In control until Con
gress takes the responsibilities Of gov
eminent from his hands. IL Congress,
fails to take the necessary action a
the coming short session, tho Presi
dent can continue his military man
ugement until December Of next year
II a change Is needed in the laws O
Porto Rico, In the opinion OF tn,
American officers on the ground, tn
President can order IL on a moment
notice. With army officers scattere,
over the island, oil earnestly studyin,
the needs OF the situation and report
ing to the President, he eau make sue
adaptations from day to day as ma.
scem desirable. dnd when Congress
takes up the problem u year hence |
will lind tho ground work for n go,
eminent we'll Ibid. The Porto Ricsn
will DO given a civil government undo
the general supervision Of tho militar
power, and It will DO the aim of til
President gradually to shape that go'
srnment to the system of the Unite
StatcA.