The record-union., 1899-06-15
Is Expected TO Gather Some valua-
Bile Information
lnH.s Proposed Visit TO the Different ISL
ands Of the Philippines.
The Desire of the President of the
Commission is to Inform Him
Than in Luzon Before Return
ing to the United States.

NEW YORK, June 14-Presldent
Schurman of the Philippine Commission
IS expected to gather some valuable in
sorma.ion in his proposed visit 10 ihe
inherent islands of the arch pelago, says
a Washington correspondent of the
tribune" While not much is known
In Washington of his purposes, the un-
derstanding is that he desires to in
form himself of the conditions else
where than in Luzon before returning
to the United States In the bush
whacking of Aguinaldo and his follow
ers around Manila which makes Amer
ncan military operations necessary, the
fact is generally overlooked that other
parts of the archipelago have accepted
american authority unreservedly, and
That no trouble is anticipated in estab-
Hshfng government there. It is a.
curious circumstance that the most ia
vorable conditions are reported to ex-
ist in the Sulu group. President Schur-
man has not indicated definitely
whether it is his intention to visit this
group, but the supposition is that he
desires to learn the situation there.
In March General Otis reported that
the Spanish garrison was still main
tanned in the group, but this was a
temporary arrangement, and the gar
flson was expected to retire later.
The Sulus are Mohammedans but
they are said to be most favorable to
American authority, and, with proper
encouragement, they are likely to prove
tractable. Both American naval and
military officers in the Philippines have
written interestingly of the prospects
In this part of the archipelago They
ho
opinion that, although the people are
Mohammedans, there are few difficult
ties in the way Of assimilating them to
American Institutions Professor Wor-
cester, during the residence in the Phil
fppines, spent some time among the
SuluS, hut the me mbers CT the civil COM
mission have had no opportunity to
learn by personal investigation what
the prospects are. The reports have
been uniform in saying that the Sultan
was anxious for American protection.
Spanish authority, while never estab-
lished throughout the Islands was NOM
inally acknowledged. The Sultan is
said to have some advanced notions of
civilization.
The fullest information about these
islands was furnished several months
ago by T. H. Haynes, a British mer-
chant, and the main points of his state
ment were made public at the time.
These We're afterwards supplemented.
Mr.. Haynes said that the conditions at
taehing to the acquisition of the Sulu
islands We're different from those re-
lating to the remainder of the Philip
pines which had been in the absolute
possession of Spain. He thought it was
not in the interest of the United States
TO establish a system of government
which would be productive of harmony
between the inhabitants of the islands
and their protectors. In doing this the
prosperity of the natives and the per-
scnal welfare of the Sultan and the
chiefs were all to be considered Under
the shadowy Spanish dominion the Sui
tan had at various times indicated his
desire for British protectorate. He
was anxious to have the rich lands
opened up by planters and international
trade increased. He also wanted a
stated subsidy for his own maintena nca
to be guaranteed by the protecting
power. There is nothing in this pro-
gram which he has outlined under the
theory of a British protectorate which
cannot be carried out under American
sovereignty. The scheme which is in
dieated was similar to that of the Brit-
ish Straits Settlements, in which the
Government was nominally under ma
tive Sultan. The inhabitants OF the
Sulus are said to be Industrious but
they are widely scattered, and the ma
tive chiefs demand and receive too
large proportion of the fruits of their
labor