The record-union., 1899-09-20
THE COURTS IN THE PHILIP
PINES.

IN strict line with the policy OF the AL
ministration in putting the civil gov
eminent in the Philippines as rapidly
as possible into the hands Of Filipinos,
but with an eye single to the doml-
nance of the United States being main
tanned. Thus some time ago the Su-
preme Court of the islands was organ
lied and sworn in.
This court illustrates the policy Of
the Government regarding self-govern-
ment in the Philippines, for the trib-
unal operates under precisely the judi
cial system with which the people of
the Philippines are familiar. Thus the
laws under which the people lived prior
to our occupation prevail, notifications
being introduced only where the sys-
tenn infringes upon the human right to
liberty of person, conscience and the
right to acquire and possess property
The Chief Justice of this supreme
tribunal is Judge Arellano, easily the
first ofsliving Filipinos, a man of pro-
found learning, superb judgment, of
polished manners and high reputation
for honesty, courage and manly quail
ties and a. broad and charitable dispos-
ition- He was and still is professor of
law in the University Of Santo Tomas,
and was a Justice of the Supreme
Court under the Spanish regime He
is independent as to wealth, and had,
prior to accepting the Chief Justice
ship. the largest practice Of any law
yer in the islands.
At one time he was the chief legal
adviser of Aguinaldo in the revolution
against Spanish tyranny. He is re-
garded by both natives and foreigners
as the foremost brainy man in the ISL
ands. Judge Arellano refused to side
with Aguinaldo in his position against
the Americans, and exerted himself to
turn that misguided chieftain from his
purposes. Upon the Supreme Bench
there are three Americans and six Fill
pinos, but all the Judges Of the lesser
tribunals are Filipinos. as are also the
prosecuting attorneys, and the inferior
officers.
The appointment of natives to these
positions was for the purpose, says
Major Young, of showing the people
that the intention of Americans is to
intrust local civil government as far as
is at all possible to the natives. Thus
the chief tribunals is thus composed:
Supreme bench-President (Presidente)
D. Sayetano Arellano.
Civil branch (Sala delo Civil), Presi-
dent Presidente), D. Manuel Araullo.
Associate Justices (NIagistrados), D.
Gregorio Araneta, Lieutenant Colonel
E. II. Crowder, Judge Advocate. United
states Volunteers.
Criminal branch (Sala de 10 Crirni-
nab: President CPresidente), D. Ray
mundo Melliza.
Associate Justices (Magistrados), D.
Ambrosia Rianzaress D. Julio Llorente,
Major r. w. Young, Utah Volunteer
Light Artillery; Captain w. E. Birk-
himer, Third United States ARTILLERY.
Attorneys CMinisterio FiscaD, Attor-
ney of the Supreme Court (Ffscal de la
Audiencia TerritoriaD, D. Florentino
Torres: Assistant Attorney tTeniente
FiscaD, d. Dionisio Chance.
All Of these save one have appeared
and taken the oath of allegiance. The
one exception is Rianzeres, who re-
mains with Aguinaldo, but Major
Young expresses the belief that his
heart is not In that cause. All the men
named on the bench and in the subor-
dinate positions are represented to be
fully qualified by education, travel and
experience for the responsible trusts
committed to them. Chief Justice Arel-
lano has the courage of his convictions
always. and he has not hesitated to
say In the open, that he favors Amer
lean supremacy because he does not be-
lieye that a native government can
Withstand either local irruption or for
eign aggression
All the Justices, who are natives, are
under sentence Of death by Aguinaldo's s
decree. The court has already taken
UP it's tasks and finds it's calendars
overloaded with work of the most i'm
portant and delicate character. It has
abandoned by unanimous vote the
Spanish system regarding classes Of
lawyers, and now attorneys are ad-
mitted to practice under provisions
taken from the California codes.
OF the American members of the
Court Captain Brikhimer is author of
standard work on military law, and is
a law school graduate; Major Crowder
is Of the corps Of Judge Advocates of
the@United States, and Major Young is
distinguished attorney Of Utah. JUS
tice Arenata was Aguinaldo's Attor-
ney General in the revolution against
Spain, and is agreed with Chief JUS
tice Arellano and the other Justices,
that American domination is best for
their fellow countrymen and the swift
est and safest means to local self-gov-
ernment, and to assure the people the
same freedom, privileges and general
liberty and prosperity attaching to the
American system.
They realize that the islands are now
Ia a period of transition and that their
duties are Of the most onerous char
acter in adjusting the new order Of
things to the Spanish system of laws
with which the people are familiar
For this reason these laws are to re-
main and be administered by the courts