The evening times., 1899-07-03
PROF. ScHURMAN'S TRIP.
Additional Report of His Visit to the
Outer Islands.

| outer Islands.
| Manila, July 3.-Prof j. G.. Schurman.
President of the Philippine Commission.
who went some time ago on the gunboat
Petrol to visit the out islands, has return
ed from his trip. He expresses himself as
| much pleased by the AmericanjZation of
| the southern islands, and especially Me-
| gros. where a complete civil government
is in operation. During his trip he visited
British North Borneo, where he studied
| the English system of administration.
Prof. Schurman spent a day at Iloilo
and made visit to Mo,o. He found every
thing quiet there. A thousand Tagals in
| the northern part Of the island comprise
the only troublesome element in Panay.
From Iloilo Prof Schurman proceeded to
Negros Island, where he was specially in
terested in studying the conditions be-
cause the inhabitants of that island have
always been friendly to the Americans. AT
! Bacolod the president and congress of the
island Government entertained him. He
went to Silay as the guest of the local
| functionaries. c From this place delega-
tion OF government officials accompanied
! him to Binaibalgan and Dumaguete. In all
| the places he visited he was entertained
officially and discussed the situation with
| government officials and the leaders of af-
fairs. In an interview tonight he said:
Il found the situation in Negros pleas
| ing. The people are arranging a const-
| tuition which was submitted to me. / ad-
! vised some changes. principally regarding
the judiciary. 1t had been proposed to
| elect native judges for three and four year
terms. l suggested the necessity OF tay-
| ing Americans fill these positions on the
ground that foreign nations might other
| wise demand consular jurisdiction. The
officials agreed 10 my suggestion, and said
that 1t would be the better plan 10 have
American judges because Americans were
not likely to be prejudiced by local rea-
sons. The constitution proposed a native
governor. I suggested that this Office, too,
be filled by an American. The Negrosites
| admitted that in the abstract this would
be the better plan. The constitution had,
however, already been drafted and the
people expected to have native governor
II then suggested that the governor
should have an American adviser, and to
this the natives agreed"
1t had been intended that Prof Schurman
should take the Petrol to Iloilo. Finally
it was considered wiser for him to take
a larger ship, which would appear more
impressive to the natives. He, therefore.
went on the Bennington. Prof. Schurman
thinks there will be little difficulty in the
island of Cebu. In Bohol all that Is need
ed is simply force to protect the towns.
The American commander at Cebu said
that his force was smaller than that in
Negros. but was sufficient TO occupy the
island peacefully. There are hardly a
| hundred rifles In the island
Prof Schurman said "Cebu and Bohol
! are ready for American occupancy when
ever we chose to send forces there. The
| oil 10
! assistance. but they will not oppose US.
Samar and Leyte are more infected with
| the Tagal spirit OF rebellion because they
are nearer LuZon.
They present slightly more difficult
question TO settle. The nsurgent Luchan,
who is in command there, is fomenting
trouble. The question in the Visayas is
political instead of military. Whenever
Agunaldo is crushed the Visayas Will SUBJ
NIT passively They are awaiting a set
tlement of the trouble in the Island OF
LuZon and are willing to abide the result.
! They have no desire TO fight. Even in
| Panay there will then be no fighting"
From the Visayas Prof. Schurman went
TO Puerto Caldera, close to Zamboanga.
OF his visit to Mindanao Prof. Schurman
said:
There are 500, 600 inha bitants third
of whom are Christian, one third Pagans.
and one-third Moros. Here the question
is diplomatic. The Moro chief in Zam-
boanga province is friendly to the Ameri-
cans, and has raised the American flag.
The chief of Basilan is also friendly, and
is preparing to follow the example of the
Marc chief,
"The Christians dislike the Tagals and,
naturally, are not amenable to their infiu-
ence. They will probably follow the Vis-
ayans. They await only tactful diplomacy
on the part of Americans.
The pagans were reached through their
chiefs. In dealing with them it is again a
question of diplomacy
The next place visited was Jolo. Prof.
Schurman says this is a beautiful is and,
with delightful climate and splendid re-
sources awaiting American development.
He adds:
The Spaniards walled in twelve acres
and called il the city. They had no COM
munication with the Moros. They made a
treaty with the Sultan and paid him 50, ,4G0
annually TO govern them.
II had an interview with the Sultan at
Minbun. His councillors and chiefs were
present.
Il greeted the Sultan in the name of the
President OF the United States and gave
him friendly assurances. l said that the
interests of both demanded the peaceful de-
veiopment of the islands and their inn
provement. / told him that the Americans
OHereQ an opportunity IOT lne increase OF
business and the payment OF larger reve-
nues. l also told him that we had sue
ceeded to Spain's rights and obligations,
which we would strictly respect. We would
sacredly regard their religion and Gus
TOMS
''The Sultan reciprocated these friendly
| sentiments. 1t is not necessary to appre-
hend any fighting in that quarter. The
ancient Moro custom of killing Christians
at sight is dead. The question here is Dip
lomatic, the same as in Mindanao."
Prof. Schurman then went to Sandakan,
British North Borneo, where the Chinese
Sulus. and natives are governed together
Here Prof Schurman says, II found
Englishmen travelling alone hundreds of
miles into the interior and sitting as
judges with the local chiefs. striking
eXemplification of system of dealing with
these people exactly opposite to the Span
ish custom was illustrated at Jolo.
THE next place visited was Puerta
Princisa, in Palawan. There l found two
representatives of Aguinaldo protesting to
represent his government. The governor
offered the plea of indisposition as an ex-
cuse for not visiting the Bennington The
next place visited was Cuyo. Nobody was
visited, probably because the people were
afraid of the Bennington.
From Cuyo we sailed for Manila, visit
ing Batangas Bay on the way. 1t was a
delightful trip. The weather was pleas
ant. The health of the Americans in the
! southern islands is better than in Manila.
, The situation in the Island of Negros re-
quires delicate handling The people, who
have been friendly from the start have
ernment They want their own constitu-
| nd fae1t Iad 10