The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-05-23
GOVERNMENT OF PHILIPPINES.
COMMISSION HAS SUBMITTED A
PLAN WHICH MAY SUIT.


Like That in Cuba-FiIIpinO COM
missiOners Seem TO Think IL Lib
craI-MiIitary Operations Continue
in Spite of Their Presence in Man
iIu-FiIipinOs Surprised at the Sit
uatiOn.
Manila. May 22-The United States Phil
ippine commission has submitted to the
Filipino commissioners draft of the form
of government the President is prepared
TO establish.
According to the plan governor gen
eraI will be appointed for the islands by
the President. as will also be cabinet;
and later an advisory council will be elect
ed by the people.
Prof Schurman, head of the commission
has submitted the following written prop
osition to the Filipinos:
while the final decision as to the form
of government is in the hands of Con-
gress, the President, under his military
powers. pending the action of Congress,
stands ready to offer the following form
of government:
"A governor general, to be appointed by
the President; cabinet, to be appointed
by the governor general all the judges
to be appointed by the President; heads
of departments and judges to be either
Americans or Fiipinos, or both and also
a general advisory council, It's members
to be chosen by the people by form of
suffrage 10 be hereafter carefully deter
mined upon.
The President earnestly desires that
bloodshed cease and that the people of
the Philippines, at an early date, enjoy
the largest measures or self-government
compatible with peace ana order
The United States commission prepared
the scheme and the President cabed his
approval of the form of the document.
No Proposition From Them.
The Filipinos have made no definite
proposition, except for cessation of hos
tilities until they can present the question
of peace to the people.
Prof Schurman told the Fillpinos they
had no means of gathering the people
together, as the Americans control most
of the ports. He also reminded them
that liberal form of government was
offered them, and pointed out that ii was
better than the conditions existing under
Spanish rule.
Gozaga, president of the Filipino com
mission, replied that nothing could be
worse than Spanish rule. and admitted
that the form Of government proposed
was liberal.
The civilian members OF the Filipino
commission have declined to cooperate
with the other members of that com
mission, as the former consider Agulnal-
dos latest demand to be preposterous,
a nj Oftcf ~ a11a ,lp-
tice. referring to his wish for time In
order TO consult with the Filipino CON
gress.
After a conference tomorrow with the
United States commissioners, the Filipino
commissioners will lunch with Prof
Schurman and will afterwards visit the
vessels composing the American feet.
Military Operations Go on.
In spite of the presence of the Filipino
commissioners in Manila the military op-
erations continue with unabated vigor.
The visitors were apparently ignorant of
the true condition of affairs here. Upon
their arrival they were Immediately inun-
dated with invitations covering both day
and night and express surprise at the
condition of affairs within our lines. They
had been led to believe that everything
was chaotic, and are delighted at the re-
cepton accorded them.
Reports received from persons who have
arrived from the interior show that no
troops are left in the northern province
They were all drafted south after the out
break of the war.
The villages on the west coast are al
most deserted and the Ilocanos. especial
ly, are desirious of joining the Americans,
if only for the purpose of crushing the Ia
gals.
Many natives of Benguot and Ilocos
said that il the Americans had not arriv-
ed civil war would necessarily have ensu-
ed owing to the friction between the TIA
gasogs and the inhabitants of other prov
inces.
Their Armies Reduced.
1t is added that the only Filipino troops
now left are 1000 men, under Gen. Luna,
at Tarlac, and about 1000 under Gen.
Pic del Pillar. Even these are demoraIized
and short of arms and supplies. Many
OF their rifles are disabled and the Fill
pinos are unable 20 repair them, owing 10
The lack of mechanics and materials for so
doing.
A coasting steamer which has arrived
here reports that the Spanish garrison al
Zamboanga, Island of Mindanao, Is held
by the rebels in much the same manner
as the Americans held them while they
were in the vicinity of Manila Every
night the Spaniards are subjected to an
Intellectual fusillade and If they are no,
soon relieved, they will be reduced TO the
condition OF the Spanish garrison at Ilollo
Just previous to it's evacuation of that
place.