Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1899-05-25
COMMISSIONS PLANS.
1t 10 Submitted to Filipinos In q Writes
Proposition.

1t 10 Submitted to Filipinos In o Writtea
Proposition.
MANILA, May 23.-Prof. Schur-
man, head of the United States Phil
ippine commission, has submitted the
following written propositions to the
Filipinos.
While the final decision as to the
form OF government is in the hands
of the congress, 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; a cabinet, to be ap-
pointed by the governor general; al,
the judges to be appointed by the
president; the heads of departments
and judges to be either Americans or
Filipinos, or both; ard also a gen
eral advisory council it's members to
be chosen by the people by form Of
suffrage.
The president earnestly desires that
the bloodshed cease and that the peo-
pie of the Philippines at an early
date enjoy the largest measure of self
government compatible with peace and
order.
The United States commission rrc-
pared the scheme and the president
cabled his approval of the form of the
document. The Filipinos have made no
definite proposition except for a ces-
sation of hostilities until they can
present the question of peace to the
people. Prof. Schurman told the Fill
pinos they had no means of gathering
the people together, as the Americans
control most Of the ports He also re
minded them that liberal form Of
government was offered them and
pointed out that it was better than
the conditions exising under Spanish
rule.
Gozaga, president of the Filipino
commission, replied that nothing could
be worse than Spanish rule and ad-
mitted that the form of government
proposed was liberal.
The civilian members of the Fill
pino commission have declined to CO.
operate with the other members Of
that commission, as the former con-
slider Aguinaldo's latest demand to be
preposterous after Major General Otis
refusal of an armistice. referring to
his wish for time in order to consult
the Filipino congress.
After a conference tomorrow with
the United States commissioners the
Filipino commissioners will lunch
with Prof. Schurman and will after
wards visit the vessels composing the
American feet.
2:1S p. MN spite of the presence
of the Filipino commissioners in Ma
Mia the military operations continue
with undated vigor.
The visitors were apparently igno-
rant of the true condition of affairs
here. Upon their arrival they were
Immediately inundated with invita-
tons 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
reception accorded them
Reports received from persons who
have arrived from the interior show
that no troops are left in the northern
provinces. They were all drafted
south after the outbreak of the war.
The villages on the west coast are al
ihoSl uCoSl Icu anu lie llOCdudS eSDS-
cially are DESTROYS of joining the
Americans, if only for the purpose Of
crushing the Tagals. Many natives
of Benguot and Ilocos said that if the
Americans had not arrived civil war
would necessarily have ensued owing
to the friction between the Tagals and
the inhabitants of other provinces.
1t is added that the only Filipino
troops now left are 1000 men under
General Luna, at Tarlac, and about
1000 under General Pho del Pillar. Even
these are demoralized and short of
arms and supplies. Many of their
rifles are disabled and the Filipinos
arc unable to repair them, owing to
lie lack of mechanics and materials
for so doing.
A coasting steamer which has ar
rived here reports that the Spanish
garrison at Zamboanga, island of Min
danao, is held by the rebels in much
the same manner the Americans held
them while they were in the vicinity
of Manila. Every night the Spaniards
are subjected to an Intellectual fusil-
lade and if they are not soon relieved
they will be reduced to the condition
of the Spanish garrison at Iloilo Just
previous to its evacuation of that
place.