The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1899-12-14

ana MAINTAIN freedom anu Ortlcr uii
peace In the Philippines. The insurrec-
ton Is still existing, ard when 1t termi-
mates further information will be required
rs to the actual condition of affairs before
establishing a permanent scheme of civil
government The full report of the COM
mission, now in preparation, will contain
information and suggestions which VIII
be Of value to congress and which l Will
transmit as soon as it is completed. AS
long as the instruction continues the
military arm must necessarily be supreme.
But there is no reason why steps should
not be taken from time to time to inau-
| gurate governments essentially popular
| In their form as fast as territory Is
held or controlled by our troops. To this
end am considering the ACCESSIBILITY of
the return of the commission, or such OF
the members thereof as can be secured to
aid the existing authorities and facilitate
this work throughout the islands. l have
believed that reconstruction should not
begin by the establishment of one central
government for all the islands, with its
seat at Manila, but rather that the work
should be commenced by building up
from the bottom, first establishing mu-
nictpal government and then provincial
governments a central government at
last to follow.
Rebellion Mu { BE Crushed.
Until the congress shall have made
known the formal expression of its will L
shall use the authority vested in me by
the constitution and the statutes to up
hold the sovereignty of tho United States
. In those distant islands, as in all other
places where our flag rightfully floats.
shall put at the disposal of the army and
D navy all the means which the liberality of
congress and the people have provided to
cause this unprovoked and wdsteful in
surrection to cease. If any orders of mine
were required to insure the proper conduct
Q of military and naval operations they
1 would not be lacking but every step of
Z the progress Of our troops has been marked
I by q humanity which has surprised evon
8 the misguided insurgents. The trucst
n kindness to them will be swift defeat of
& their present leader The hour of victory
( will be the hour of clemency and recon-
l. struction. No effort will be spared to
y build up the waste places desolated by
war and by long years Of misgovernment.
n We shall not wait for the end of strife to
n begin the benefcent work. We shall con-
d tinue, as we have begun, to open the
b schools and the churches, to set the courts
20 In operation, to foster industry and trade
lie and agriculture and in every way in our
r power to make these people whom provi-
o. dence has brought within our jurisdiction
10 feel that 1t Is their liberty and not our
i, power, their welfare and not our gain, we
l. are seeking to enhance. Our flag has
ID never waved over any community but in
Va blessing. / believe the entire Filipinos
" will soon r. gnize the fact that they
81 have not lost their gift of benediction il
OF this worldwide journey to their shores.
Id Needs of Alaska.
m For Il intf 1oc ic1o WI
n. lief exists in the territory of Alaska. TN
es whole vast area of Alaska comprises bu
We one judicial district, with one marsh
90 and one district attorney yet the civil M
criminal business has more than double
he within the past year and is many time
to greater, both In volume and importanc,
U.s. than 1t was in 1884. / sec no reason VIII
Ne q more complete form of territorial organ
ct ization shoulS not be provided. Follow
to Ing the precedent established in the yea
OF 1905, when q temporary government wa
ed provided for the recently acquired terri
of tory then known under the name G
H. Louisiana, 1t seems to me that it woul,
H. be advantageous to confer greater execu
lis tive power upon the governor and to es
ay tablish, as was done in the case of the ter
he ritory of Louisiana, a legislative council
Try having power to adopt ordinances whic
tie shall extend TO all the rightful subjects {
IA local origin, such ordinances not to tax
ties effect until reporte to and approved b
The the congress, if in session, and If thu
go body is not in session, then by the pres
rse dent. In this manner a system of Law
lty providing for the Incorporation and go'
Is eminent Of towns and cities, having ce
ee- tain population, giving them the powe
vn. to establish and maintain u system {
md education to be locally supported, an
f>. oh n. TIN,
The and other such purposes, could be speed
ess lily provided 1 believe a provision {
led this kind would be satisfactory to the pc
nts pie Of the territory. 1t is probable thi
this the area is too vast and the population tc
art scattered and transitory to make it Wi
att at the present time to provide for a
the elective legislative body, but the cond
Ing lions calling for local self-governmel
ure will undoubtedly very soon exist, and wi
) of be facilitated by the measures which
ate have recommended.
of Suggestions to Porto Rico.
,er- 1 recommend that legislation to Il
3 same end be had with reference to Il
tht government IF Porto Rico. The time
ripe for the adoption of u temporary for
of government for this island; and MAJ
18th suggestions made with reference to Ala
'ew ka are applicable also to Porto Rico.
cen The system Of civil Jurisprudence no
n adopted by the people of this island is
adj scribed by competent lawycr<S no are
18th miliar with -, as thoroughly modern al
tier scientific, so for as 1t relates to matters
aw internal business, trade, production al
led social and private right in general
nee The cities OF the island are govern'
We under charters which probably requi
,rd very little or no change. So that wi
ich relation to matters of local conce
I'M and Of private right, it is not probah
eys that much If any legislation is desirabl
md but with reference to public administI
eet ton and the relations Of the islands to t.
we federal government there are many ms
ON ters which are of pressing urgency. L
rim same necessity exists for legislation to
noe tablish judicial jurisdiction IN the lslal