New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-03
THE COMMISSIONS REPORT
SITUATION N THE PHILIPPINES RE
VIEWED AND RECOMMENDA-
TIONS MADE.

VIEWED AND RECOMMENDA-
TIONS MADE.
Washington Nov. 2-In accordance with the
understanding reached at the conference at the
White House yesterday. the Philippine Commls-
sion to-day submitted to the President the pre-
liminary report which It had promised to pre-
pare.
The report appears to he a compact summary
Of conditions on the islands as the Commission
left them; Of the historical events which pre-
ccded the Spanish war and led to the original
Fnipino insurrection: Of the exchanges between
Admiral Dewey and the other American COM
manders and the insurgents the breaking out
and progress Of the present insurrecton, and
finally statement Of the capacity Of the FIJI
plnos for sclf-government. A notable feature or
the report Is a memorandum by Admiral Dewey
explanatory OF his relations with Agunado.
The report begins with the following state
NJ mt:
The undersigned. Commissioners appointed by
YOU t. investigate affairs in the Philippine ISL
ands and 10 report the result OF their lnvestsa-
ti1us. togethe with such rec"unlehuali" li"lS ~
might I'm their judgment be called Tor py 'le
conditions which should be found 10 EXIST IN
these islands have the honor 10 submit the foi-
lowing preliminary statement III eoinpHahce
with your request.
The Commission next tell briefly how II con-
Quoted the task 'ntrusted to it, hearing state
ments from all classes of people in Manila as
to the capabilities Of the Fpnos for self-gov-
ernment the habits and customs Of the people
and also the establishment of municipal govern
ment in many towns All this matter is to be
included in the final report
HISTORY or FORMER REBELLIONs.
Turning to the history Of the Islands, the
Commission attaches little Importance 20 the
rebellons which had preceded that Of lSoo. AS
70 this movement, 1t is declared that 1t was In
no sense an attempt to win independence put
solely 10 obtain relief from ntoerabe abuses
tn sustafn this statement the Commissioners
quote from an insurgent proclamation. showing
that what was demanded was the expulsion OF
the friars and the restitution 10 the people OF
thair lands with a division of the episcopal sees
between Spanish and native priests 1t was
also demanded that the Filipinos have parNa-
mentarv representation, freedom Of the press
religious tolcration economic autonomy, ana
laws similar to those of spain. The abolition OIL
the mower Of banishment was demanded with
equality for all persons in law and equalty III
pay between Spanish and native civil servants.
Tho Commission declares that these demands
had eooa ground. that on paper the Spanish
system Of government was tolerable, but IN
nractice every Spanish Governor did what he
eav- at and the evil deeds Of men in the Gov
ernment were hidden from Spain by strict
press censorship. Aluslon Is made to the pow
erful Katipunan Society. patterned on the Ma
sonic order and mainly composed Of Tagalos, as
powerful revolutionary force.
HAD so THOUGHT OF INDEPENDENCE.
r,e war begun in 1896 was terminated by the
.n(a,,. at H,ac-na-Ra;c The Flipnos were
numerous but possessed only about Noo small
AIMS The Spanish felt that it would re-
o,,ira 10000 men 70 capture their strong
hold and concluded 10 resort 70 the use
-, money Certain concessions were also de-
ci1e1 unon. inclvdng representation Of the FIJI
i,,ros I'm the Cortes. the deportation OF the
friars which was the principal question; the
Grant Of the right of association and OF a free
nress Governor General Rivera was willing TO
nav S9OOOOOO Mexican. when Aguinaldo and his
cabinet and leading officers arrived in Hong
Kong. 1t appears however, that Palermo only
offered the latter $iOO0D S2OO""o 70 be paid
when Aguinaldo arrived at Hong Kong, and the
remainder when the Filipinos had delivered up
their arms The arrangement was not accepta-
bile 10 the people. the promises were never car
Rod out. Spanish abuses began afresh. in Manila
alone more than two hundred men being exc
cutea. Hence sporadic risings occurred. though
they possessed nothing like the strength of the
original movement The insurgents lacked arms.
ammunition ani leaders. The treaty had ended
the war which, with the exception Of an unim-
nartant outbreak In Cebu, had been confined TO
Iuzon. Spain's sovereignty in the other islands
never having been questioned and the thought
os independence had never been entertained.
Tho reuort then tells how General Augustni
came 10 Manila Governor General AT 'his |
funcfurc. and war broke out between spain ana |
,ho r.nit.d states Augustini sought 10 secure |
the support Of the Filplnos 10 defend SPAN
agai,st America. promising them autonomy
but the Fniplnos did not trust him. Then came
Nav, and the destruction OF the Spanish heet
,v Dewey. with the resulting loss ot prestige 70
snain. Then In June Aguinaldo came. on this
ro.nt the Commission says.
,rho following memorandum this subject
has been furnished lHe N''''i'''''D" ~ <Nu'''i a'
Dewey:
MEMORANDUM OF RELATIONS WITH
AGUINALDO.
on Aprn 81. 1s0s the following cipher dis
ratch was received at Hong Kong from MI T..
suencer Pratt. United States Consul General at
Singapore.
Aguinaldo. nsurgent leader. here Wnl come
Hong Kong, arrange WIN onlnoloI" ipf general /
cooperation insurgents Manila II desired. Isle-
graph PRATT
On the same day Commodore Dewey tele-
grabbed Nr Pratt. Tell Agulnaldo come. soon |
as possible" the necessity for haste being duo .
tn tha fact that the squadron had been notified /
hv me Hong konE Government To leave those .
waters hy the following day. The squadron left I
fIOug Kong on the morning OF the -'ih, ana /
Mrs Bay Oh the 9TH. Aguina!do did not iea'e !