The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-09-05
President McKinley'S Ideas Regard
ing the New Dependencies.
IN THE PHILIPPINE1 ISLANDS
THREE COMMISSIONERS AFTER
REBELLION rs CRUSHED.
Cuba to Decide By Vote. Whether
She Wants Independence or An
Government For Hawaii-Presi-
dent Preparing His Message.

New York. Sept. "A special TO the
Herald from Washington says: There
is good authority for the statement thai
the president has returned to Washing
ton with these general ideas uppermosi
in his mind as to his future course in
relation to the new dependencies:
Philippines-Civil government by
three commissioners, TO supplement mil
itary rule. Immediately after the re-
bellion is crushed.
Cuba-Continued military control I'M
til 1t is determined, by means of a, gen.
eral election, whether the inhabitants
want independence or annexation. Ii
Independence, the new government
elected viii be recognized by the United
States, and will be given encourage
Dnent and every opportunity to establish
its stability. If annexation, the presi-
dent viii be governed by the sentiment
of American citizens, as it may then
exist.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. form of govern
nent, as recommended by the Hawaiian
commission, and as provided for in a
measure now pending in congress.
Some weeks will elapse before the
president settles down to the actual
preparation of his message. but he has
returned from his vacation with some
well defined views as to the difficult
problems which confront. him. and will
Immediately commence discussions of
the details with the members of his
cabinet.
Thrown Down the Gauntlet.
It has been generally supposed that
with the war still in progress in the
Philippines, the president would avoid
committing himself-t to recommendations
of the future government of the island,
hut such will probably not be the case.
His Pittsburg speech leaves no room
for doubt that he Will insist upon
American control of the Philippines.
To this extent he has come out square
ly, and thrown. down the gauntlet to
the anti-expansionists.} 81
Mr. Mckinley NOT only favors the
permanent control, but is prepared with
all of the forces at his command to
fight for it, but to avoid the charge of
militarism. and that is his reason for
making the recommendation he pur-
poses. outlining a plan to congress for
submitting a civil form of government
fer the military the moment peace is
obtained. and the complete supremacy
of the United States established.
Further discussions with his cabinet
may change somewhat the presidents
views as to the form of civil govern
ment best suited to meet the situation,
but at present the commission idea pre-
dominates. Professor Schurmann, pres
ident of the peace commission, is under
stood to favor this kind of control, and
a historical review recently prepared
for the president, showing that the
United States has frequently adopted
this method OF control of new territory
in a transitory state, has deeply i'm
pressed members of the administration.
49, Control By Commission.
II is appreciated that it will be some
years before the islands are ripe for
even a territorial form of government,
such as is proposed for Porto Rico, so
that control by commissioners, much
the same as in the District of Columbia.
is deemed happy substitute for a mill
itary government, and a safe and simple
means of control preliminary to the es-
Establishment of a territorial form of
government, when il may be possible t.
give to the natives generally the right
of suffrage.
The plan under consideration contem-
plates three commissioners, one an
army officer. to have charge of fiscal af-
fairs; another a naval officer, to have
control of customs; and the third, a
leading Filipino officer of legal eXper-
fence, to look afte~ gthe judiciary, all
three to be appointed by the president
and confirmed by the senate. Further
details contemplate giving the Filipinos
voice in all municipal affairs, and
the most liberal self government pos
sible.