The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-11-03
COMMISSIONERS
SUBMIT REPORT
Summary Of Conditions Existing In the
Philippines.
MEMORANDUM BY DEWEY
Admiral Explains His Relations With
InSurgent Leader.
STATEMENT A PRELIMINARY ONE
Envoys Tell How They Conducted the
Task Entrusted to Them-Allusion
is Made to the Powerful
Katapunan Society.
STATEMENT A PRELIMINARY ONI

Washington, November 2.-In accordance
with the understanding reached at the con-
ference at the White House yesterday the
Philippine commission today submitted to
the president the preliminary report which
1T had promised to prepare
The report appears to be a compact sum-
mary of conditions in the islands as the
commission left them; of the historical
events which preceded the Spanish war and
led to the original Philippine insurrection;
of the exchanges between Admiral Dewey
and the other American commanders and
the insurgents; the breaking out and pro-
gress of the present insurrection, and
finally a statement of the capacity of the
Fflipinos for self-government. A notable
feature of the report is memorandum by
Admiral Dewey explanatory of his relations
with Aguinaldo.
The report begins with the folloy .g
statement:
1.-THE undersigned commissioners ap-
pointed by you to investigate affairs in the
Philippine islands and to report the result
of their Investigations, together with such
recommendations might, in their judg-
ment, be called for by the conditions which
should be found to exist in these islands,
have the honor to submit the following pre-
aiminary statement in compliance with your
request:
How Task Was Conducted
The commission next tells briefly how 1t
conducted the task entrusted to- 1t, hearing
statements from all classes of people In
Manila as to the capabilities of the Fill
pinos for self-government, the habits and
customs Of the people and also the estab-
lis ment of municipalities in many towns.
Allthis matter is to be included in the
final report. Turning to the history of the
islands, the commission attaches little i'm
portance to the divers rebellions which had
preceded that of 1896. AS to this movement
they declare that it was in on sense an
attempt to win independence, but solely to
obtain relif from intolerable abuses TO
sustain this statement they quote from an
insurgent proclamation showing that what
was demanded was the expulsion of the
friars and the restitution to the people of
their lands, with a division of the Episco-
pal Sees between Spanish and native
priests. 1t was also demanded that the
Fflipinos have parliamentary representa-
ton, freedom of the press, religious toera-
ton. economic autonomy and laws similar
ITO those of Spain. The abolition of the
power of Punishment was demanded with
legal equality for all persons in law and
equality in pay between Spanish and native
civil servants. The commission declares
that these demands had good grounds, that
on paper the Spanish system of government
was tolerable, but in pratctice every Span
ish governor did what he saw fit and the
evil deeds of men were hidden from Spain
by strict press censorship.
Allusion Is made to the powerful Kata-
punan society, mainly made up of Tagalos
as a powerful revolutionary force.
The war begun in 1896 was to be terminat-
ed by the treaty of Biac-Na-Bate. The
Fflipinos were numerous but possessed
only about 800 small arms. The Spanish
felt that it would require 100, 600 men to cap
ture their stronghold and concluded to re-
sort to the use of money. Certain conces-
sons were also decided upon, including rep
resentation of the Filipinos in the cortes
the deportation of the friars, which were
the principal question; the grant OF the
right of association and of a free press
Governor General Rivera was willing to
pay 1000, 900, Mexican, when Aguinaldo and
his cabinet and leading officers arrived In
Hong Kong. 1t appearer, however that
Baterno only Offered the latter s400 OO0
5000 900 to be paid when Aguinaldo arrived
at Hong Kong and the balance when the
F,lininos had delivered up their arms. The
arrangement was not acceptable to the peo-
,.,u v.,,au.,
oe'' No'o'
The promises were never carried out;
Spanish abuses began afresh; in Manila
alone more than 200 men being executed
Hence, sporadic risings occurred, though
they possessed nothing like the strength of
the original movement. The insurgents
lacled arms ammunition and leaders The
treetv had ended the war. which. with the
excentton of an united p,ot TO break in
60, haa 49,, contned 10 Iuzon Snain,s
A., the nther Islands never havs