The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1900-02-07

The Form of Government Suggested
for the Philippine Islands by
the Commission
REPORT SUBMITTED TO THE PRESIDENT,
He Transmits the same tn Congress
Outlined-Provinces tn Be Turned
Into Counties-As Few Americans
as Possible to He Used.

Washington, Feb. 3.-The president Fri
day transmitted TO congress the first vol
ume of the report Of the Philippine COM
mission. IL is a volume OF 2A pages, In
Guiding the appendix, and is signed by Prof.
| Schurn an, Admiral Dewey, Col. DENLY
and Prof. Worcester. The principal sub
ject dealt Nith is the plan OF government
proposed by the commission, which IN
cludes a discussion OF the Spanish govern
ment existing prior to the war, the various
reforms desired by the Fi.ipnos and the
constitutions proposed by them, together
with the conclusions and plans suggested
by the com mission. The report also covers
many other matters connected with the
social administration the island; racial
characteristics, eQucatl n. secular and re-
ligious orders, the Chinese in the islands,
public health, currency. ETC., as well as the
condition and reeds of the nited States
in the Philippines from nava. and mari
time standpoint. The second volume or the
report, which will not be ready for several
weeks. will contain detailed otScr ption
of the climate and natural resources z the
islands. The chief interest in the report
naturally centers in the plan of governmen Mt
proposed by the commission.
Favor Home Rule.
The commission announces itself unqual-
iiedly in favor OF a government OF the Ph
ippines analogous TO that OF a territory
of the United States, with a governor APP
pointed by the president. They say II is
desirable that the inhabitants OF the archi-
pelago should enjoy a large measure OF
home rule in local affairs. their towns TO
enjoy substantially the rights and privi-
leges OF towns in territory.
The provinces should be vested with sub
stantialy the functions OF a county in a
territory this system might be applied 10
Luzon and the ViScayau islands at once
and beginning mis- u; be made on the
coast of Mudanao ~te Sulu archipelago.
for pio1 ,ar1ts With
sultan. the con MISS says, need not be
considered in this connection.
Filipino Omcers.
The Filipinos could manage their own
town and county affairs through their own
officers, whom they could elect with no
help from American officials except such
as would be involved in control from the
central government at Manila. The suf-
frage should be restricted by educational
or property qualifications, or both. This
system would necessitate a small body of
American officials of great ability and IN
tegrity and OF patience and tact In dealing
with other races. and on this account the
commission recommends that they should
be paid high salaries. The commission says
they could be called advisers or commits
soners, and that one for every 100000 ma
tives should suffice. II would be the duty
of such commissioners to report upon their
work to the central government al Manila.
Their main function would be to advise
town and county officials in the discharge
of their duties and to watch the collection
of revenue and its expenditures. Our gov
eminent of the Philippines. the commission
insists. must be adapted TO the Filipnos
Basis for the Government
A territorial government. il concludes, is
a desideratum. The commission takes a 5 a
basis for the government proposed the ter
ritorial organization of Louisiana The act
is set forth in full. II provides for gov
ernor and secretary Of the treasury, and
vests the legislative power in a council APP
pointed annually by the president. Courts
are also provided for. This scheme of
government" says the commission, pos
sesses. besides its intrinsic merits. the his
torical interest attaching to orgination
with the author Of the declaration of in
dependence"
Thinks Task Would BE Easy.
The commission, while not undertaking
the difficulty of governing the Philippines.
Is disposed TO believe the task easier than
is generally supposed The Fiipinos, they
say, are OF unusually promising material,
possessing admiral personal and do
nestle virtues and being naturally peace
full, docile and deferential to constituted
authority. The educated among them,
though, constituting a minority, they say,
are far more numerous than is generally
supposed, and the commission bears strong
testimony TO their high range OF intel!i-
gence and social refinements.
These picked Filipinos will be of infinite
, value to the United States in the work Of
establishing and maintaining civil gov
eminent throughout the archipelago.
Conclusions Reached.
In connection with the subject OF govern
ment the commission reaches the following
conclusions:
II The United States cannot withdraw
from the Philippines. We are there and
duty bids us remain There is no escape
from our responsibility to the Filipinos
and to mankind for the government of the
archipelago and the amelioration of the
condition of its inhabitants.
~. The Filipinos are wholly unprepared
for independence. and If independence
were given to them they could not main
tain it,"
of Admiral Dewey's letter to Senator
Lodge, which was read i'm the senate the
other day, denying Aguinaldo's claim that
he was promised independence.
"a. There being no Philippine nation, but
only a collection OF different peoples there
is no general public opinion in the arch- |
pelago; but the men of property and edu-
cation, who alone interest themselves in
public affairs, in general recognize in
dispensabe American authority, guidance
and protection.
rs. Congress should, at the earliest prac-
ticable time, provide for the Philippines
the form of government herein recon-
mended or another equally liberal and
benefcient.
&c. Pending any action on the part of
congress- the commission recommends that |
the president put in operation this scheme |
of civil government in such parts of the |
archipelago as are at peace.
~. So far as the finances OF the Philip |
pines permit public education should be |
promptly established, and when established |
made free to all.
"S The greatest care should be taken in |
the selection of officials for administration |
They should be men of the highest char |
acter and fitness and partisan politics
should be entirely separated from the gov
eminent of the Philippines"