The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-02-03

sentative institution, but no fespoA-
sible government typified by the Brit
is1 Guiana and HOngkong, respectively,
but neither ctVle the commission
points out, after lengthy argument
should be applied to the Philippines.
A territorial government, IL colciu1es,
is a desidera tum. The commission takes
as the basis of the government pro-
posed, the territorial organization OF
Louisiana The act is set forth in tuil.
1t provides for z governor and eeere-
tary Of the treasury, and invests the
legislative power in a council appointed
annually by the president. The courts
are also provided for.
This scheme Of government. says the
commission, possesses, besides its IN
trinic merits, the historical interest at
taehing TO 0rigination with the author
OF the Declaration Of independence.
Plans Of Jefferson.
Jefferson had outlined a first sketch
as early - November, 1868. He seems
to have felt no incOngruity between the
principles Of the Declaration Of hide
pendence Of the thirteen governing
colonies and this scheme Of government
for the politically inexperienced inhab-
itants Of Louisiana Indeed, he COM
plains with some bitterness, in Decem-
Der, 1893 when differences of opinion
developed as to the manner of dispOslng
Of Louisiana, that although It IS ac-
knOWledged that our new fellow clti-
zens are as yet as incapable of self
government as children, yet some can
not bring themselves to suspend It's
principles for a single moment
From the outset, however. the COM
mission believes it safe. and desirable
to extend TO the FilipinOs larger liberty
Of government than Jefferson ap-
proved Of for the inhabitants of Louis
lana, assuming that in the Sulu archl-
pelagO and portions Of the other ISLANDS
as are occupied by tribes of indians,
the government viii be eond 1eted
through the agency Of their sultans or
chiefs.
Elect Their Legislature.
The commission believes the people
Of the remainder Of the islands should
be permitted to elect at least members
Of the lower branch Of the territorial
/ legislature, and that at least half the
members of the upper house should be
appointed by the president. With such
safeguards in American hands and a
qualified veto power for the. governor
general, including the right to suspend
the law for a year, even after its pas
| sage by a vote of twO-thirds of the leg
| stature over his veto, this plan Of gov
! eminent, which is on the lines of the
constitution prepared for the commits
/ sion by those Filipinos who sought to
/ adjust the claims Of the insurgent lead
/ ers to the rights of American sOver-
/ eighty, would probably be adequate for
/ the purpose Of good government.
/ This is especially true, the commits
/ sion says, since congress may and
should retain the right to veto terri
/ tOrial legislation. Nearly all the offices
/ viii, under this form of government,
/ be filed by FilipinOs themselves. and
/ the merit system must be adopted and
| lived up to-
The patronage or SOILS system, the
! commission says, would prove fatal to
! good government on the islands. The
/ commission suggests that civil SER
i vice board to ascertain by competitive
/ examination of q practical character,
/ the qualifications Of F4HpinOs seeking
1 Office, should be instituted, and that
! there should be promotions for merit
and tenure during efficiency and good
! behavior.
The small number OF American offic-
! ials needed would include in the first
/ group, governor, secretary, attorney
! general, Judges and other officials of the
! territorial government, and, in the see
/ ond group, heads Of postal, customs and
| other departments The officers Of the
/ first group should be appointed by the
/ president, and Of the second transferred
/ from the home service. In neither case
should there be examination.
Few Americans Needed.
The commission cites the case of Brit
iish India with ar. area Of I, 100000 square
miles and a population Of 100000 coo,
! where the executive and judicial work
! is performed By a thousand British Of
/ fcials TO show that only a small num-
! Der Of Americans would be needed as
J the directing brain of the civil admin
/ istTatiOn.
The commission, while not underrat-
5 ing the difficulty of governing the Phil
( ippineS. is disposed to believe the task
/ easier than is generally supposed. The
/ FiIipinOs, they say, are Of unusually
/ promising material, possessing admir-
/ able personal and domestic virtues and
+ being naturally peaceful, dOcile and
deferential to constituted authority.
The educated among them, though
! constituting q. minority, they say, are
far more generous than is generally
J supposed and the commission bears
strong testimony TO the high range Of
/ intelligence and social refinement. The
! picked FiipinOs viii be of infinite
value to the United States in the work
/ Of establishing and maintaining civil
! government throughout the archipel-
/ ago. In connection with the subject
! Of government the comm ssiOn reaches
! the following conclusions;
i. The United States cannot with
I draw from the Philippines. We are
there and duty bids US remain. There
/ is no escape from our responsibility to
the FflipinOs and to mankind for the
/ government Of the archipelago and the
ameliOTatiOn Of the condition Of its in
/ habitants.
Could Not Maintain Independence.
20. The Fnipinos are wholly UMPIRE
pared for independence and if indepen-
! dence were given to them they could
/ not maintain it."
Under the third head is included a
/ copy of Admiral Dewey's letter TO Sen
ator Lodge. which was read in the
senate the other day denying AgUin-
/ aldO's claim that he was promised in
dependence.
II. There being TO Philippine nation,
but only a collection of different peo-
pies, there is no general public opinion
in the archipelago, but the men Of
/ property and education who alone in
teTest themselves IN public affairs in
7 general recognize as Indispensable, au-
thority, guidance and protection.
"5. Congress should, at the earliest
+ practicable time, provide for The Phil
/ ippines the form Of government herein
/ recommended or another equally liberal
and benehcent
! IS Pending any action on the part
of &C ngress the commission recomm ends
/ that the president put in operation this
scheme Of government in such parts Of
/ the archipelago as are at peace.
Establish Public Education.
a. So far as the finance of the Phil
/ ippines permit, public education should
be promptly established. and when es-