The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-02-03
MUST HOLD THE PHILIPPINES
STRONG REPORT OF THE UNITED
STATES COMMISSION.

1
Wholly Unpreparod for Independenc
-IfGiven Them They Could Not Main
tain It-Plan of Government Proposet
Analogous 10 That Of n Territory.
Washington, Feb. 2.--The first part O.
the report of the United States Philip
pine commission was transmitted. tt
congress by the president to-day. 1t II
signed by President Schurman, Admira
Dewey, Professor Dean C. Worcester
and Charles Denby. The principal sub
| ject dealt with is the plan Of govern
ment proposed by the commission, which
includes a discussion of the Spanish
government existing prior to the war
the various reforms desired by the Fill.
pinos and the constitutions proposed by
them.
Plan of Government.
The chief interest in the report natu-
rally centers in the plan Of government
proposed by the commission. The com
mission announces itself unqualif1edly
In favor of a government Of the Philip
pines analogous to that of a territory Of
the United States, with a governor APP
pointed by the president. They say it
is desirable that the inhabitants of the
archipelago should enjoy a large meas
ure of home rule in local affairs their
towns to enjoy substantially the rights
and privileges Of towns in territory.
The provinces should be vested with
substantially the functions Of county
foy,ritnrxy. +bic c.,yctoy,, 1,a -
piled to Luzon and the Viscayan islands
at once, and beginning might be made
on the coast of Mindanao. The Zulu
archipelago calling for special arrange
ments with the sultan, the commission
says, need not be considered in this con-
nection. 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 involv-
ed in controlling the local government
at Manila. The suffrage should be re-
stricted by educational or property quail
ifications, or both. ~
This system would necessitate small
body Of American officials of great abil-
ity and integrity, and of patience and
this account the commission recon-
mends that they should be paid high
salaries The commission says they
could be called advisors or commission
ers, and that one for every 250,000 ma
tives should suffice. 1t would be the
duty of such commissioners to report
upon their work to the central govern
ment at Manila. Their main function
would be to advise town and county
councils in the discharge of their duties
and to watch the collection Of revenue
and its expenditures.
Other matters are discussed at great
length by the commission, but the re-
suits are concsely Stated at the end Of
the report in the conclusions given be-
low In connection with the subject Of
the commission reaches the
conclusions:
Conciustons.
1.-The United States cannot withdraw
from the Philippine islands. We are
there, and duty binds us to remain.
There is no escape from our responsible
ity to the Filipinos and to mankind for
the government of the archipelago, and
the amelioration of tine condition of the
2-The Flipinos are wholly unprepar-
I'd for independence, and if independence
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 sem
ate the other day, denying Aguinaldos
claim that he was promised independ-
,nce.
4-There being no Philippine nation,
out only a collection of different peo-
oles, there is no general public opinion
n the archipelago; but the men of prop |
,rty and education who alone interest |
in public affairs, in general |
ecognize as indispensable American au-
hority, guidance and protection.
5-Congrese should, at the earliest |
time, provide for the Phil
ppines the form of government herein
or another equally liberal
md beneficent.
6-Pending any action on the part of
congress- the commission recommends
hat the president put in operation this
cheme of civil government in such
)dTIS OIL IUG dICLlptid6O dS are ilOW az
eace.
$50 far as the finances of the Philip
ines permit, public education should be
established and, when estab-
shed, free to all.
S-The greatest care should be taken
a the selection of officials for adminis-
ration. They should be men of the
ighest character and fitness, and par
isan politics should be entirely separ-
ted from the government of the Phil
opines.
The commission Is unable to find any
1eans of assimilating the tariff Of the
philippines with that Of the United
tates. saying that the differences are
and irreconcilable, and
hat so long as the existing chasm re-
lans between the economic and social
onditions of the Philippines and those
{ the United States, so long it remains
to identify their tariffs.
hev therefore recommend that. for the
resent at least no attempt be made
, readjust the tariff to our basis.
MEANING OF UNITED ST4TESD