The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-01-03


opened. That will be the first work to en-.
gage General Otis attention. The OPEN
ing Of the southern ports is already ac-
complishng good results. 1t is reported
that the hemp crop is very large. The
opening OF the southern ports will boom
business.
Outside of 1.uzon the conditions are
bright everywhere. General Hughes has
chased the Tagals almost completely
from Panay. That island will soon be
ready for the establishment of a civil
government. The Island of Negros is
quieter than ever before in its history.
The other Nisayan Islands are In a simi-
lar condition. General Bates work In
Mindanao Is most remarkable. He has
accomplished In six months more than
the Spaniards ever dres med of doing. He
has been unfailingly successful in estab-
fishing friendly relations with the Moros,
heretofore uniformly reported to be cruel,
savage and intractable. The Americans
now occupy towns that the Spaniards
were unable to enter and mingle compar-
atively freely with the Moros. The Span
iards always feared to do. The result
will surely be the development of those
Islands. which less skilful work would
have delayed, perhaps for years. Gen.
eral Bates personal wish was to remain
In Luzon and to have n command where
there was actual fighting. His work In
the south Is so valuable. however, that
1t Is unlikely that anybody will relieve
him.
The military problem heretofore has
necessarily been the first consideration In
point of time. Now, however, the civil
question, always the more important In
point of fact, will come to the front and
| assume its real place. With the end of
the approaching campaign In Cavite
province the time will be rpe for the
establishment of a military department
and the relegation Of military work to
the department commanders. General
Otis has already considered. at least In
principle. practically every civil problem
| that Is likely to arise. The results of his
work will be vastly valuable when con-
gress comes to legislate concerning these
problems. The most important ques-
ton is probably that of titles to realty.
This question is closely allied to church
disestabishment. Men who are most
competent to judge say that IA settlement
of the land question Is more important
than the church question. although 1t Is
practically impossible to settle one with
| out the other. because the gravest ques-
| tions concerning titles arise through at
| tacks on the church holdings. Many CT
| the church holdings were originally
grants from the state, which were given
| to the church for administration. Dur
| ing the past week an urgent appeal OF
| the residents of Iasag against the ac-
| tion of the church in transferring land
| which they claimed. Undoubtedly, the
| appointment of Il land commission, with
power to quiet titles, similar to the COM
mission in the case of New Mexico, would
| have the greatest effect in convincing the
| Filipinos of the good faith of the Amer
| leans and the bcneficent results of Amer
iCan control This question presses hard
| est for settlement. 1t is even more i'm
portant than the details of q govern
| mental scheme. These three questions,
| government, realty titles and disestab-
| lishment, are the first great problems
that the Americans must solve. The cur
rency, commercial regulations. the tariff,
| and franchise for cable are of Sec
| Ondary Importance.
| A general reform Of the laws Is urgent
| ly needed. The Spanish laws under which
| the Americans are now trying to work
are clumsy, uncodified and inefficient.
General Otis is now having a working
| code prepared, which will serve until
| congress relieves the situation. A veXing
question, the legality of civil marriages,
| was settleu Dy recent oIuer. IL Is pe-
leved that the friars will cause trouble
until they are eliminated entirely from
all governmental functions.
1t has been interesting curing the last
few months to watch the developments.
| lIopefulntss is evidenced by the general
talk of the future possibilities of the ISL
ands. The il evitable topics of any gath
ing are Improvement schemes. business
chances, railroads, port works. and ship
ping. Everybody is looking toward the
time when American methods will oper-
ate undisturbed. Manila is already pros
pectively rebuilt, hill station erected.
roads opened, resources developed and
the country explored. a great era of
prosperity Is In full swing, an easy pos
sibility In this wonderful country.