The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-09-03
THEYDON'T UNDERSTAND
Scope and legislative Functions OF The
Peace Commission.
4 REIGN OF TERROR IS EXERCISED
Life Is Not safe Outside of the Gar
risoned Towns-Travelers Liz
BILE TO He Ambushed.
Copyrighted. 1900, by Associated Press)

Copyrighted. 1900, by Associated Press')
Manila, September 2.-The Filipinos
seem incapable of realizing the scope and
legislative functions OF the commission OF
peace. There is no possibility of separat-
ing the legislative from the executive
branches OF the government, and therefore
the commissions announcement OF its as
sumption of power yesterday has met with
childish comments at the hands OF the
Spaniards and foreigners. who sheer at
the new arrangement, as they are apt to
do at every alleged beneficial innovation
on the part of the United States authori-
ties.
The commission enters upon the gov
ernmental field under the following condi-
tions:
A majority OF the islanders desire peace
and the resumption Of business under the
Americans; but they are so eowed by
long series of murderous atrocities and de-
struction Of property by their armed coun-
trymen that they dare not actively show
their feelings, especially because eXpe-
rience has taught them what such an ex-
preston of sentiment Will bring upon
them from the mercilessly revengeful. A
reign OF terror Is exercised by the insur-
gents and ladrones over peaceful county
folk in order to collect the revenue. and
widespread vengeance is wreaked in the
vicinity of garrisoned towns For example,
| the Filipino general, Cables, in the prov
/ ince of Laguna, put to death the president
and office holders Of the town of Baya,
/ en- Lagunda de Bay. officials who had been
installed by the Americans and gave or
ders that similar fate should be melted
/ out to other adherents of the American
cause. He also ordered that all Filipino
subjects who sold their rifles to the Amer
leans should be killed.
Another change OF policy involving the
withdrawal of the United States troops.
substituting for them an adequate defen-
sive force, is certain to result In fearful
/ retaliation at the expense of the friendly
inhabitants. The approaching patriation
seems 10 influence the situation unfavor-
ably
In northern Luzor the status quo Is
fairly we'll maintained and the people in
that quarter are quiet and engaged IN
planting, except in the provinces of Nueva
ECiia and Bulcana, where there has been
a recent outburs; of activity But in south
Luzon things are far from satisfactory.
Life is not safe outside the garrisoned
towns. Travellers are subject to ambush
by guerrillas. Rarely does a day pass
without an encounter between the United
States troops and the insurgents or La
drones, resulting in casualties. There are
$4,000 troops In that district, General
Bates commanding. and in three regi-
ments over a third of the men are sick.
The activity OF the enemy increased last
month. There is evidence that the in
surgents have come into possession of
.ta +
the small American garrisons.
Conditions in the Viscayns continue
eirtually unchanged. The lack OF troops
in Samar prevents aggression. Negroes,
Romblon, Masbate, Sibuyan. Lablas and
Bohol are tranquil all desiring civil gov
ernments. Mindanao is also tranquil. en-
cepting the districts OF Tagayan and Surf
CANA, where oec;slona! encounters oc-
cur. The enemy's fighting force there IS
limited but 1t has number If rifles Tic
surrenders, although they have noticeably
decreased Stree May, continue
The experience Of northern I.uzon shows
that the American occupation Of any 10
cality tends to its pscfoation and we'll
being. The imports for the last quarter
and half were gres ter than during any
equal period OF tie Spanish regime. No
doubt the needs of the army of occupation
are responsible for a very close fraction
OF the present commerce The internal
revenue collections are a third greater
than those made by Spain. This is due to
an honest system OF accounts to a lack
OF favoritism and to impartial enforce
ment of the law. The military authorities
will turn over 600 Mexican money
to the commission. and this will probab
be expended In public improvements. no.
tably in harbor developments, the need Of
which is today greatly hampering the
shipping industry.
The commission will first organize mu-
nicipalities in the provinces, notably in
Pampanga province. Subsequently ii will
turn it's attention TO needed reforms in
the civil and criminal codes, passing in
due time 20 Other features of its instruc-
lions. with the idea of establishing d CEN
tral civil government during the mex;
eiGhteen months.
Twelve Americans, Including two can
t1ins and two lieutenants. have been kill
ed du. Ing the rast two weeks. The official
reports OF the encounters in which these
casualties occurred are meagre