Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1900-02-01
TO GRANT AMNESTY.
President Mckinley Will Issue a
Proclamation to the Fi1ipinos.
TINE RIPE FOR CIVIL GOVERNMENT
The Philippine Commission to Be In Direct
Control of All Affairs in the Islands
and Gen. Otis to Be
Recalled


Washington, Jan. 29-President Nc
Kinley now has under consideration
propositions relative to the Philip
pines which contemplate these &C
lions: The issuance of a proclamation,
through Gen. Otis, granting amnesty
to all FiIipinos in instruction against
the United States on the condition
that they lay down their arms and
| agree to respect the authority of
the United States, and declaring that
all who refuse to acknowledge this
| sovereignty within a certain specific
time will be considered as outlaws
and treated accordingly; the appoint
ment of civil commission to under
take the work of civil government
to succeed the military form of gov
eminent for the islands; the urging
of congress to make some declara-
ton showing it to be the purpose of
the United States to permanently
hold the Philippines and suppress in
surrection.
President Mckinley will send to con-
gress in few days the full report of
the Philippine commission, which is
now before him, and the subjects
mentioned are being discussed with
view of making some observations in
his letter of transmittal of the pres
ent status of affairs in the Philip
pines, and as to what the administra-
ton cOntemplates doing pending leg
islative action. If the amnesty proc
lamation is issued in time, a copy of
it will be included in the Presidents
message with the report of the Phil
ippine commission.
The majority of the cabinet, it is
understood, favor granting amnesty
at this time. They argue that a large
number of natives may be tired of
Aguinaldo's leadership, and will de-
sert when guaranteed that they are
not to suffer punishment for the part
they have taken against the United
States. Even AguinaldO himself, they
say, may desire to avail himself of
the terms of an amnesty proclama-
ton.
With the American flag flying in
all important ports and towns in Luz
zon, it is argued that the time has
arrived for the Inauguration of civil
government and that as preliminary
the bands of insurgents still in re-
8 y
to accept the amnesty. The only ar
guments made against the issuance
of such proclamation are that Agui-
naldo and his remaining adherents
may construe it as an evidence of
weakness on the part of the American
army and feel encouraged to hold
out for better terms.
The president has recently consult
nj
mission as to their willingness to
return. President Schurman, it is
stated, has engagements which will
prevent his making another trip, but
Col. DENLY and Prof. Worcester will
in all probability be on the new COM
mission, Col. DENLY probably as pres
ident. 1t rs the present intention to
have the commission clothed with
plenary authority, so that it will be
in direct control of all of the affairs
of the islands, the military authority
being subordinated to the civil. This
is on the assumption that by the time
the commission arrives the work of
pacification will have been so far ac-
complished that the troops will be re-
quired mainly for garrison duty and
there will no longer be necessity for
martial law.
This will mean the recall of Mai.
Gen. Otis, for, having been the milf
tary governor of the islands, the gov
eminent will not care to subordinate
him to the civil commission. In maxi
ing this change the administration
will be particular to state it's entire
satisfaction with the course of Gen.
Otis, pointing out that he had COM
pleted the work of pacification, and,
as the time had arrived for giving
the fullest measure of self-government
under civil administration, it was
proper that he should come home for
long rest from the duties which he
had successfully performed