The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-02-07
JUDGE TAFT H0N0RED
MADE PRESIDENT OF THE NEW
PHILIPPINE COMMISSION.
His Place on the United States Circuit
Bench to BE Filled by Judge
Henry f. Severance.

WASHINGTON, Feb 6.--The President
to-day appointed Judge William H. Taft,
of Cincinnati, and United States judge of
the Sixth judicial circuit. to be president
of the new Philippine commission. Judge
Taft's place on the bench will be filled by
the appointment of Judge Henry F. Sew
erance, of Grand Rapids, Mich.
These announcements were made at the
close of the Cabinet meeting to-day. Judge
Taft has been in Washington several days,
presumably fcoming at the request of the
President. This morning he called at the
White House little before 10 o'clock, in
company of Judge William r. F. Day.
former secretary of state and later presi-
dent of the Paris peace commission. They
remained with the President until IL o'clock
ard joined him again after the Cabinet ad-
jcurned.
stated the commission of which he had
been appointed president would sail for the
Philippines soon after March Is. and its
special mission would be the establishment
of a civil government for the islands.
Further than that he was not at liberty
to speak. 1t is understood the other men,
bers of the commission will be designated
within a very short time and that the spe-
cial instructions which will guide them
in the discharge of their duties will be
prepared at an early day as possible. The
appointment of this commission is carry
ing out the suggestion of the present Phil
ippine commission, which will shortly go
out of existence. Some of the members of
ha oil minis is will ho
pointed on the new one.
The appointment of Judge Taft marks
the first selection for the new Philippine
commission. There will be five members
on the commission, and all of them will be
civilians. Mr.. Schurman. president of the
existing commission has declined, for bust
ness reasons, to remain on the commits
sion, so Judge Taft will be president in his
place. Mr.. DENLY and Professor Worcester
have been invited to accept reappoint-
intentions. Admiral Dewey will not go
back to Manila and General Otis will give
way, like him. to civilian. Secretary Root
said, to-day, that no instructions had been
framed for the new commission as yet,
but it would be easy to perceive. from the
sentiments set out in the Presidents mes
sage on the subject what these instruc-
tons would be.
Judge Taft called at the War Depart
ment to-day In company with Judge Day,
late secretary of state, and had long talk
with Secretary Root as to the plans of the
commission. AS some surprise has been
caused by the Willingness of Judge Taft
to surrender a life position of the dignity
and emolument of United States circuit
Judge to join the commission, it may be
said the prevalent impression is that as
soon as the commission shall have sue
ceeded in replacing the existing military
government in the Philippines with a
stable civil government, Judge Taft will be
named as the first civil governor general
of the archipelago. 1t is not thought this
change will take place at once, but the
commission is expected TO move steadily
TOWARD that object and TO set up local civil
governments as fast as the fiiipinos shall
demonstrate their worthiness.
William H. Taft was born at Cincinnati
Sept. Is 1857 His father was Alphonso
Taft, jurist, Cabinet officer and diplomat.
The new commissioner graduated from
Yale in 1878 and received the degree of
LII. d. from the same university in 1898.
He graduated from the law school of Gin
cinnati University in $780, was admitted to
the Ohio bar In the same year. filed the po-
sition of law reporter on the Cincinnati
Commercial for about a year. was assist
ant prosecutor of Hamilton county in 1880
and 1881. and was collector of internal rev.
enue in 1892. Mr.. Taft practiced law from
1888 TO 1887 served as judge of the Superior
Court of Ohio, 1870: as solicitor general
of the United States. 1SS0-92. and I'm 1892 was
appointed United States Judge of the Sixth
circuit, Mr. Taft is brother of ex-Repre-
sentative Charles p. Taft, proprietor OF the
Cincinnati Times-Star. In 1856 he married
Helen N. Heron. daughter of former
United States District Attorney J. w. Her
rem, Of Cincinnati.