The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1900-02-03
AMNESTY FOR The
FILIPINO REBELS
President Has Under Consideration
a Proclamation Which viii
Soon Be Issued.
COMMISSION 10 SUCCEED OTIS
lenby and Worcester Likely to Go
Back TO the lslands--Repo.t
to BE Made to Congress
in a Few Dnys.

Washington, Jan. 31.-Prcsident
Mckinley nov has under considera-
ton propositions relative to the Phil
ippines which contemplate these ac-
lions:
The issuance of Il proclamation,
through General Otis, granting am
nesty to all Filipinos in Instruction
against the United States on the con
dition Mat 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 n certain specific
time will be considered as outlaws
and treated accordingly; the appoint-
ment of Il civil commission TO under
take the work of civil government to
succeed the military form of govern
ment for the islands; the urging of
congress to make some declaration
showing it to be the purpose of the
United States to permanently hold
the Philippines and suppress insurrec-
ton.
President Mckinley will send to
congress in a few days the full re-
port of the Philippine commission,
which is now before him, and the sub
jects mentioned are being discussed
with Il view of making some observa-
tons in his letter of transmittal of
the present status of affairs in the
Philippines, and as to what the admin
istration c~ontemplates doing pending
legislative action.
If the amnesty proclamation is is
sued in time, a copy of it will be in
clnded in the presidents message,
t,ys% l. xlo ,,,,,,r& - %I>N Dls1s -,
mission.
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
:Aguinnldo's leadership, and will de-
sert when guaranteed that they are
they have taken against the United
States. Even Aguinaldo himself, they
say, may desire to avail himself of the
terms of an amnesty proclamation.
With the American flag flying in all
it is argued that the time has arrived
for the Inauguration of civil govern
ment and that as a preliminary the
bands of insurgents still in revolt
should be given an opportunity to ac-
cept amnesty.
TEe only arguments made against
the issuance of such a proclamation
are that Aguinaldo and his remaining
adherents may construe it as an evil
dence of weakness on the part of the.
American army and feel encouraged to
hold out for better terms.
The president has recently consulted
members of the Philippines commits
sion as to their willingness to return.
President Schurman, it is stated, has
engagements which will prevent his
making another trip, but Colonel Den
oy and Professor Worcester will in all
probability be on the new commission,
Colonel DENLY probably as president.
1t is the present intention to have the
commission clothed with plenary a,i-
thority, so that it will be in direct.
control of all of the ~atfnirs of the is
lands, the military authority being
s~ubordinated to the civil. This is on
the assumption that by the time the
commission arrives the work Of pacifi.
cation will have been so far accom-
plished that the troops will be re-
qired mainly for garrison duty and
there will no longer be necessity for
martial law.
This will mean the recall of Major
General Otis. for, having been the
military governor of the islands, the
government will not care to subordi-
nate him to the civil commission. In
making this change the administers
ton will be particular to state its en-
tire satisfaction With the course of
General Otis, pointing out that he had
completed the work of paciication.
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
a long rest from the duties which he
had successfully performed.