The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-02-03
THE PHILIPPINE
COMMISSION
President Transmits Their Report to
Congress Favors Government
ANALOGOUS to Territorial.


WASHINGTON. Feb 2-The President
to-day Transmitted to Congress the report
of the Philippine Commission. comprised
in the first volume, the second volume to
be issued later. merely relating to the
climate and natural resources.
The report is signed by Professor
Schurman. Admiral Dewey. Colonel
DENLY and Professor Worcester.
he Commission announces itself I'M
qi,aliicdly in favor OF II government OF
the Philippines. analogous to that OF the
Territory of the United States with Il
Governor appointed by the President.
They say it is desirable that the inhabl-
tants of the Archipelago should enjoy Il
large measure of home rule in local af-
fairs, their towns to enjoy substantially
the rights and privileges of towns in Il
territory. The provinces should be vested
with substantially the functions of a
country in territory: this system
might be applied to Luzon and the Wis
Cayan Islands at once and initiated on
the coast later. The Suu Islands calling
for special arrangements with the Sui
Nan, the Commission say. need not be con-
sidered in this connection. The Filpinos
could manage their own town and county
affairs through their own officers. whom
they could elect with no help from
American officials. except such as would
be involved in control from the central
government at Manila.
RESTRICTED SUFFRAGE.
The suffrage should be restricted by
educational or property qualifications. or
both. This system would necessitate 4
small body of American officials of great
ability and integrity and of patience
and tact in dealing with other races. and
on this account the commission say they
could be called advisers or commissioners,
and that one for every two hundred and
fifty thousand natives should suffice, they
10 report to the central government at
Manila. Their main function would be TO
advise town and county councils in the
discharge Of the duties. and to watch the
collection revenue and its eXpendi-
lures.
Our 80. .ent of the Philippines, the
commission insists. must be adapted to
the FilipinoS. The commission discounts a
proposed protectorate like that Of the,
British over the Malayan Peninsula, and
jan stimulation of the relation between
Australia and Canada and Great Britain,
the conditions differing The protectorate
desired by the insurgent leaders is one
under which the United States would as
sumo all responsibility for protecting the
Philippine Government against foreign
aggression, while their own officials would
collect revenues. Nor could the liability
to foreign nations be reduced without per-
hitting them directly to seek redress,
and such course would, it Is to be fear
ed, speedily lead to the appropriation of
the Philippine Islands by the great pow
ers. who would not need to seek far for
pretences of intervention. Clearly the
plan of a self-governing colony, the
commission says, is 4 mistit 70 the Phil
ippineS, nor are the British Crown colo
MES. and colonies having representative
institution, but no responsible govern
men1. typified by British Guiana and
Hong Kong, respectively. applicable
COURTS PROVIDED FOR.
The Commission takes as basis for the
government proposed. the territorial origin
of Louisiana. Set forth in full. it provides
for a Governor and Secretary of Treasury,
and invests the Executive mower in Il
council appointed annually by the Presi-
dent Courts are also provided for.
Nearly all the offices will, under this
form of government. be filled by Filipinos
and the merit system must be adopted
and lived up to. The patronage or spoil
fatal to good government in the Philip
pines. The small number of American
officials needed include in the first group,
Governor, Secretary. Attorney General.
certain Judges and other officials of the
territorial government. and the second
group neaQS OIL postal, CUSTOMS anu OtHcT
departments.
The officers of the first group should he
appointed by the President. and of the
second transferred from the home service.
In neither case should there be eXamina-
ton, The Filipinos, they say, are of un-
usually promising material. possessing adj
Inirable personal and domestic virtues
and being, peaceful. docile and deferential
TO constituted authority.
In connection with the subject of gov
crn;nent. the Commission reports the fol-
lowing conclusion:
1.-The United States cannot Withdraw
from the philippines. We are there and
duty binds us to remain. There IS no es-
cape from our responsibility to the Fill
pinos and TO mankind for the government
Of the archipelago and the amclioration
OF the condition of its inhabitants.
1.-The Filirdnos are wholly unprepared
for independence. and II Independence
We're given to them they could not main
tain 1t.
Under tho third head Is included a copy
OF Admiral Dewey's letter to Senator
-oGEf. which was read in the Sccate the
other day. denying Aguinaldo's claim that
he was promised Independence.
81 NO PHILIPPINE NATION.
There being no Philippine nation. but
only collection of different Yscco'c. there
Is no general public op'nioa il the archi-
pclaSo. but the srf,, - crty and eiu-s
cation, WAC alcsle est themselves in