The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-11-10

prove the commercial interests Of the
country.
"This appropriation is in the nature Of
an emergency appropriation, and the
necessity foF its immediats appropriation
Is the true ground for its expenditure
The Military Governor Is at the head OF
the military machine. lie has ,under his
control %, 900 men paid from the United
States Treasury, and they are widely dis
tributsd throughout the Islands. lie can
call to his assistance as fine body OF en-
Elneers as can. b found In the world.
This Is why this bill Is framed to give
the Military Governor discretionary pow
er 70 spend the money appropriated.
81 ought to add, after consulting with
General Wright. that this bill has been
approved by the Secretary OF War upon
recommendation OF the Military Cover
nor. The Governor, by his economical
administration, has accumulated a sur
plus OF %, OOO, O0c. The fact that he has
been able to do this / regard as the
strongest earnest OF his able administra-
ton OF affairs
senior Torres expressed himseif a. high
IL satisfied with the explanations given
him by General Wright and Judge Taft.
senior Felipe Golderon then addressed
the commission ON this bill setting forth
that n it was so provided that the coun-
try people should be given opportunity 70
WORK on the reads during their lols
with harvesting, the beneficial result to
them would be greater than n no seleo-
ton OF time ard season were made.
4 The pertinence and sense of Senior Col
deron remarks were freely admitted by
the commission. and 10 was suggested
that ne put them IN writing and submit
them 60 the Military Governor
Dfscu ssion on the first bill here ended
and it became law by the unanimous vots
OF the commission.
General wright then introduced bill
providing for an appropriation OF $1,000.
Mexican currency. for tne purposs OF
making . survey to ascertain the most
advantageous route for a railroad into
the mountains OF Benquet Province, Is
lsnd OF buzun, and the probable cost
thereof. In speaking of this bill General
Wright explained II was but preliminary
TO measures calculated to open up rich
country, and the expenditure by prf-
vate corporation of considerable. money
in railroad construction, all to the adyan-
tage of the peopls. at will make the
beautiful mountain8 country OF BEN
quet. said the general, convenient TO
mountains Is found a perfection in eli
mate. A climate in which both natives
and foreigners recuperats from diseases,
or, from business standpoint, IL opens
up q country rich In coffee and coal and,
perhaps, eold. There Is also extensive
C3stll6 kDOH OA hObnADk tAoe
viii benefit the islands more than the IN
tentions of this measure.
Il also desire to say In this connection
that the commission has specific instruc-
ton from President MCKINLEY, through
the Secretary OF War, to push this WORK
so fast as money and men can do 1t
Moved by these directions this bill is In
troduced. The engineering party is now
in the field and on the scene OF opera
,tions.'
This bin also passed and became law
without a dissenting vote
The local press, both Filipino, Spanish
and American, are commenting most IA
yorably not only on the measures adopted
put also on the manner OF their adoption.
The fact that the commission makes its
sessions open to the public and gives op-
portu nifty for any Filipino to discuss and
express his opinion upon the measures
under consideration is a most popular
provision, yet it will probably cost the
commission considerable loss Of time in
listening to inopportune ana irrelevent
remarks from filipinos who desire to
''hear themselves talks The love of no.
toriety and OF momentary prominence is
we'll developed In these people, and the
opportunity afforded by the commission
to indulge these tendencies is too good
to lose. The temptation to occupy the
center OF this stage, to address in public
the highest power in the land, to make
proud orstorIcal effort In the hope of
their words being reported in the local
press and to pose before their country
men. is one which will doubtless bring
many FAipinos to bore tine commission
with ilowery Spanish phraseology and TO
tax the great patience of their able secre-
taTy and excellent translator. MIR. Fergu-
son. But, they have made thei bed and
they must lay In 1t; they have announced
that discussion Will be permitted and this
popular prev can hardly be rescinded.
Yet there is one consolation to listen
to the English translation of a Spanish
speech, and vice versa, Is of great praoti
cal aid to the student Of Spanish and the
Commissioners are one and all studying
Spanish.