The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-06-04
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After Iudpe William.

After Judge william -'icLibra,s
the commission. had replied. rrv-I1 1SI
sioners returned TO the Hancock, where
they will remain until they have selected
suitable dwellings on land
During the morning members Of the Fill
pino Supreme Court. the local editors and
many of the leading merchants repaired to
the transport, where they conversed with
the commissioners. Rear Admiral Remey,
in command of the United States naval
forces on the Asiatic station. called official
ly during the afternoon. Tomorrow Gen.
eral Macarthur will return the call of the
commissioners. The family Of Judge Taft
will remain for while in Japan The
families of the other commissioners ar
rived with them. Judge Taft. speaking to-
day in reply TO reporter Of the Associated
Press regarding the powers and future
work of the commission, said:
1--WE have full instructions and extensive
powers. The latter we shall not exercise
until we have ample time 20 acquire sufh-
cient knowledge of the situation to enable
us to proceed to enact legislative changes
and reforms. preliminary TO the establish
ment of a stable government. Until We
continue to perform the duties and exercise
the powers formerly performed and exer-
cised by General Otis; and, even after we
take active and full part in the government
General Macarthur will continue the
executive head until on our recommenda-
ton to President Mckinley. ii shall seem
TO the President that the time has arrived
for the appointment of a civil executive.
and for making the military forces merely
auxiliary in carrying on the civil govern
ment. to be available only In cases of
emergency for the suppression of lawless
violence too formidable TO be overcome by
the regularly organized local police.
I'VE are aware that there are several is
sues of deep interest TO the Filipinos upon
which 1t is our duty to take action. Some
of these involve judicial investigation and
decisions upon legal rights. Others call
for the careful exercise of political power
in order to secure equitable adjustments
Upon the latter class of issues we cannot
speak now.
Representing the sovereignty of the
United States in the Philippines, which IT is
the purpose of government to main
tain, we are here to do justice to the Fill
pinos and to secure for them the best gov
ernment in our power. and such a measure
| of popular control as is consistent with the
stability and security of law. order and
property. We are civil officers. men of
peace. The field of our work is necessarily
! confined TO regions where the armed en-
| emy has ceased his operations. We can
not deal with armed men. General Nc
Arthur and the army will do that.
when those now in arms shall have laid
them down. relying, as they certainly can.
| on the justice. generosity and clemency
| of the United States. we shall give them all
| full hearing upon the policy to be pur-
sued and the reforms to be initiated. We
| purpose TO inaugurate as comprehensive a
| school system throughout the islands as
circumstances will allow. 1 am surprised
that Manila has not received news regard
| ing the Spooner bill, measure calculated
! to help Us greatly in our work here
While in Hong-Kong the commissioners
questioned Arr acho and members of the
| wealthy Cor,cz family regarding Filipino
| affairs not covered by the Filipino Junto
there. The Filipinos in Manila anx-
iously. even nervously. awaiting a formal
statement by the commission regarding it's
4
ers say or do is carefully considered. Ca
bles from Hong-Kong have been published
here to the effect that the commission will
not assume control Until September This
report, coupled with the statement that
Washington approves General McArthur's
plan of campaign. has created considerable
excitement in Filipino circles. where 1t has
been expected that immediate changes OF
policy and action would follow the arrival
| of the commission.
1t should be understood that the fore.
going declaration of Judge Taft is In nc
| sense intended as a proclamation.