The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1900-02-08
70 Be GIVEN HOME RULE.
The Form of Government Suggested
for the Philippine Islands by
the Commission.
REPORT SUBMITTED TO THE PRESIDENT.

He Transmits the Same TO congress-
Territorial Form of Government
OutIined-Province to lie Turned
Into Counties-As Few Americans
as Possible TO lie Used.
Washington, Feb. 3-The president Fri
day transmitted to congress the i1rst vol
ume of the report Of the Philippine com
mission. Ii is a volume OF 264 pages, IN
GLIDING the appendix, and is signed by PROF.
Schurman. Admiral Dewey, Col. DENLY
and Prof Worcester The principal SUD
ject dealt with is the plan Of government
proposed by the comm isson, Whlch IN
cludes a discussion of the Spanish govern
ment existing prior TO the war the various
reforms desired by the Filipinos ana the
constitutions proposed by them, together
with the conclusions and plans suggested
by the commission The report also covers
many other matters connected with the
social administration Of the Island; racial
Characteristics, education, secular and re-
ligious orders the Chinese in the ISLANDS,
public health. currency, etc, as well as the
cond ton and needs of the United states
in the Philippines from naval and mari
time standpoint The second volume OF the
report, which will not be ready for several
weeks, will contain a detailed description
of the climate and natural resources OIL the
islands The chief interest in the report
naturally centers in the plan of government
proposed by the commission.
Favor Home Rule.
The commission announces itself unqual-
ifiedly in favor OF government Of the PM
ippines analogous to that of territory
of the United States, with governor APP
pointed by the president They say II Is
deslrab that the inhabitants Of the archi-
,..1r uI tlN la
home rule in local affairs, their towns to
enjoy substantially the rights and prlvl-
leges Of towns in a territory.
The provinces should be vested with sub
stantially the functions Of a county IN d
territory; this system might be applied to
Luzon and the Niscayan islands at once,
and a beginning might be made on the
coast of Mindanao. The Sulu archipelago,
calling for special arrangements with the
sultan. the commission says, need not be
considered in this connection.
Filipino Officers.
The Fillpnos 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. The suf-
frage should be restricted by educational
or property qualifications, or beth, This
system would neCessitate a small body OF
American officials Of great ability and IN
tegrity and of patience and tact in dealing
with other races, and on this account the
commission recommends that they should
be paid high salaries. The commission says
they could be called advisers or commits
sioners, and that one for every 100000 ma
tiVcs should suffice. 1t would be the duty
Of such commissioners to report upon their
work to the central government at Manila.
Their main function would be to advise
town and county officials in the discharge
Of their duties ard to watch the collection
of revenue and its expenditures. Our gov
eminent of the Philippines, the commission
insists, must be adapted to the Fiipinos.
Basis for the Government.
A territorial government II concludes, is
a desideratum. The commission takes as
basis for the government proposed the ter
ritorial organization of Louisiana. The act
Is set forth in full, II provides for gov
ernor and secretary Of the treasury, and
vests the legislative power in council APP
pointed annually by the president. Courts
are also provided for This scheme OF
government" says the commission, pos
sesses, besides its intrinsic merits, the his
torical Interest attaching to uriginatton
with the author Of the declaration OF III
Dependence"
Thinks Tnsl, would he Easy.
The commission, while not undertaking
the difficulty Of governing the Philippines,
Is disposed to believe the task easier than
IS generally supposed. The Filipinos, they
say, are of unusually promising material,
possessing admiral personal and do
nestle virtues and being naturally peace
full. docne and dcfcrential to constituted
authority. The educated among them,
though, constituting a minority, they say,
are far more numerous than Is generally
supposed and the commission bears strong
testimony to their high range of inteli-
gcnce and social rciincments.
These picked Filiplnos will be Of infinite
value to the United states in the work Of
establishing and maintaining civil gov
eminent throughout the archipelago.
Conclusions Reached.
In connection with the subject of govern
mCnt the commission reaches the following
conclusions:
81 The United States cannot withdraw
from the Philippines. We are there and
duty bids us remain. There is no escape
from our responsibility to the Fiipinos
and to mankind for the government of the
archipelago and the amelloraton of the
condition of its Inhabitants
80. The Flipinus are wholly unpropared
for independence, and n independence
were given to them they could not main
tain It."
Under the third head is included a copy
OF Admiral Dewey's letter to Senator
Lodge, which was read in the senate the
other day, denying AEuinaldo's claim that
no was promised Independence.
-. There being no Philippine nation, but
only n collection Of different peoples, there
IS no general public opinion in the archi-
pelago, but the men OF property and edu-
cation who alone interest themselves in
public affairs. In general recognize as in
dspcnsablc American authority guidance
and protection.
IS Congress should. at the earliest prae-
tlCabe time. provide for the Philippines
the form Of government herein recon-
mendod or another equally liberal and
hcncHcirnt.
&c Pending any action on the part OF
congress. the commission recommends that
the president put IN operation this scheme
OF civil government In such parts OF the
archipelago as are at peace,
~. So far as the finances Of the Philip
pines permit public education should be
promptly established and when es, ablshcd
mad free to all.
rs The greatest care should be taken in
a.r,gti,p 81 nfI,gfpIs f,r a -