The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1900-04-03
FILIPINOS
Are y ell Pleased with Prospects
OF Civil Government

ycorrcspoudence OF the Associated
Press)
MANILA. FHBRUARY 22.-rhe news.
that civil government Is soon 70 be es-
tabnshed IN the Philippines gives the
greatest satisfaction to all residents Ca
blserans came ast week to two M,anila
newspapers. announcing that President
Mckinley would send commission to
begin work on some substantial form Of
government and modern systems Of laws
ami taxation The military censor sup
pressed the messages but ee news was
too vitally important 20 be kept secret,
and e had spread about the cit yalmost
as soon as the dispatches were locked
In the censo-'s desk. About the same
cline, but without knowledge that a COM
mission was coming, the American
chamber OF commerce cabled to the
President the following message:
"RespectfuLy urge imrediate action
substituting American laws Tor Spanish,
reduction where duties are excessive,
adjustnlent OF shipping regulations 80
American vessels may operate In coast
Ing trade without requiring resident
ownership
There is general desire based upon
both commercial and political reasons,
Tor the speedy esta ,llshmemt OF some
form OF permanent government The
view held by Intelligent Filipinos who
hays held aloof from or have deserted
the insurvection, is chat the most effect
i've step toward restoring peace and
prosperity viii be to let the people know
what government and wnat laws they
are to live and what voice they are
20 have in the conduct Of the new min
istry 1t rs recognized that the greatest
handicap TO the SUCCESS of American
rule thus far has been the retention Of
all the old Spanish laws In the face or
clamor from the foreigners and Fflipi-
nos who expected immediate and sweep
Ing reforuns Spanish customs duties on
Imports and exports are still collected
Spanish shipping and port laws are
still enforced. ineffective and oppressive
Spanish taxes arelevied, Residents de-
clare ahat they And the American adj
ninistration even more vexatlous and
hampering 10 business than the Spanish
was for the reason that the Americans
trv to enforce by the book all the laws
which they find, whereas during the
former regime mnrS OF the most un-
reasonable statutes had fallen into dis
use. Various sorts OF petty taxes which
the sspaniards mad discontinued are now
revived Natives are brought into court
and tinad Cor failing TO pay taxes which
they were not aware existed, laws for
building nipa huts. for keeping horse
or a cart Acense for selling fish, pea
nuts. or sea shells. or an impost ON each
individual OF the drove OF useless but
cherished dogs which appertains to ev-
cry Filipino household. While the ced-
ula tax has been reduced from one dol
lar to twenty cents the income take on
all salar1esof two and a half per cent.
remains. every one who conducts a bus
ines must pay license and the tariffs
on imports are higher than ever before,
so that the sum total OF taxation Is
greater than under the spaniards. The
most urgent demand OF the business
men Is for tariff revision. The Spanish
tariffs UPON imports were almost pro-
hibltive against every country except
Spain, whoae products were charged
only nominal rate.