The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-11-10
In Appropriation Of Two Millions
Made for Purpose.
Gen. Macarthur to Su-
pervise Work.
Local Press tom ment Fav0rably
On Plan.
Correspondence of the Associated Press. }

Correspondence Of the Associated Press. }
Manila, z. l., Sept. IL The Civil
Commission. Judge Taft presiding, to-
day inaugurated the application, under
civil administration, Of the principles OF
American fairness and honesty to Philip
pine affairs In public session the COM
mission introduced, discussed and made
law four bills appropriating to the needs
Of these Islands total of 5000, 435 %,
Mexican currency, of the six millions
surplus Of Mexican currency turned over
by the army to the commission, Septem-
Der l, and now in the Insular Treasury.
Ths session opened at ten O'Clock, all
five members OF the commission being
present. Mr.. A. w. Ferguson acted as
secretary and translator, and MIR. w. Il.
Pepperman was recorder. The first bin
was introduced by General Wright. 1t
appropriated two millions, dollars Mex
lean, from the Insular Treasury for the
pervision of General Macarthur, of high
way and bridges throughout the islands
The full text OF the bill follows;
"By authority of the President Of the
United States, be 1t enacted by the
United States Philippine Commission,
that;
''Seotion The sum of two million
dollars (S2,eOO, 0Oo). Mexican, Is hereby
appropriated out of any money in the
IBsular Treasury, net otherwise appropri.
ated, to be expended In the Immediate
construction and repair OF highways and
bridges in the Philippine islands.
"Section a.-The sum SO appropriated
shall be expended under the direction of
the Military Governor In the construction
and repair of such highways and bridges
as in his Judgment may be most condu-
Give to the public welfare.
"Section 3.-rhe Insular Treasurer Is
hereby authorized and directed to pay
the warrants OF the Military Governor
for the sum SO appropriated.
''Section 4.-This Act shall take effect
on its PASSAGE
Outside of the representatives OF the
press and a couple of army officers there
were but three FiIipinos in the room.
Judge Taft had publicly announced that
discussion of all bills would be allowed,
and District Attorney Torres was the
first Filipino to claim this privilege be-
fore the commission. Senior Torres made
clear the fact that he did not come to at
tack the bill but to praise 1t, ana he COM
plimented the commission on its promuI-
CATION, declaring it provided for what
the people, and particularly the agricul-
turalists, most needed. Senior Torres
then went ON to say that under the Span
ish regime public moneys had often been
Inisspent, and hs outlined the system of
Spanish proceedings in public improve
ments which made such mal-administra-
ton possible. He asked the commission
for Information as to how the provisions
to this bill wers to be carried out, as he
was fearful that unless carefully watched,
interruptions contractors would find op-
portunity to divert this two millions of
the peoples money from bringing to the
people the greatest amount of good.
For the benefit OF senior Torres and the
people at large. General Wright explained
that the actual work of construction of
the roads and bridges was to be done IN
der the supervision of General MacAr-
thur, who remains the executive head of
the Insular Government until pacifloa-
ton is thoroughly accomplished, at
which time the civil government will
the work OF road building, Gen
eral Wright further pointed out that the
OF these roads would furnish
employment to a large number OF worthy
people who needed the work on account
of reverses suffered during the insurrec-
ton, and that the building OF highways
was as necessary for the government as
for the people themselves.
Judge Taft then addressed the Com
ing words:
1--WE assume that the personal character
and equipment of the present Military
Governor Is u sufficient guarantee that
the work will be done quickly and
economically. Naturally, the immediate
departments of the work will be under
the supervision of the corps OF engineers
who are paid from the Treasury OF the
United States The Chief Engineer, Cap
tain BiddIe, Is q graduate Of merit of
West Point academy, and man OF the
highest attachments and personal char
aoter. Sener Torres and the public at
large may rest assured that there will
not be a repetition of past occurrences un
der the Spanish regime.
''We are aware that unless the law Is
properly carried out itsis atfnilure. The
laws of the Spanish government, 80 far
as have inspected them, are all right.
The defect has been in not carrying them
out. We hope IN this, eur first bill, to
present an object lesson to the EIlipinos,
and convince them that we have tntelli-
gence sufficient to enact wise laws and
see that they ars enforced
''It is not to he inferred,' continued
Judge raft, s'that all bills are to be adj
ministsred as Is this one The GREATEST
need OF these islands to-day ie pacifica-
tion, and nothing contributes so much TO
policing and the CELEBRITY OF movements OF