The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-06-11
TAFT COMMISSION
GIFTS MUCH ADVICE.
Its Members studying tho situation
and Hearing suggestions From
Many People of Many Interests.

MANILA. June l0-Ju5ge William II.
Taft and his colleagues Of the Philippines
civil commits ssiouer were bese; during their
first week in Manila by a multitude -
callers Of all nationSlities. professions and
interests. who presented a bewilderinE as
sortment Of recomme ndauons touching mill
itary and civil policies. The commission
ers maintained the atutud> Of unprciu-
diced listeners They admit that. white
they anticipated an enormous task. tAe
compleNity and dieiculty % the problems
and conditions are well nigh staggering.
They find Gen. Macarthur administering
civil and military affairs in a way that is
universally popular TIE Filipino party.
embracing prominent tnsurrcctionists who
accepted American rule through icrce ~
circumstances. Is aloeody making over
lures for tho discussion Of A sheIne of
permanent government, practically r~viv-
ing tho old proposition Of autonomy under
an American protectorate.
Judge Taft's utte7ances indicate n con-
cilistory policy towards the natives H.
has conferred with the high army officers,
some OF WHOM strongly urge that larger
army is necessary 10 suppress the insur.ec-
tion. believing that civil government win
be impossible until the rampant rebellion
in the southern districts ~ Luzon. IN the
extreme northern provinces Of the Islands
an in the Visayas except Negros, IS
crushed.
American experience with the natives
discourages the hope OF honest government
through them until generation or more
has eradicated the results OF spain's tuteI-
age
4 large proportion ~ the provincial off,
cials already installed have proven treaca-
erous, while the native police and officials
here in Manila are living on scale Of
luxury suspiciously disproporTionate 10
their salaries. Changes against native
Judges, OF failing to account for thousands
OF dollars received in fines. are under in
vestigation.
At the present the governmental alter
natives are the army on the one hand and
anarchy on the other. Gen. OTIS plan OF
municipal government IS being inauS7ir-
ated In the principal towns OF Central Lu-
zon and in parts ot the Nisayas, bnt the
Filipinos persist in thinking that the ques-
tion whether the United States will retain
the Philippines Is still open and some local
leaders ask that municipal elections be
postponed until after the presidential elec-
tlon.
The future state of the church ia lead
ing question in the minds OF many, nl-
though most Of those VINO have talked with
Judge Taft and his colleagues draw the
inference that the commissioners are on
posed to the reinstatement Of frtars- Arch
bishop Chappclle has taken a strong stand
in supporting the request q the triars to
be established IN their old position.
As a result OF last weeks scouting moro
than 80 Filipinos were killed and 100 cap
tured while 40 rifles with ammunition and
stores were seized.
The American loss was nine killed. nciud'
ing a captain and a lieutenant. two cap
tains and twenty one pTivate@ wounded
and one captain taken prisoner by the
F1lipinos.