The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-06-11
PROBLEMS CONFRONT TAFT.
SITUATION IN PHILIPPINES Is AL
MOST STAGGERING.

Many of the Natives Expected
Sweeping Changes at Once-DiiIi-
Guilty in DeVising a Plan of CiVn
Government in Nuuicipalitics.
Frinrs Want to Be Restored to
Their Old PosIfion.but That Seems
Out of the Question.
Manila, June 10.-Judge William H
Taft and his colleagues of the Philippians
Civil Commission were beset during their
first week in Mania by a multitude OF
callers of all nationalities, profess .ons ard
interests. who presented a bewiiderins a.
sortment OF recommendations toucAnS
military and civil policies.
The commissioners maintained the stu-
tude of unprejudced listeners. They ad-
init that, while they anticipated an enor-
nous task, the complexity and difficulty
of the problems and conditions ere well
nigh staggering. They are determined,
however, with the cooperation of the
army in pacifying. as well as in lighting.
TO make Abe Philippines a peaceful and
honestly governed country before depart
ing.
They find Gen. Macarthur admiais er-
ing civil end military affairs in way
that is universally popular, The Filipino
party, embracing prominent insurrec ion
lists who accepted American rule through
force of circums stances is already making
overtures for the discussion Of scheme
of permanent government p actically re-
Viving the old proposition Of autooomy
under an American protc ctorate.
There ore, of course some t1liplnos
who believed that Judge Taft would bring
the millennium in his vest pocket, and
these profess to be disappointed because
sweeping changes are not made imme-
dately.
Judge Taft's utterances indicate a con
! ciiatory policy towards The natives lie
! has conferred with the high army ON
GERS some of whom strongly urge that
| larger army is necessary to suppress
! the insurrection, believing that civil GOV
| ernment will be Impossible until the ram
! pant rebellion in the southern districts OF
| Luzon, in the extreme northern provinces
| of the island and in the Visayas except
| Negros, is crushed.
Difficult Question.
One of the foremost questions is how
! end from what materials to organize a
civil force with which gradually TO su-
persede the army as a governing ma
chine. Spa:ns auxiliary, the church, is
necessarily barred from consideration.
! American experience with the natives dis
| courages the hope of honest government
through them until a generation or more
of training shall have oradcated the re-
suits of Spain's tutelage. large pro-
| portion of the provincial officials already
| installed have proven treacherous, while
| the native police and officials here in Ma
tnila are living on a scale of luxury sus-
| piciously disproportionate to their sal
aries. Charges against native judges oi
| falling to account for thousands of dol
lars received in fines are under inVestisa,
| ton.
At present the governmental eltorna-
tives are he army on one hand and an
archy on the other. Gen. OTIS plan OF
municipal governments is being inaugu-
rated in the principal towrs of Central
Luzon and in parts OF the Visayas, but
| the Filipinos persist in thinking that the
question whether the United States will
retain the Philippines is still open, aud
some local leaders ask that municipal
elections be postponed until after the
! presidential eleC ton. Many peop'e object
| to taking the oath OF allegiance to the
| United States government which is the
first quaifcat ton for voting for muni-
cipal candidates.
status of the Church.
The commissioners also find that the
future state Of the church in the Philip
pines is a leading question in the minds
of many. although most of these who
have talked with Judge Taft and his
colleagues draw the inference that the
commissioners are opposed to the rein
statement of the frars. Archbishop
Chappee has taken a strong stand ir
supporting tie request of the friars tC
be established in their old position