Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-03
Operations in China, the Philip
pines and Cuba.
REORG IZATION

| past fiscal year, and Of the distribution of
| troops. Some idea of what the army has
been doing in the field and at home Is con-
| veyed by the Secretary's statement that its
operations included the prosecution of the
war for the suppression Of the Philippine
| instruction, and the establishment Of
| government in the Philippines; the rescue
Of the foreign ministers in Pekin; the pres
ervatfon and the relief of distress in Alas
ka, and the construction Of roads and tele-
graphs there; the conduct of the govern
ment of Porto Rico until May 1 last; the
conduct of the government of Cuba; prose-
cutlon of river and harbor works. the con-
struction of seacoast Notifications; the gar
rlson1ng and maintaining of military posts
ana fortflcatlOns; the discharge of about
one-thlrd of the army, and the re-enlist-
ment of soldiers to take their place, and
the distribution of supplies to the scattered
forces
Operations in the Philippines.
The chapter Of the report treating of mill
| tary operations in the Philippines is an ex-
act recital Of the features Of the cam
paigns that were conducted in the islands
during the past year. 1t is said that the
purpose was to pursue small bands of Fill
pinos scattered throughout the islands. The
effort was successful, and resulted in the
further and practically complete disinte-
grafton of the insurrectiOnary bands; in the
rescue of nearly all the American and
Spanish prisoners; in the capture of many
of the leading insurgents and the destruc-
tlon OF large quantities of arms and sup
plies. Secretary Root says that with the
execution of the military plans there all
| formal and open resistance to American
authority In the Philippines terminated,
leaving only an exceedingly vexatious and
annoying guerrilla warfare of a character
closely approaching brigandage, which will
require time, patience and good judgment
to finally suppress. The Secretary further
| az
posts In the Philippines because the Taga-
legs, who are in rebellion, have deliberate
ly adopted the policy of numbering, so far
as they able, an of their countrvmen
who are friendly to the United States He
thinks that the most efficient measures for
the reduction Of the number of posts and
of troops In the, Philippines will be the
construction OF roads. making possible
rapid communication; the establishment of
personal relations between our officers and
| the people, so that we can tell who are
trustWorthy sources of information; the
gradually growing appreciation Of Ameri-
can control and good intentions following
| good civil government, and finally the or
ganlzatlon OF native troops under Ameri-
can officers.
Campaign in China.
| The campaign Of the United States troops
in China is treated with some length in
the report. The Secretary reviews in detail
the rapid and effective steps by which the
| American forces We're transferred in a great
emergency from the Philippines and from
this country to Taku, and thence how they
| forced their way to Pekn. He includes all
the interesting dispatches passed between
| Gen. Chaffee and the department during
| that period, which We're published by the
| War Department from time to time, and
| speaks In terms Of praise Of the splendid
| conduct of the troops and of their able Of
ficers. In the end it is gratifying to know
| that the Chinese have returned in great
numbers and there has been a general re-
sumption of business under the protection
of our forces in that portion of Pekin which
assigned to our and which is still
under the charge Of the legation guard.
Civil Government in the Philippines.
The progress that has been achieved dur
ing the year in the erection of civil gov
eminent in the Philippines is made the sub
ject of a special chapter in the report. Be
ginning with the chaos left by the with
drawal of the Spanish authority which had
always controlled Secretary Root has
shown how the principles Of civil govern
ment by easy steps were put In operation.
The substantive body of Spanish law was
excellent and adequate if it could be APP
piled. The first step was the organization
| of courts, beginning with the supreme
court, headed by Chief Justice Arellano and
five of the ablest lawyers of the island.
! The Spanish criminal procedure was
formed, and for the first time there
real protection to the personal rights of
| persons charged with crime in the Phillip
| pines. The next step was the establishment
| Of municipal governments, placing the
| tire control o. Ordinary affairs of govern
ment in the municipal authorities. Then
| the marriage law was modified to legaliZe
| civil marriage, the United States patent
and trademark laws were adopted, the
coasting trade was regulated, burdensome
| Spanish taxes were abolished, the schools
| were extended and improved, quarantine
law was put in force, the customs anu in
| suar revenues was greatly increased and
a rigid high license and early closing law
was inclosed upon the saloons in Manila.
The second Philippine commission, headed
by Judge Taft. is continuing the good work
and following the ordinary course of legis-
lative procedure. 1t holds open sessions,
| takes testimony and receives suggestions
from citizens; it has appropriated money
for the construction Of roads and bridges,
for the survey Of a railroad and for the
| payment of a superintendent of public in
structions The tariff law has been revised
| by special board and Manila harbor is to be
| improved. The receipts from customs for
the last half Of the fiscal year show an
| increase Of 81, 7S5, 496, but this will not be
| enough to prosecute internal improvements
and establish schools as rapidly as these
undertakings should progress. Therefore
| Secretary Root recommends that Congress
authorize bond issue for the construction
Of the railroad. based on the road itself, or
that the United States make loan to the
island revenues. The Secretary speaks of
| the serious embarrassment caused by the
defective currency system in the Philip
pines. owing to the .fiuctuating price Of
Mexican dollars, and he submits two sug-
gestions-one that the United States coin
| special dollar for use in the islands of the
same weight and fineness of the Mexican
dollar. which shall take its chance with the
! fluctuation Of the market. The other sug-
gestion is that we coin an insular dollar,
which we undertake to redeem in gold at so
cents. He inclines, as does the Secretary of
the Treasury. toward the second course
Affairs In Cuba.
Touching Cuba, the report says the con-
duct of affairs there during the year has
been continuance Of the process Of aiding
the Cuban people in the development of the
| Cuban government In such a way that
wien fully organized, 1t shall be staple and
efficient. This has been done by guiding the
| Cubans in the first steps of systematic self
| government, and by introducing, mainly
| through Cuban officers, such reforms in ad-
ministration as shall serve to put the bust
ness Of government In fairly good condi-
| ton, when a complete Cuban administration
finally assumes control Of the government
| of the island. The report describes the TAX
| ing of the census, and the beginning of