The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-02-03
REPORT OF COMMISSION
TRANSMITTED TO CONGRESS BY
THE PRESIDENT.
A CENTRAL GOVERNMENT AT MANILA
The inhabitants Should Enjoy Large Measure
of Home Rule in Local Affairs. A Small
Body of American Officials Should
be Placed Over All.

Washington. Feb 2.-The President
today transmitted to Congress the re-
port of the Philippine Commission, COM
prised in the first volume, the second
volume to be issued later merely relat-
ing to the climate and natural resources.
The report is signed by Professor Schur-
man, Admiral Dewey, Colonel Denny
and Professor Worcester.
The Commission announces itself I'M
nualifedly in favor of a Government of
the Philippines analogous to the terri
tories of the United States with
Governor appointed by the President.
They say it is desirable that the inhaol-
fants of the archipelago should enjoy
large measure of home rule In local
affairs. their towns to enjoy substantially
the rights and privileges of towns IN
territory. The provinces should De
vested with substantially the functions
of a county in "a territory; this system
might be applied to Luzon ana the
Viscayan Islands at once and lmtlated
on the coast of Mindanao. The Sulu
archipelago calling for special arrange
ments with the Sultan the commission
saws, need not be considered in this con-
nection. The Filipinos could manage
their own and county affairs through
their own officers whom they could elect
with no help from American officials
except such as would be involved In
control from the Central Government at
Manila. The suffrage should be restrict
ed by educational or property qualifica-
lions or both. This system would neces-
state a small body of American officials
of great ability and integrity and Of pa
thence and tact in dealing with other
races, and on this account the commits
sion say they could be called advisors
or commissioners and that one for every
two hundred and fifty thousand natives
should suffice, they to report to the CEN
trail government at Manila. Their main
function would be to advise town and
county councils in the discharge of the
duties and to watch the collection of
revenue and it's expenditures. Our gov
eminent of the Philippines, the commits
sion insists, must be adapted to the
Filipinos. The commission discounts a
proposed protectorate like that of the
British over the Malayan peninsula and
: any stimulation of the relation between
Australia and Canada and Great Britain,
the conditions differing.
The protectorate desired by the insur-
United States would assume all response
bility for protecting the Philippine Gov
eminent against foreign aggression while
their own officials would collect reve-
nues. Nor could the liza bility to foreign
nations be reduced without permitting
them directly to seek redress, and such a
course would. it is to De feared, speed
lily lead to the appropriation of the Phil
ippine Islands by the great powers, who
would not need to seek far for pretenses
of intervention Clearly the plan Of a
elf-governing colony, the commission
says. is a misft to the Philippines. nor
are the British crown colonies and colo
mics having representative institution
but no responsible government. typified
by British Guiana and Hong Kong re-
spectively, applicable. The commission
takes as basis for the government pro-
posed the territorial organization OF
Louisiana. The act is set forth in FULL
1t provides for Governor and Sec
rotary of Treasury and vests the legisla-
tive power in a council appointed annu-
ally by the President. Courts are also
provided for. Nearly all the Offices will
under this form of government, be filed
by Filipinos, and the merit system must
be adopted and lived UP to. The patron
age or spoil system, the commission says,
would prove fatal to good government
in the Philippines. The small number OF
American officials needed include in the
first group Governor, Secretary, Attor-
ney General, certain judges and other
officials Of the territorial government and
in the second group heads of postal, GUS
toms and other departments. The off
GERS of the first group should be appoint
ed by the President and Of the second
transferred from the home service. In