The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-09-09
REPORTS FROM JUDGE TAFT.
Progress Toward the Fstablishmen Of Civil
Government in the Philippines.

WAsHINGToN, Sept. e-The War Department
has Just completed a compilation OF a number
ot reports from Judge TAFT President OF tho
Philippine Commission sent To the island to
inaugurate a civil government. The reports
were made 10 Secretary Root in letters from
Judge Taft and will be made public In a day
or two. The statement which viii be given
out by the War Department will also include
a copy Of the proclamation Issued
by the commission granting amnesty To
the Filipinos and a copy Of the Presidents
instructions given 20 The commission Just be-
fore It's departure from San Francisco. Judge
Taft's letters give a comprehensive view OF the
work done by the commission since its arrival
at Manila and the progress. made toward the
establishment Of "A civil administration in place
Of mllitar control IhG Instructions from
take charge OF IN" civil administration on Sept.
/, and the last reUOrt received bv mai from
Judge Taft shows that the commission con
sidered that the conditions in the Philippines
One Of the interesting, features OF Jn 'ge
Taft's correspon ence relates 10 the work OF
Prof. Barnard Moses, unaer whose ERECTION
was place the WORK ol e lcatloh ~ carry
ing out a new . Iucational system Prof, Moses
consiC erei that The teaching oi NE English
language to the filipinOS was OF the first I'M
portanCe, az il woul enable the natives 10
more rea ily understand an appreciate Amer
Tifi ,bn nIaan foHilowc by Prof Moses was
10 have English usel 10y the teachers instead
of teaching IL through the me iilm OF
Spanish or Tagalo tongue, Judge Taft called
particular attention to the eagerness Of the
filipinoS for schools and 10 the establishment
OF municipal governments throughout the
island Of Luzon In the election of municipal
officers the commission held that M no caSe'
could there be elected or appointed TO Wl-
niciuai offices ecclesiastiCs, soldiers in active
service, persons receiving salaries from mu-
nicipal, provincial or government funds, debtors
10 said funds. contractors OF public works
and their bOndSmen and clerks. ana junction.
aries Of the administration
In one of his reports Judge Taft refers to
the propositions Of peace submitted by a num-
Der Of leading FiliIinos, and also tells oi the
feast of amnesty which followed the issuance
Of the amnesty proclamation. ~ the OTening
Of this feast Senior Palermo made an address
in which he congratulated Gen, Macarthur
inspired by no other idea than that Of unison
between the Filipino and American peoples.
Judge Taft spoke in reply and told OF the
Presidents Instructions to the commission,
saving that the commission was in the Phil
ippiues under instructions directing " 10 form
n civil government that would take into con-
alteration only the good of the Filipino people,
there 10 * plot the islands for the selfish pur-
poses OF the American people. and
that Capital would be- encouraged only
FOR the Improvement ~ the island, with a view
10 lettering the condition Of the Filipino peo-
pie. he added that the instructions directed
The commits sion. under the sovereignty OF the
United states. to project a civil government
which would secure TO the people Of the islands
all the substantial rights which the American
Constitution could give, and that in the formA-
ton OF "A government the chief officers were
10 be elected by tbs people.