The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-06-04
JUDGE TAFT TALKS.
The New Philippine Commission
Arrives at Manila.

Manila, June 4.-The United States
transport Hancock. from San Francisco
April II, arrived here Sunday with the
members of the Philippine commission
The members of Gen. MacArthurs staff
welcomed the commissioners on board
the Hancock At noon the commission
ers landed and drove to the palace, es-
cOrted by Gen. MacArthur's staff,
band and two companies Of the 26th in
fantry, with artillery.
Judge Taft, speaking today in reply
to representative of the Associated
Press regarding the powers and future
work of the commission, said;
I'VE have full Instructions and extern
SiVe powers The latter we shall not air
until we have shad ample time to ac-
quire sufficient knowledge of the situa-
ton to enable US to proceed to enact
! legislative changes and reforms, pre-
/ liminary to the establishment of a sta
! bic, civil government Until we as
| sumo authority, Gen. Macarthur will
continue to perform the duties and ex-
! ercise the powers formerly performed
/ and exercised by Gen. Otis, and even
| after We take active and full part in the
/ government Gen. Macarthur will con-
/ tinue as the executive head until, on our
recommendation to President Mckinley,
/ II snail seem to the president that the
| time has arrived for the appointment of
! a civil executive and for making the
military forces merely auxiliary in car
! rying on the civil government to be
available only in cases of emergency for
the suppression of lawless violence too
/ formidable to be overcome by the reg
| ularly organized local police.
I'VE are aware that there are several
issues of deep interest to the FilipinOs
upon which il is our duty to take action.
Some of these involve judicial investi-
cation and decisions upon legal rights.
Others call for the careful exercise OF
political power in order to secure equf-
adj Lot ..1oe
of issues we can not now speak,
Then followed the first official declar-
alton to the Filipinos of the purpose OF
the United States 1t has been the con-
stant complaint of the natives that they
have had no authoritative explanation
OF American purposes. In making this
statement Judge Taft expressed sur
prise that the Spooner bill was still un-
passed, because it would be greatly
beneficial to d satisfactory settlement OF
I affairs here.
Representing the sovereignty of the
United States in the Philippines which
It is the purpose Of our government tC
| MAINTAIN, we are here to do justice Il
the F1lipinOs and to secure for then
the best government in our power ant
such a measure of popular control as
Is consistent with the stability and Sc
Curlty Of law. order and property. W.
are civil officers, men of peace Th,
, field of our work is necessarily con
, fined to regions where the armed enemy
. has ceased his operations. We can no
deal with armed men. General Mac
Arthur and the army will do that.
When those now in arms shall hav
, laid them down. relying as they Ger
a tainly can, upon the justice, generosit.
! and clemency of the United States, w
shall give them all a full hearing upol
= I the policy to be pursued and the re
: forms to be initiated. We propose t
, / inaugurate as prehensive a. schoo
, system throughout the islands as cir
cumstances will allow. I am surprises
q that Manila has not received news re
garding the Spooner bill, a measure cal
f eulated to help US greatly in our worl
here
n we have come prepared to max
n Manila our home for two or three years
o as the case may be, until the task of es
tablishing permanent civil govern
ment shall have been well begun. W
invite suggestions from the Filipino
and all others who have sympathy wit
: our purpose regarding needed change
II in legislation and the organization of tn
various departments of the govern
ment, assuring them that we shall Civ
their suggestions careful considerable
and adopt those adapted to carrying OF
e the purposes of the United States