The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-02-03
RULING OF FILIplNOS
PLANS FOR GOVERNMENT OF THE
ISLANDS ARE SUBMITTED BY
THE COMMISSION
AMERICA MUST HOLD REINs

Who We're Sent to the Philippines
by President Mckinley to Report
Upon the Capabi1fty tof the Fill
fpinos for self-Government-A
other Section Of Report to Follow.
WASHINGTON. Feb, 1.-THE presiden.
today transmitted to congress the first
volume Of the report of the Philippine
commission. 1t is a volume of 1854 pages,
including the appendix. ana is signed by
Prof. schurman. Admiral + Dewey, Col.
DENLY and Prof. Worcester The prin-
cipal subject dealt with Isl the plan Of
government proposed by the commission,
which includes discussien OF the Span.
ish government existing prior to the war,
the various reforms desired by the Fiji
pines and the constitution proposed by
them, together with the conclusions and
plans suggested by the commission The
report also covers many other matters
connected with the social administration
of the islands, racial characteristics,
educational, secular and religious orders,
the Chinese in the Islands. public health,
currency, ETC., as we'll as the conditions
Philippines, from naval and maritime
standpoint
The second volume Of the report, which
will not be ready for several weeks, will
contain a detailed description of the clt-
mate and natural resources of the island
The chief interest in the report naturally
centers in the plan of government pro.
posed by the commission.
The commission announces itself I'm,
the Filipinos analogous to that of ter
ritory of the United States, with gov
ernor appointed by the president. They
say 1t Is desirable that the Inhabitants
Of the archipelago should enjoy a large
measure of home rule in local affairs,
their towns to enjoy substantially the
rights and privileges Of towns in ter
ritory.
LARGE LIBERTIES.
From the outset, however. the commits.
sion deems 1t desirable to extend
government than Jefferson approved OF
for the inhabitants of Louisiana, assum-
ing that in the Sulu archipelago and such
other portions Of the islands as are oc,
cupied by tribes of Indians, the govern
ment would be conducted through the
agency of their sultans sor chiefs. The
commission, believes that>the people OF
the islands should be allowed to elect.
at least, members Of the lower branch
of the territorial legislature, and that
part of the upper branch, at least, should
be appointed by the president. With
such safeguards in our hands, and veto
power by the governor general. including
the right to suspend the law for year.
even after its passage by q vote of two
thirds of the legislature over his veto.
this plan of government which Is on the
line of the constitution prepared for the
commission by those Filipinos who sought
to adjust the claims of the insurgent
leaders to the rights Of American SOW
would probably be adequate for
the purpose of good government. This Is
especially true, the commission says.
since congress may and should retain
the right to veto, the territorial legis-
lation. ce9ssy.s.ts
Nearly all the officers, will under this
form of government, be filled by, AF1lipl-
nos themselves, and the dmerit system
must be adopted and lived up to. The
patronage, or spGfls system, the commits
sion says, would prove fatal to good gov
eminent in the Philippines. The COM
mission suggests that civil service
board, to ascertain by competitive ex-
animation of a practical character the
qualifications of Filipinos seeking Office,
should be instituted, and there should be
for merit and efficiency dur
ing tenure Of office.
AMERICAN OFFICIALS.
The small number of American Off
toll in lttIo In ha flra
group governor, secretary, attorney gen.
eral. certain judges and other officers OF
the territorial government, and in the Sec
ond group heads of postal, customs and
other departments. These officers OF the
first group should be appointed by the
president, and of the second group trans
ferred from the home service In neither
case should there be examination.
The commission cites the case of Brit
ish India, with an area Of 100000 square
miles. and population of 5000 600.
where the executive and judicial work
is performed by LOCO British officials. to
show that only a small number of Amer
leans would be needed as the directing
brain of the civil government.
The commission, while not undertaking
the difficulty of governing the Philippines.
is inclined to believe the task easier than
generally supposed. The -Filipinos they
say aF0 VI uuuSudt prOiIiiSiuS tioieS'
possessing admirable domestic virtues
and being naturally peaceful. docile and
obedient to constituted authority. The
Tagals, though forming a minority, are
far more numerous than generally sup
posed, and the commission pays tribute
to their high range Of possibilities
The F'ilipinos should be upheld in es-
tablishing and maintaining acivil govern
ment throughout the archipelago.
PROPOSED PLAN.
In connection with the subject the COM
mission reaches the following conclusion:
1. The United States cannot withdraw
from the Philippines. We are there and
duty bids us remain. There Is no escape
from our duty to the Philippines and to
mankind for the government of the archi-
ton of It's inhabitants -
2 The Filipinos are wholly unprepared
for independence, and if independence
were given them they could not maintain
it. rs
(Under the third head is included copy
Of Admiral Dewey's letter to Senator
Lodge which was read in the senate the
other day denying Aguinaldo's claim that
he was promised Independence
4. There being no Philippine nation. but
Only a collection of different peoples,
there is no general public opinion In the
oISAipCid6O, Oul lIiG Icil VI ~ OpSi-lJ oAAo
education, who alone interest themselves
in public affairs in general, recognize as
indispensable American authority, guild
ance and protection.
5. Congress should at the earliest prac-
ticable time provide for the. Philippines
the form of government here described. or
another equally liberal and beneficent.
6. Pending any action ON the part or
congress, the commission recommends
that the president put IN operation this
scheme of popular government in such
parts of the archipelago as are at peace
Z. So far as the finances of the Philip
pines permit, public education should be
promptly established, and when estab-
lished made free to ALL