Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-06-11
commission At WORK
Judge Taft and His Colleagues Be.
gin Their Task in the
philippines.
Bewildered and Beset by Multi.
tude of Callers Of All
katioDalities.
Are Well Pleased With Gen. Mac.
Arthur's Administration Of
Island Affairs.

Manila, June 11.-Judge William II.
Taft and his colleagues on the Philip
pines civil commission, We're beset dur
ing their first week in Manila by null
titude of callers of all nationalities. pro-
fessions and interests, who presented a
bewildering assortment of recommends
tons touching military and civil poll
.cies. The commissioners maintained the
attitude of unprejudiced listeners. They
admit that, while they anticipated an
enormous task, the compleNity and diff
ticulty of the problems and conditions
are we'll nigh staggering. They are de-
termined, however, With the co-opera-
ton of the army in pacifying, as We'll as
in fighting, to make the Philippines a
peaceful and honestly governed country
before departing.
The commissioners find Gen. MacAr-
thur administering civil and military
affairs in a Way that is universally pops
ular. Tn. Filipino party. embracing
prominent insurrsctionists who accepted
American rule. thru force Of clrcum-
stances, is already making overtures for
the discussion of a scheme of permanent
government. practically reNivins the old
proposition of autonomy under an
American protectorate. There are some
F'ilipinps who believed that Judge Taft
Mould bring the millennium in his vest
pocket, and these profess to be disap-
pointed because sweeping changes are
not made Immediately
Judge Taft's utterances indicate a
conciliatory policy toward the natives.
He has conferred with the high army Of
ticers, some Of Whom strongly urge that
a larger army is necessary TO suppress
tie insurrection, believing that civil
government will be impossible until the
rampant rebellion in the southern dis
tricts OF Luzon. in the extreme northern
provinces of the island and in the Wis.,
cayas. except Negros. is crushed.
One of the foremost questions is how
and from what material to organize a
l.civil force with which gradually to SUI
IApersede the army as a governing ma
chine. Spain's auxiliary. the church, is
necessarily barred from consideration.
the hope Of honest govern
mere has eradicated the results OF
spaiil's tutelage \ large proportion OF
1.-The provincial officials already installed
ihave proved trsacherous while%the ma
4 tive police and officials here in Manila
are living on = scaleof luxury suspi-
Ieiously disproportionate 10 their sal
Earies. Charges against native judges d
failing to account for thousands of dol
llgation.
a, the present the governmental al
derivatives are the army on one hant
Lard anarchy on the other. Gen. Otis
4 plan of municipal government is beins
I naugurated in the principal towns o
/ central Luzon and in parts of the Wis
.Eayas. but tn Filipinos persis, in think
Ing that the question whether the Init
led States Will retain the Philippines i.
still open and some local leaders asl
hat municipal elections be postpone,
Il until after the presidential election
Many people object to taking the oatl
8of allegiance to the United States gov
4I5ernment, which is the first s.salificatio,
for voting for municipal candidates
H Tie commissioners also find that til
4 future state of the church in the Philip
pines is Leading question in the mind
ID of many. altho most of those who hav
talked with Judge Taft and his col
ii leagues draw the Inference that tn
commissioners are opposed to the rein
statement of the friars Archbisho
EChappelle has taken a strong stand i
supporting the request Of the friars /
, be established in their old position.
II As a result of last weeks scoutin
49, ma ~