Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1900-09-27
IT'S WORK TO DATE.
Philippine Commission Gives Fun
Account of Its Stewardship.
Natives Anxious to Adops Modern Customs
Hsut Are Exceedingly Ignorant and SUI
perstltiOus = Horrible Cruelties
Charged TO Insurgents.

y
Philippine commission for report of
its operations to date The commits
sion replied in full, the most impor-
tant extracts from the report follow
ing:
Manila, Aug. p. 1sOo-Replying to dis
patch, commission reports: 1t has for 21k
| months made diligent inquiries into con-
dIt1ons prevailing. Mass OF people has
| aptitude for education, but is ignorant,
superstitious and creduIous in a remark
| able degree Hostility against Ameri-
cans was originally aroused by absurd
falsehoods of inscriptions leaders. Dis
| tr1butIon of troops steadily improved
temper Of people. This Improvement
! furthered by abuses of insurgents affirrns
| that large number of people long for
| peace, and are willing to accept govern
| ment under United States. Insurgents
| not surrendering after defeat have di-
| V1ded into small guerrilla bands under
| general officers or become ladrones. Near
| ~ all prominent generals and politicians
! OF insurgents except Aguinaldo have since
| been captured or have surrendered and
| have taken oath of allegiance. Policy of
| len1ency eliminating in amnesty had
marked effect to induce surrenders until
| defining of political issues in United
| States reported here in full gave hope to
| insurgent officers still in arms, and changed
| policy and stayed surrenders to await
result Of elections. Disturbances in parts
| OF island kept up and avowed by inSur-
| gent proclamation and orders to influence
1
| of majority of people of provinces where
they occur, but only activity of small
insurgent bodies in mountain Businesses
whence they issue for usually harmless
night attacks, or murderous ambush of
small American squads, or to collect con-
| tributiOnS recruit from people terror
lied by cutting out tongues, cutting off
| limbs, burying alive, murder and plumber.
Difficulty of detention enables insur-
| gents to maintain surveillance over peoG
pie in some garrisoned towns. Uncertain
Rr1+Y11
and defenselessness of people without
arms largely prevent them aiding Amer
| leans in SuppreSsing outrageS. Despite
these difficulties, maintenance of status
quo makes for more peaceful conditions.
All northern Luzon except in Neuvaecija
and Bulacan are substantially free from
insurgents. Railway and telegraph lines
from Manila to Dagupan, 122 miles, have
not been molested for five months In
excepted provinces and parts of provinces
Of southern Luzon, insurrecto bands
dodge from mountain refuge to an
other and give occasional trouble. Tag
alloys alone active in leading guerrilla
warfare
Four years of war and IawIessness in
parts of islands have created unsettled
conditions and unguarded American or
foreigner travelling ordinary trails far
from garrisonS and attracting cupidity, |
run risk of violence even in pacified prov |
inces Native constabulary and militia |
which should be organized at once will |
end this and the terrorism to which de- |
1enS6l6SS people are subjected. NATIVES |
desire to enlist in these organizations.
If judiciously selected and Differed will |
be sufficient force for maintenance OF
order and will permit early material re- |
duction of United States troops It is
conceded by all but men in arms and is
implied in their proclamations that if |
election confirms present policy remnant |
of instruction will disappear within 60
days by surrender of leaders and fading |
out of rank and file
Customs collections for last quarter |
were so per cent. greater than ever in !
Spanish history, and August collections |
show further increase. Total revenue for |
same period was one-thfrd greater than |
any quarter under Spain. Economy and |
efficiency of military government have |
created surplus fund of Sc, 10000 Mexican |
money, which should be expended in |
much-needed public works, notably i'm |
provement of Manila harbor, the con- |
ditionS of which with consequent delay |
and expense in landing goods is a greater |
embargo on business than many nearly |
prohibitory tariff rates inherited from |
Spain and still operative. With proper |
tariff and facilities Manila will become /
the great port of the orient. Spanish |
revenue laws throwing burden of taxa |
ton on the poor give the wealthy COM |
parattVe immunity. Are formulating laws
remedying these evils, and confident that |
by judicious customs laws, reasonable ad |
valoren land tax and proper corporation |
franchise tax, imposition of greater |
rate than that in the average American !
state will give less annoyance, and with /
peace will produce revenue sufficient to |
pay expenses of efficient government, in
Guiding military and constabulary.
Are preparing stringent civil service |
law giving equal opportunity to FiliDinos !
and Americans with preference for T
former where qualifications are equal, |
to enter at lowest rank and by promo
ton reach head of department. Munic-
ipal corporations are being organized on /
popular basis. Much needed reform /
in civil and criminal procedure. criminal
code and judicial system favored by Fill +
fpino bar will be effected. Railroad fran
chises should at once be granted. Rail-
roads will revolutionize life and business
in these wonderfully rich, beautiful and
healthful, tropical islands. Forty-five
miles of railroad extension under negotia-
ton will give access to large province
rich in valuable minerals, a mile high,
with a strictly temperate climate curing
tropical diseases. Railroad construction +
will give employment to many, and COM
munication will furnish market to vast
stretches of rich agricultural lands.
Calls from all parts of these islands
for public schools, school supplies and
English teachers are greater than COM
mission can provide until comprehensive
school system is organized. Night schools
for teaching English to adults are be-
ing established in response to popular de-
mand. Native children show aptitude
in learning English. Spanish is spoken +
by small fraction of the people. and in
few years the medium of communication /
In courts, public offices and between diff
ferent tribes will be English. Creation Of
central government within Is months like
that of Porto Rico. under which substan-
TALLY all rights described in bill of rights
in federal constitution are to be secured
to the people OF the Philippines. will bring
to them contentment, prosperity, educa-
ton and political Observation-Disclosures
H. Taft, Dean C. Worcester, Luke E.
Wright, Henry c. Ide, Bernard Moses
After the MOrtOns-
Omaha, Neb., Sept. 2O.-Attorney