The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-03

Needed, hut the FiIipinOs should
BE Given as Much SeIf-GOvernment
as POssibIe-Commissio Thinks
Islands should BE Held.
Washington, Feb. 2.-The President to-
day transmitted to Congress the report of
the Philippine Commission. comprised in
the first volume, the second volume to be
issued later merely relating to the eli
mate and natural resources. The report is
signed by Prof Schurman, Admiral Dew
ey, Col DENLY and Prof Worcester.
The commission announces itself un-
qualifedly in favor of a government anal
ogous to that of territory of the United
States with Governor appointed by the
President They say it is desirable thar
the inhabitants of the archipelago should
enjoy a large measure of home rule in
local affairs, their towns to enjoy sub
stantially the rights and privileges of
towns in a territory. The provinces should
be vested with substantially the functions
of a county in territory; this system
| might be applied TO Luzon and the Vis-
cayan Islands at once, and initiated on
| the coast of Mindanao. The Sulu archl-
pelago calling for special arrangements
with the Sultan. the commission says. need
not be considered in this connection. The
Filipinos could manage their own town
and county affairs through their own of
| ficers, whom they could elect with no
help from American officials except such
! as would be involved in control from the
central government at Manila. The suf-
frage should be restricted by educational
or property qualifications. or both.
American officials Needed.
This system would necessitate a small
BODY of American officials OF great ability
ana integrity and of patience and tact in
dealing with other races, and on this ac-
count the commission says they could be
called advisors or cornmissl loners, and that
one for every 10000 natives should suf-
fice they 10 report to the Central gov
ernment at Manila. Their main function
would be to adVlse town and county coun-
ellis in the discharge of duties and TO
watch the collection of revenue and its
expenditures.
our government of the Philippines, the
| commission insists, must be adapted to
the f1lipinos. The commission discounten-
anees proposed protectorate like that
OF the British over the Ma1ayan peninsu-
la and any stimulation of the relation be
tween Australia and Canada and Great
! III ltdtlll tilt CguulilOIS QlIIErInE. The pro-
lectorate desired by the inSuTgent leaders
is one under which the United States
would assume all responsibility for pro
tectlng the Philippine government against
foreign aggression, while their own Of
! hcials would collect revenues. Nor could
the liability to foreign nations be reduced
without permitting them directly to seek
| redress, and such a course would, it is
to be feared, speedily lead to the appro-
priation of the Philippine Islands by the
Great Powers who would not need to seek
far for pretenses Of Intervention. Clearly
the plan of a self-governing colony. the
commission says, is a misft to the Philip
pines nor are the British crown colonies
| and colonies having representative insti-
tutions but no responsible government
typhed by British Guiana and Hong
| Kong respectively applicable
The Government Proposed
The commission takes as a basis for
| the government proposed the territorial
organization of Louisiana. The act is set
| forth in fun. Ii provides for gov
ernor and secretary of treasury, and vests
the legislative power in council appoint
ed annually by the President Courts are
also provided for.
Nearly all the offices will, under this
form of government, be filed by F'lipinos
and the merit system must be adopted
and lived up to. The patronage or spoils
~ Sl6iI lle COMMISSION says, WOul0 prove
fatal to good government in the Philip
pines. The small number of American Of
hcials needed include in the first group
governor, secretary, attorney general, GER
tain judges and other officials of the terri
torial government. and in tne second group
heads of postal, customs and other depart
ments. The officers of the first group
should be appointed by the President and
of the second transferred from the home
service. In neither case should there be
examination. The Filipinos. they say
are of unusually promising material pos
| sessng admirable personal and domestic
virtues and being naturally peaceful. do
cie and deferential to constituted author
| ity.
The Conclusions Reached.
In connection with the subject of govern
ment the commission reaches the follow
ing conclusions:
First. The United States cannot with
draw from the Philippines. We are there
and duty binds US to remain. There is no
| escape frcm our responsibility to the Fill
pinos and to mankind for the government
of the archipelago and the amelioration
of the condition of its Inhabitants
Second. The Filipinos are wholly un-
prepared for independence, and If indie
pendence were given to them they could
not maintain it.
Under the third head is included a COPY
of Admiral Deweys letter to Senator
Lodge, which was read in the Senate the
other day denying Aguinaldos claim that
he was promised independence.
Fourth. There being no Philippine ma
ton, but only collection of different peo-
pies. there is no general public opinion in
the archipelago; but the men of property
and education, who alone interest them
selves in pubic affairs, in general recog-
nize as Indispensable American authority.
guidance ard protection.
Fifth. Congress should a the earliest
practical time, provide for the Philippines
the form of government herein recon-
mended, or another equally liberal ana
benefcent.
Sixth. Pending any action on the part
of Congress, the commission recommends
that the President put In operation this
scheme of civil government in such parts
of the archipelago as are a peace
Seventh. So far as the finances Of the
Philippines permit, public education shouII
be promptly established, and when estab-