The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-02-07
Duty Of the New Commission viii Be 10
Establish Civil Government
INSTRUCTIONS BEING PREPARED.
Probability That 0thl Members Of Commission
VII Be Named in a lew Das Senator
Spooners Bill 10 ts fsuabIy Reported.

Washington, Feb 1.-The president
yesterday appointed Judge William IL.
Tast OF Cincinnati and United States
Judge of the Sixth judicial court, TO be
president OF the new Philippine COM
mission. Judge Tafts place on the
bench wiz be filled by the appointment
of Judge Henry f. Severns OF Grand
Rapids. .dich.
The nomination OF Judge Severns TO
be United States circuit judge for the
Sixth judicial district was sent to the
Senate by the president yesterday
The announcement of the appoint
ment was made at the close of the
cabinet meeting. Judge Taft has been
in Washington several days, presuma-
bly, coming at the request OF the presi
dent. Yesterday he called at the
White House little before 10 O'clock i'm
company with Judge Day. former sec
retary of state. and later president OF
the Paris peace commission. They re-
mained with the president until the
cabinet met at III o'clock, and rejoined
him after the cabinet had adjourned.
on leaving the White House, Judge
Taft stated that the commission OF
which he had been appointed president
would sail for the Philippines soon
after March Is, and it's special mission
would be the establishment OF a civil
government for the islands. Further
than that he was not at liberty TO
speak. 1t is understood the other
members Of the commission will be des-
ignated within a very short time, and
that the special instructions which will
guide them in the discharge OF their
duties will be prepared at as early
day as possible.
The appointment OF this commission
Is carrying out the suggestions of the
present Philippine commission, which
will shortly go out of existence. Some
OF the members OF the old commission.
II is said, will be appointedson the new
one.
SENATOR SPOONER'S BILL.
The Senate committee on the Philip
pines. of which Senator Lodge is char
man, has decided To report favorably
the pill introduced on Jan. IL by Sena-
tor Spooner, giving the president COM
plete authority over the Philippine ISL
ands pending the establishment by
Congress OF such form OF government
as 1t may later decide upon.
The text of Senator Spooner's bill is
as follows:
BE it enacted, etc, that when all in
surreCtion against the sovereignty and
authority OF the United States in the
Philippine islands. acquired from Spain
by the treaty concluded at Paris on the
tenth day OF December, 1898, shall have |
been completely suppressed by the |
military and naval forces of the Unit |
ed States. all military, civil and ju- |
dicial powers necessary 10 govern said |
islands shall, until otherwise provided |
by congress. be vested i'm such person |
and persons and shall be exercised in |
such manner as the president OF United |
States shall decide for maintaining and |
protecting the Inhabitants of said ISL |
ands in the fun enjoyment of their lib |
erty, property and religion"
This measure embodies the principle |
and much of the language OF the bill |
relating 10 the then newly acquired ter |
ritory OF Louisiana passed at the first |
session Of the Eighth Congress and ap-
proved by President jefferson October |
81, 1890
In the latter measure President Nc |
Kinley's administration finds ample |
precedent forgthe temporary Philippine |
policy whichSwill be enunciated in the |
bill now favored by Senator Lodges |
on the Philippines His
expects TO report the bill i'm
n few days. II has already been ap-
proved by a majority of the commit
tee and the other Republicans are only
waiting to secure the approval OF Sena-
tor Bevcrdge Of Indiana In order to
make their action unanimous
Ills the expectation cf the Republi-
can leaders that this bill will be en-
ncted into law without undue delay.