The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1900-06-04
COMMISSION AT MANILA.
Judge Taft Outlines the Policy to He
Pursued,

Pursued.
MANILA. June 1.-The United States
transport Hancock from San Francisco
April H. has arrived here with the mem
bers Of the Philippine commission. The
members of General MacArthur's staff
welcomed the commissioners on board
the Hancock. At noon the commission
ers landed and drove to the palace, cs-
corted by General MacArthur's staff. Il
band and two companies of the Twenty
sixth infantry. with artillery.
AT the palace the commissioners were
welcomed by General Macarthur in u
short and forceful address. After Judge
William II. Taft, president of the COM
mission, had replied the commissioners
returned to the Hancock, where they
will remain until they have selected
suitable dwellings on land.
them.
Judge Taft, speaking regarding the
powers and future work of the commits
sion, said:
I'VE have full instructions and ex-
tensive powers. The latter we shall not
exercise until we have had ample time
to acquire sufficient knowledge of the
situation to enable us to proceed to enact
legislative changes and reforms prelmi-
nary to the establishment of stable
civil government. Until we assume all-
thOrity General Macarthur will continue
TO perform the duties and exercise the
powers formerly performed and exer-
cised by General Otis, and even after wo
take active and full part in the govern
ment General Macarthur will continue
as the executive head until, upon our rec
ommendation to President Mckinley. it
shall seem to the president that the time
has arrived for the appointment of civil
executive and for making the military
forces merely auxiliary in carrying on
the civil government, to be available only
in cases of emergency for the suppression
of lawless violence too formidable to be
overcome by the regularly organized 10.
cal police.
I'VE are aware that there are several
issues of deep interest to the Filipinos
upon which it is our duty to take action.
Some of these involve judicial investi-
CATION and decisions upon legal rights
Others call for the careful exercise of
political power in order to secure equita-
BILE adjustments Upon the latter class
Of issues We cannot now speak.
Representing the sovereignty Of the
United States In the Philippines, which
it is the purpose of our government to
maintain. we are here to do justice to
the Filipinos and to secure for them the
best government in our power and such a
measure of popular control as is consist
ent with the stability and security Of
law, order and property. We are civil
officers. men Of peace. The field of our
work is necessarily confined to regions
where the armed enemy has ceased his
operations. We cannot deal with armed
. men. General Macarthur and the army
will do that.
"When those now in arms shall have
laid them down. relying as they certainly
can upon the justice, generosity and
clemency Of the United States, we shall
give them all full hearing upon the pol.
icy to be pursued and the reforms to be
initiated. We purpose to inaugurate as
comprehensive school system through.
out the islands as circumstances will al
low. I am surprised that Manila has
not received news regarding the Spooner
bill, a measure calculated to help 10
greatly in our work here"
1t should be understood that the fore
going declaration of Judge Taft Is in NO
sense intended ~ proclamation.