The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1900-09-07
TOO DEEP FOR THEM.
IilipinOs Incapable OF Comprehending
Nav Conditions.


Naw Conditions.
Manila, Sept. 5.-The Filipinos seem
incapable OF realizing the scope and
purpose OF the legislative functions of
the commission of peace. There is no
possibility OF separating the legislative
from the executive branches OF the
government, and. therefore, the COM
missions announcement of its assump-
tion OF power has met with childish
comments at the hands OF the Span.
iards and foreigners, who sneer at the
new arrangements, as they ara apt to
do, at every beneficial innovation on
the part OF the United States authors
ties.
The commission enters upon the gov
ernmental field under the following
conditions: majority OF the island
ers desire peace and the resumption OF
business under American rule, but they
are SO cowed by long series OF mur.
derous atrocities and destruction oil
property by their armed countrymen,
that they dare not actively show their
feelings, especially because experience
has taught them what such an expires.
sion OF sentiment will bring upon them
from the mercilessly revengeful rebels.
A genuine reign OF terror is exercised
by insurgents and ladrones over peace.
ful country folk in order to collect the
revenues and recruits their operations
require, and widespread vengeance is
wreaked in the vicinity OF garrisoned
towns. For example, the insurgent
General Cailles, in the province OF La.
guna, put to death the president apd
officeholders of the town of Bay, on La
guna do Bay, officials who had been in.
stalled by the Americans, and gave or.
ders that similar fate should be meted
out to other adherents Of the American
cause. He also ordered that all Fill
pino soldiers who sold their rifles to
the Americans should be killed.
Any change ofpolicy involving the
withdrawal Of the United States troops
withoit substituting for them an ade-
quate defensive force is certain to re-
suit in fear Of retaliation at the ex-
pense of the "friendlies. The APP
preaching return OF the volunteers
tends to influence the situation unfav-
orably. In Northern Luzon the status
quo is fairly we'll maintained and the
people in that quarter are quiet and
engaged in planting, except In the
provinces of Neuva Ecija and Bulacan,
where there has been recent oatburst
OF rebel and ladrone activity. But in
Southern Luzon conditions are far less
satisfactory. Life there is not safe
outside of the garrisoned towns. Trav-
elers are subject to ambush by guerril-
las. Rarely does day pass without
an encounter between the United
States troops and the insurgents or la
drones, resulting in casualties. There
are 19, 900 troops in that district, Gem
eral Bates commanding, and In three
regiments over third of the men are
sick. The activity OF the enemy in
creased last month. There Is evidence
that the insurgents have come into pos
session of new rifles and that they wish
70 annihilate some small American
garrisons.
Conditions In the Visayas continue
virtually unchanged. The lack ol
troops prevents aggression. Negros,
Rombion, Masbate, Sibuyan, Talbas
and Bohol are tranquil, all desiring
civil government. Mindanao also il
tranquil, except the districts OF Tea
gayan and Surigam, where occasional
encounters with the Filipinos occur
The enemy's fighting force there IL
limited but 1t has number OF rifles.
The surrenders, although they have
notably decreased since May, continue.
The experience OF Northern Luzon
shows that the American occupation ol
any locality tends to its pacihcation
and well-being. An unsettled Ameri'
can policy retards the investment oI
capital. Nevertheless. the imports fol
the last quarter and half were greater
than during any period Of the Spanish
regime. No doubt, the needs OF the
j army OF occupation are responsible fol
/ very considerable portion OF this
, The internal revenue collections are 4
third greater than those made by Spain
This is due to an honest system OF &C
counts. to lack OF fayoritism and Il
impartial enforcement OF the law
The military officials will turn owe
So 600, coo (Mexican) to the commits
sion, and this will probably be expend
ed in public improvements, notably il
harbor Developments, the need o
which is greatly hampering the ship
ping industry.
The commission will first oragnizt
municipalities in the provinces, notab
ly in Pampanga province. Subse
quently it will turn its attention II
needed reforms in the civil and Grim
inaI codes, passing, in due time, 4
other features Of its instructions, witt
the idea Of establishing central civi
!. government during the next 8 months
!. Twelve Americans, including tw'
r captains and two lieutenants, hay'
Q been killed during the past two weeks
Q The official reports OF the encounter
q in which these casualties occurred ar
, meacer.
Thomas j. Powers Killed.
q n