The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-11-12
Progress Made in
The Philippines
(correspondcncc of the Associated Press. }

~ HE CIVIL COMMISSION, Judge Taft presid.
ing, today inaugurated the application, un'
i der civil administration, OF the principles
| Of American fairness and honesty TO Philip
| pine affairs. In public session the commssic1
introduced discussed and made law four bills
| appropriatng to the needs Of these islands TO-
| tai of 81, ,O1O, 1852, Mexican currency, Of the
| six millions surplus Of Mexican currency turned
| over by the army to the commission Sept J.,
| and now in tine insuar treasury.
Modestly and without ostcntation, with dig.
| nifty, common sense and that American democra.
| cy and drcctness which pleascs all men when
ever and wherever it is found, the Ave members
of the civil commission undertook their first pub
| lie legislative action this morning. When their
| methods and their attitude at this public ses.
sion became generally known and are discussed
| and digested by the Filipino people, they can.
not fail to be pleased Herewith. The commits
sion has shown consideration of the wants and
the rights of these same people; there was no
cloudng OF official action in mystery and secrecy;
the work Of the legislative power was hon.
est, earnest and open and showed sure intent
to do we'll by their wards. Successful legisla.
tion for the Philippine people imperatively re-
quires two conditions-the first is what to do.
the second is how to do it; and it is believed
the second is fully as important az the first The
Filipinos sensitive AZ to the way in which
they are handled; and Legislative measures, ex-
celent in itself, loses one.half OF its efficacy IL
not promulgated and administered in the right
way. Just what this right way may be in its
details people here do not yet know; but today's
session showed clearly one valuable thing,
namely that the commission has begun operations
in this right way.
The session opened at 10 o'clock, all Ave
members of the commission being present. Mr..
A. W. Ferguson acted as secretary and transa.
tor, and Mr.. W. l.. Pepperman as recorder. The
first bill was introduced by General Wright 1t
appropriated two millions, Mexican, from the
insular treasury for the construction and repair,
urder the supervision of General Macarthur, OF
highways and bridges throughout the islands.
Outside Of the representatives OF the press and
couple Of army officers there were but three
Filpnos in the room. Judge Taft had pub
lIcly announced that discussion Of all bills would
be allowed. and District Attorney Torres was the
first Filipino to claim this privilege before the
commission. Senor Torres made clear the fact
that he did not come to attack the bill, but to
praise it, and he complimented the commission
on its PRONUNCIATION, declaring 1t provided for
what the people, and particularly the agricul-
turalists, most needed. Senor Torres then went
on to say that under the Spanish regime public
moneys had often been misspent, and he out
lined the system OF Spanish proceedings in pub.
lie improvements, which made such maladmiI-
''N'N'','' f,''' ~ vs..
ior Information as to now the provisions OF this
biil were TO be carried out. as he was fearful
that unless careiuiiy watched' 'inscrtpulous CON
tractors "oulu hho opportunity 10 dlVert TINS
TWO hiilions OF the peoples money from bringing
TO the people the greatest amount OF good.
o
For the beneht OF senior Torres anu the people
at large General Wrght explained that the ac.
tuai work OF construction OF the roads and
bridges was 10 De done uhder the supervision ot
General MacArthnr' VINO remains the executive
mead OF the ihsuiar government until paolhcation
Is thoroughly accomplished, at whhch time the
civil government Will complete the work of road
buiiding' General "rlsht iurther pointed out
mat the construction OF these ROADS would fur'
nlsh employment 10 large hnmner OF worthy
people who needed the work on account OF re-
verses suhered dhrihs the ihsurrect'oh' ana that
the building OF highways was as necessary Tor
Inc government as LOT ehe people themselves
Judge Ia't eheh addressed the commission ana
senor torres IN the following words'
we assume that the personal character and
equipment OF tne present m'itary governor Is
s"hcieht guarantee una. the WORK VIII DO done
Quickly ana economically. Naturally 'he mn
med'ate departments OF the work VIII he under
the supervision OF 'he corps OF engineers, VINO
are paia rom 'he treasury OF the ohited states.
Inc eh,ei engineer, 'apta'n n'du'e' Is grad
uale OF merit OF West roiht academy ana
man OF the highest attainments and personal
character sehot iorres ana tne puoic az large
may res. assured that 'herc VIII not DC repe'
ti'ioh OF past occurrences hnder the spanish re-