The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-06-04
COMMISSION NOW At MANILA
ARLIYAL A OF JUDGE TAFT IND HIS
COLLEAG UES.
Received by General MaoArthur With
Military HOnors-A Statement by
President In Tnft--Commfssion Has Full
Instructions and Extensive Powers
The Plan to be Pursued.
The Plan to be Pursued.

The Plan to be Pursued.
Manila, June 3--The United States
! transport Hancock, from San Francis
co April II, arrived here this morning
with the members of the Philippine
commission. The members of General
MacArthur's staff welcomed the COM
missioners on board the Hancock. At
noon the commissioners landed and
drove to the palace, escorted by Cen
| eral MacArthurs staff, a band and two
companies of the Twenty-sixth infantry
With artillery.
At the palace the commissioners were
welcomed by General Macarthur in
short and forceful address. After
Judge William H. Taft, president of the
commission, had replied the commits
sioners returned to the Hancock where
they will remain until they have select
ed suitable dwellings on land.
During the morning the members of
the Filipino supreme court, the local
editors and many of the leading mer-
chants repaired to the ship, where they
conversed with the commissioners.
Rear Admiral Remey, in command OF
the United States naval forces on the
Asiatic station, called officially during
the afternoon. Tomorrow General
Macarthur will return the call of the
commissioners. The family Of Judge
Taft will remain for some time in ia
pan. The families of the other COM
missioners arrived with them,
Judge Taft, speaking to-day regard
ing the powers and future work of the
commission, said: 1--WE have full in
structions and extensive powers. The
latter we shall not exercise until we
have had ample time to acquire suffi-
cient knowledge of the situation to en-
able us to proceed to enact legislative
changes and reforms preliminary to the
establishment of stable civil govern
ment. Until we assume authority Cen
eral Macarthur will continue to per-
form the duties and exercise the pow
ers formerly performed and exercised
by General Otis, and after we take ac-
tive and full part in the government
General Macarthur will continue as the
executive head until, upon our recon-
mendation 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 car
rying 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 police.
1--WE are aware that there are several
issues of deep interest to the Filpinos
upon which it is our duty to take ac-
tion. Some of these involve judicial in
vestigation and decisions upon legal
rights. Others call for the careful ex
ercise of political power in order to Sc
cure equitable 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 con-
slstent 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 re-
gions where the armed enemy have
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 certainly
can, upon the justice, generosity and
clemency of the United States. we shall |
give them all full hearing upon the |
policy to be pursued and the reforms to |
be initiated. We propose to inaugurate |
as comprehensive school system |
throughout the islands as circum-
stances will allow l am surprised that |
Manila has not received news regard
ing the Spooner bill, a measure calcu-
lated to help us greatly in our work
here"
While in Hong Kong the commission
ers questioned Armacho and members OF
the wealthy Cortez family Filipino af-
fairs not covered by the Filipino junta
there. The F'ilipinos in Manila are
anxiously and even nervously awaiting
a formal statement by the commission
regarding its future policy
Everything the commissioners say or
do ia carefully considered. Cablegrams
from Hong Kong have been published
here to the effect that the commission
viii not assume control until September.
This report coupled with the statement
that Washington approves General
plan of campaign, has Gre
ated considerable excitement in Filipino
circles where it has been expected that
changes of policy and action
would follow the arrival of the commits
sion. 1t should be understood that the
foregoing declaration of Judge Taft is
IN no sense intended as proclamation.
MAY RE tnYEN1rnn