The National tribune., 1900-02-08
GOVERNMENT FOR FILIPINOS.
A territorial Form Recommended by the
Philippine Commission.


The first volume of the report of the
Philippine Commission, transmitted to
Congress by the President, deals mainly
with the plan of Government proposed bv
the Commission, which includes a discus
sion of the Spanish Government existing
prior to the war. the various reforms de-
sired by the Filipinos, and the constitu-
tons proposed by them, together with the
conclusions and plans suggested by the
Commission.
The second volume of the report. which
VIII not be ready for several weeks, will
contain detailed description OF the climate
and natural resources of the islands
1he chIef interest in the report naturally
centerS in the plan of Government proposed
by the Commission. The Commission an
nounces itself unqualifiedly in favor of Il
Government of the PhiliDpines analogous
TO that OF Territory of the United States,
with Governor appointed by the Presi-
dent. 1t says 1t is desirable that the in,
habitants of the archipelago should enjoy
large measure of home rule in local af-
fairs.
The Filipinos could manage their own
Town and County affairs through their
officers, whom they could elect with no
help from American officials. except such
as would be involved in control from the
central Government at Manila. The suf-
frage should be restricted by educational
or property qualifications, or both.
| 'iAo cyStShi NOt1u LtttSSiEdte Il SfGlli
body OF American officials of great ability
and integrity and of patience and tact in
uealng with other races, and on this ac-
count the Commission says they could be
called advisers or commissioners, and that
one for every 10000 natives should suffice
| IL would be the duty of such commissioners
to report upon their work to the central
| Government at Manila Their main func-
ton would be 10 advise Town and County
Councils in the discharge of their duties.
and 10 watch the collection of revenue and
Its expenditures.
Our Government of the Philippines. the
Commission insists. must be adapted to the
tIllpInos. The kind of a protectorate
which the insurgent leaders desired, the
Commission says, is one in which the United
States would assume all responsibility
against foreign aggression, while their
own officials would collect revenues. The
United States would be responsible for
miscarriage OF justice as TO foreigner with
out power to punish offenders or prevent
maladministration.
From the outset. however. the Com
mission believes it safe and desirable to ex-
tend to the FflipinoS larger liberties of
self-government than jefferson approved
OF Tor the inhabitants of Louisiana, as
Suming that in the Sulu archipelago and
such portions of the other islands as are
occupied by tribes of Indians the Govern
ment will be conducted through the agency
The Commission believes that the people
of the remainder of the islands should
be permitted to elect at least members of
the lower branch of the Territorial Iegis-
lature, and that at least half the members
of the upper house should be appointed
by the President. With such safeguards
i'll American hands. and a qualified veto
power for the Goyernor-General Gncluding
the right to suspend the law for a wear
even, after It's passage by vote of two
thirds of the Legislature over his veto).
this plan of Government, which is on the
lines of the constitution prepared for the
Commission by those Filipinos who sought
to adjust the claims OF the insurgent lead
ers to the rights of American sovereignty,
would probably be adequate for the pur-
poses Of good government. This is es-
pecially true, the Commission saws, since
Congress may and should retain the right
to veto territorial legislation.
The Commission suggests that a Civil
Service Board to ascertain by competitive
examination of a practical character the
qualifications of Filipinos seeking office
should be instituted, and there should be
promotions for merit and tenure during
efficiency and good behavior. The small
number of American officials needed in
clude in the first group Governor, Secretary,
Attorney-Generai, certain Judges, and
other officials of the Territorial Govern
ment, and in the second group heads of
postal, customs, and other departments.
The officers OF the first group should be ap-
pointed by the President, and those of the
second transferred from the home service,
In neither case should there be examina.
ton,