The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-06-04
COMMISSION IS AT MANILA.
Judge Taft Says 1t Has Been Given
Extensive Powers.

Extensive Powers.
Manila, June 3-The United States trans
port Hancock, from San Francisco, April
II, arriyer here this morning with the
members of the Philippine Commission.
The members of Gen. MacArthurs staff
welcomed the commissioners on board the
Hancock.
At noon the commissioners landed and
drove 10 the Palace. escorted by Gen. Mac
Arthur's staff, a band and two companies
of the Twenty-sixth Infantry, with artil-
lery.
At the palace the commissioners were
welcomed by Gen. Macarthur in a short
and forceful address. After Judge viii
liam Fl. Taft, president of the commission,
had replied, the commissioners returned to
the Hancock, where they will remain until
they have se!ectad suitable dwellings on
land.
During the morning the members of the
Filipino Supreme Court the local editors
and many of the leading merchants re-
paired to the transport, where they con-
versed with the commissioners. Rear Ad-
mral Remey, in command Of The United
States navel forces on the Asiatic sta
ton, called officially during the afte noon.
Tomorrow Gen. Macarthur will return
the call of the commissioners. The family
of Judge Taft will remain for viii
in Japan. The families Of the other com
miSsioners arrived with them.
Judge Taft, speaking to-day, In repty to
representative of the Associated Press
regarding the powers and future work
OF the commission, said:
Have Extensive Powers.
I'VE have full instructions and exten-
sive powers. The latter we shall not ex-
ercise until we have had ample time to
acquire sufficient knowledge of the situa
ton to enable us to proceed 10 enact leg
slative changes and reforms preliminary
to the establishment Of a stable civil gov
ernment Until we assume authority,
General Macarthur will continue to per-
form the duties and exercise the powers
formerly performed and exercised by Gen.
eral OTIS and, even after we take active
and full part in the government General
Macarthur will continue as the executive
head until upon our recommendation to
President Mckinley, it shall seem TO the
President that the time has arrived for
the appointment of an 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 sup
preston of the lawless violence too for
midable to be overcome by the regularly
orga anized local police.
I'VE are aware that there are several
issues of deep interest to the Filipinos
upon which 1t Is our duty to take ac-
ton. Some of these involve judicial in
vestigation and decisions upon legal
rights others call for the careful exercise
of political power In order to secut e
equitable adjustments. Upon the latter
class of issues we cannot now speak.
Cannot Deal With Armed Men.
Representing the sovereignty of the
United States in the Philippines, which
| is the purpose of our government to MAIN
| tain we are here 10 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 muen. Gen.
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 policy 10 be
pursued and the reforms to be Initiated.
We purpose to inaugurate as comprehen-
sive a school system throughout the is
lands as circumstances will allow. l am
surprised that Manila has not received
news regarding the Spooner bill, a meas
ure calculated to help us greatly in our
work here"
Fiiipinos Are Anxious.
While in Hong- Kong the commission RS
questioned Armacho and members of The
wealthy Cortez family regarding Filipino
affairs not covered by the Filipino Junta
there. -
The Filipinos in Manila are anxiously
and even nervously awaiting formal
statement by the commission regarding its
future policy. Everything the 'commis-
sioners say or do is carefully considered.
Cablegrams from Hong-Kong have been
published here to the effect that the COM
mission will not assume control until Sep
tember. This report, coupled with the
statement that Washington approves Gen.
MacArthur's plan of campaign, has created
considerable excitement in Filipino circles,
where 1t has been expected that Immediate
changes of policy and action would fol-
low the arrival of the commission
II should be understood that the fore
going declaration Of Judge Taft is in no
sense intended as proclamation.
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