Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1900-02-08
70 Be GIVEN HONE RULE.
The Form Of Government Suggested
for the Philippine Islands by
the Commission.
REPORT SUBMITTED TO THE PRESIDENT

REPORT SUBMITTED TO THE PRESIDENT.
Territorial Form of Government
Outlined-PrOvinces to BE Turned
Into Counties-As Few Americans
as Possible to Be Used.
Washington. Feb. 3-The president Fri
day transmitted TO congress the first VOL
ume of the report of the Philippine COM
mission. 1t is a volume OF 264 pages, in
Guiding the appendix, and is signed by Prof.
Schurman, Admiral Dewey. Col DENLY
and Prof. Worcester. The principal sub
ject dealt with is the plan Of government
proposed by the commission. which in
cludes discussion of the Spanish govern
ment existing prior to the war. the various
| reforms desired by the Fiipinos and the
constitutions proposed by them, together
with the conclusions and plans suggested
by the commission The report also covers
many other matters connected with the
social administration of the island racial
characteristics, education, secular and re-
igious orders. the Chinese in the islands,
public health. currency. etc, as we'll as the
IN ~ ft,1 80. si's
inns S.snSnnin+ ira 5000 ,.ein,,a.n r ~
| report, which will not be ready for several
weeks, will contain a detailed description
islands 1,be cbisf i,taras- -, 80 $500,
na,urall, ca.,ars in ~ $1,000 co,,a,rnt(r
proposed by the commission.
Favor Home Rule
The commission announces itself unQual-
ifledly in favor of a government of the Phil
pplnes analogous to that of a territory
OF the United States, with governor APP
pointed by the president. They say it is
desirable that the inha bitants of the archi-
pe!ago should enjoy large measure Of
nome rule IN local aHalrS. their towns to
enjoy substantially the rights and privi-
leges OF towns in territory.
me provinces should be vested with sub
territory. this system mieht he anniied 70
Juzon ava tho yisca,or ;r,o nds -. oran
and a besinnins might he made ON M.
coas. of Nindanao The S,1ll archinelago
calling for spec;al ARRANGEMENTS with the
sultan the commission saws need NOT he
considered in this connection.
D.,. n.
The Filfpinos could manage their own
town and county af1alrs through their own
ofhcerS. whom they could eject with nc
help from American ofhclals except such
as would be involved IN coatrol from the
central soNsrh.''ehe az Mat nc SUI
system would necessi.ate a small body of
American ofncials Of great ability ard in
tegrity and of patience and tact in dealing
with other races, and on this accoun. the
commission recommends that they should
he maid high salaries The commission saws
they could be called advisers or commits
sioners. and that one for every 900 ma
tiyes should suffice lt would be the duty
Of such commissioners 10 renort unon their
work to the central government at Manila
Their main function would he ia advise
town and comfy councils in the discharge
of their dn,ies and ia wa,ch tn rol1ec,ion
of revenue and It's expendjt,res Our gov
eminent of the Phiiippines. the commission
insists, must be ADAPTED 20 the Irilip;nos.
R..i. for the Coxcrrment
A territorial government, it concludes Is
| a desidera;um The comr1ission takes as a
h.S;S for m. oo,er,n,.,t ,,ronos.l NJ ~
ri i,, oreantzation Of 1,ouisiana The az,
is set forth in fun. /. nTovides for gov.
ernor and secretary of tho treasury and
vests the legislative mover in a conncil an
nonted Annually hy tho n-asids.+ Conr,s
arc also provided for ...ois scb.,,a az
goyernn,spr !" savs ma car,r,,ssio,, ..1,as
sassos hssi5o. 80 in.ri,,t;. ,l,''-i. w., ~;
tor;caI interest aitac,,;no 70 or;,,i.,s,io,,
With the e,1thor Of M s,sr,,ia,, 81 ~,
sa,a,dan,'. S''e N 20 q ION " Az
n,
"osid ne Easy.
The commission. while not undertaking
the difficulty of governing the Philippines.
is disposed 10 believe the task easier than
is generally supposed. Tie Fitipinos they
say. of unusually promising material
possessing admirable personal and do
nestle virtues and being naturally peace
fu, dociic ard deferential TO constituted
authority. The educated among them
though constituting a minority ;hey saw
are far more numerous than j. ge,:eraliv
supposed and the commission bea-s strong
testimony to their high range of in,e!l-
gence and social refinements
These picked Fiiipiaos will he Of infinite
value to the United States in the work n,
establishing and maintaining cjvE GOV
eminent throughout the archipeiaro
Cnn.,..;., n,,,
IN connection with the subject of govern
ment the COMMISSION reaches the following
conclusiohs:
l. Inc onlted States cannot withdraw
from the Philippines. We are there and
uu'y Dlds us REMAIN There is no escape
from our responsibility to the Fi.ipinos
ana TO mankind for the government of the
arcnlpelaSo and the amelioration of the
cona!tloh OF its Inhabitants.
Inc flIpinos are wholly UMPIRE pa red
LOT inexperienced, ana indept lCieNce
non HAY ,1f. .;,,