The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-12-04
HIS ANNUAL REPORT
srraETARY ROOT DISCUSSES
MANY IMPORTANT QUESTIONS.
ONLY A GUERRILLA WARFARE
or HRIGANDAGE. NOW CARRIED
on IN THE PHILIPPINES.

cults in Cuba-Spanish ImmigrA-
tion sets In.
washington. Dec. 3-The annual report
of Secretary Root discusses the Philippine
ie.arfec,ion. the Chinese campaign the
..ye.orments In Cuba and Porto Rico,
aud army reorganization. OF the cam
,,ir1s ian the Philippines during the past
,s,r secretary Root says the purpose was
81, pursue the small band OF Filipinos
altered throughout the islands. The e.
,-, was successful ana resulted IN che
..rther aud practically complete disinte-
.rttion of the insurrcctionary bands, the
rue Of nearly all the American AMI
sutnisn prisoners: capture OF many Of
tb. leading insurgents. and the destruc-
f.a OF large quantities OF arms ana sup
piles
secretary Root says that with the eN-
esp,ion of the military plans there oil
,.-msl and open resistance 20 American
authority in the Philippines terminated.
lowing only an exceedingly vexatious and
.rrovint, guerrilla warfare. OF charac-
cor closely approaching brigandage. which
,yU require time patience and good judg-
mont 10 finally supnress. The Secretary
further SAYS that It requires over 100 diff
f.-.nt posts IN the Philippines because
the Tagalos. who are In rebellion, have
deliberately adopted the policy OF muir
s.rre so far a. they are able. all OF
their countrymen who are friendly TO the
United states.
lac advo. ates as the moss efficient meas
,r.ss the const ruction OF roads, making
possible rapid communication, the estao-
ushment Of personal relations between
our officers and the people 50 that We
can tou who are trustworthy sources o.
Information: the gradually growing appre-
cation OF American control and good In
tsntions following good civil government
ana finally che organization OF native
troops under American officers.
Tn, chapter on the campaign OF the
United States troops IN China commends
th. splendid conduct OF troops and OH
c.rs Iu the end 10 Is gratifying To know
tnut the Chinese have returned IN great
numbers and there has been general
resumption OF business, under the protec-
ton ~ our forces In thar portion Of Jekin
which was assigned 20 our cerc. and which
De- sim under the charge Of the legation
guard.
The progress achieved in the erection
of ID civil government Ia the Philippines
ls treated ~ length.
Tho substantive body Of Spanish law
wa- excellent and adequate g II could be
applied. The first step was the organiza-
ton % courts. beginning with the Su-
ureme Court. headed By chief Justice
Arellauo and five Of the ablest lawyers
fatunH he IaFt utfn
ecdure was reformed and for the first
time there was real protection TO the per-
touhl rights of persons charged with
crime in the Philippines The next step
was the establishment of municipal gov
ornmcuts placing the entire control Of
the affairs Of government In the munich
pal authorities Then the marriage law
was modified and legaizcd civil mar
rioges; the United States patent and
Trademark laws were adopted; the coast
irg trade was regulated. buriensome
Spanish taxes were abolished; the schools
We're extended and improved: q quaran-
tine law was put in force; the customs
ana iusular revenues were greatly in
creased and rigid high license and early
closing law were imposed upon the sa-
looms In Manila.
The second Philippine Commission.
headed by Judge TAFT is continuing the
good work and following the ordinary
course Of legislative procedure. 50 holds
open sessions. takes testimony and re-
ceives suggestions from citizens u has
appropriated money for the construction
Of roads and bridges. for che survey Of
railroad and for the payment % a SUI
perintendeut OF public instruction. The
tariff law has been revised by a special
board and Manila harbor Is T. be i'm
proved The receipts from customs for
The last half Of the fiscal year show an
a..
quate 10 prosecute internal Improvement
and establish schools Secretary Root re-
1mmends that Congress authorize bond
issue for the construction OF the railroad
based on the road itself or that the Unit
I'd States make loan 10 the iusular trcus-
ury 20 be repaid from the island revenues
Tine Secretary speaks Of the serious en-
harrassmeut caused by the defective cur
rency system In the Philippines owing 10
tho fiuctuating price OF Mexican dollars.
and be submits two suggestions. one thar
the United States coin "A special dollar Tor
Use IA the islands OF the same weight
ana hncncss OF the Mexican dollar which
snail take its chance with the tiuctuation
OF tho market. or that We coin an insular
dollar which we undertake 90 redeem In
tod az ~ cents. lie inclincs. as does the
secretary OF the Treasury. toward the sec
uud course.
The report says the Cubana have been
guided In the first steps Of systematic
f.i-government and mainly through Gu
.ban officers administrative reforms have
been introduced to put the business 81
Governments In fairly good condition
when q complete Cuban administration
finally assumes control Of the government
OF the island. As 66 per cent Of the peo-
ule could not read ana write. u was not
deemed advisable that absolutely un-
restricted suffrage should be established
Pointing to the development OF me
primary branches OF education the secre-
iary shows that In che first six months
~ the calendar year the enrolment Of
fcholars ran up from 1896 70 1879. H'
says that the pressure for education Is
earnest and universal. and that the ap'
preparations for this year for that pur-
pose amount 20 about A10o.ooo: but even
then 81 VIII bc impossible. with the re-
sources II the island for a long time yet
% come. 20 fully meet the demand for
81" learning so long Withheld. The report
t0Ils ~ how the charities Of the island
hlre been brought into systematic con-
diion. and tho hospitals improved. with
one exception there was not place IN
cuba ~ the time Of American occupation
90 which "a patient could 90 with any
reasonable prospect OF proper facilities
ard care. The condition OF the insane was
particularly distressing They were con-
hnea IN fals filthy and ragged and treat