The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-12-04
THE ANNUAL REPORT
OF SECRETARY ROOT
Asks 10000 Men to Crush
Instruction in Luz0n.
TAGALS AGAINST TAGALS
Over 400 Different Posts Have TO be
Garrisoned There.
EDUCATION AND THE SUFFRAGE IN CUBA
The Secretary Of War Paints a Roseate Picture
of What Has Been Accomplished in
that Island Under the Ameri-
TAGALS AGAINST TAGALS
Over 400 Different Posts Have TO be
Garrisoned There.
EDUCATION AND THE SUFFRAGE IN CUBA
can Regime.
(By the Associated Press.)

(By the Associated Press)
Washington, Dec. 3.-The annual report
of Secretary Root discusses the Philip
pines instruction, the Chinese campaign,
the developments in Cuba and Porto Rico
and the army organization. OF the
campaigns in the Philippines during the
past year, Secretary Root says the pur-
pose was to pursue the small bands of
Filipinos scattered throughout the is
lands. The effort was successful and
resulted in the further, and practically
complete disintegration of the insurrec-
tionary bands; the rescue of nearly all
the American and Spanish prisoners; the
capture of many of the leading insur-
gents, and the destruction of large guam
titles of arms and supplies. Secretary
Root says that all formal and open
resistance to American authority in the
Philippines terminated leaving only an
exceedingly vexatious and annoying guer-
lila warfare, of character close to brig
andage, which will require time, patience,
and good Judgment to finally suppress. The
Secretary further says that it reQuire !,
over 400 different posts in the Philippines
because the Tagalogs, who are in rebel
lion, have deliberately adopted the policy
of numbering so far as they are able, all
of their countrymen, who are friendly
to the United States. He advocates as
the most efficient measures, the construc-
ton of roads, making possible rapid COM
munication, the establishment Of personal
relations between our officers and the
people so that we can tell who are trust
worthy sources of information the grad
ually growing appreciation of American
control and good intentions following good
civil government, and finally, the organi-
cation of native troops under American
officers. The chapter on the campaign
Of the United States troops in China COM
mends the splendid conduct of troops and
officers. 1t is gratifying to know that the
Chinese have returned in great numbers.
and there has been a general resumption
of business, under the protection of our
forces in that portion of Pekin which was
assigned to our care, and which is still
under the charge of the legation guard
The progress achieved in the erection
of a civil government in the Philippines
is treated at length. The substantive
body of Spanish law was excellent and
adequate if it could be applied. The first
step was the organization of courts be-
ginning with the Supreme Court, headed
by Chief Justice Arenello and five of the
ablest lawyers of the island The Span
ish criminal procedure was reformed and
for the first time there was real protec-
ton to the personal rights of persons
charged with crime in the Philippines
The next step was the establishment of
municipal governments, placing the entire
fpaI Of e.
in the municipal authorities Then the
marriage law was modified to legaliZe
civil marriages; the United States patent
and trademark laws were adopted; the
coasting trade was regulated burdensome
Spanish taxes were abolished; the schools
were extended and improved; a quaran-
tine law was put into force; the customs
and insular revenues were greatly in
creased and a rigid high license and early
closing law were imposed upon the sa-
looms in Manila
The second Philippine commission head
ed by Judge Taft is continuing the good
work and, following the ordinary course
of legislative procedure it holds open
sessions, takes testimony and receives
suggestions from citizens. 1t has appro-
priated money for the construction of
roads and bridges; for the survey of a
railroad and for the payment of a super
interdent of public instruction. The tariff
law has been revised by a special board
and Manila harbor is to be improved The
receipts from customs for the last half
of the fiscal year show an increase of
$1,7S5, 1856 but as this is Inadequate to
prosecute internal improvements and
establish schools Secretary Root recon-
mends that Congress authorize a bond
issue for the construction of the railroad
based on the road itself or that the Uni
ted states make loan to the insular
treasury to be paid from the island reve-
nues. The Secretary speaks of the Sc
rlous embarrassment caused by the pres
ent defective currency system in the Phil
ipplnes owing to the f1uctuating price of
Mexican dollars, and he submits two sug-
gestions, one that the United States coin
special dollar for use in the islands
OF the same weight and fineness of the
Mexican dollar which shall take it's
chance with the fluctuation of the market.
or that we coin an insular dollar which
we undertake to redeem in gold at soc.
He inclines, as does the Secretary of
the Treasury, toward the second course.
The report SAYS the Cubans have been
guided in the first steps of systematic
self government, and mainly through Gu
Dan o1flcers, administrative reforms have
been INTRODUCED to put the business of
government in fairly good condition, when