The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1900-02-10
SENT TO CONGRESS.
President Transmits Report of Phil
ippine Commission.

The Home Rule Principle. with az
Few Americans in Office ms Pos
sible. Strongly Favored by
Commission.
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 1854 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 Filipnos and the
constitutions proposed by them. together
with the conclusions and plans suggested
oy the commission. The report also covers
many other matters connected with the
social administration of the island; racial
characteristics. education secular and re-
nglous orders, the Chinese in the islands.
pubic health, currency, etc, we'll as the
condition and needs of the United States
IN the Philippines from a naval and mari
time standpoint The second volume of the
report. which will not be ready for several
weeks, will contain a detailed description
OF the climate and natural resources of the
islands The chief interest in the report
naturally centers in the plan of government
proposed by the commission.
Favor Home Rule.
The commission announces itself unoual-
!nedly IN favor of government of the Phil
1ppines analogous to that of q territory
or the United States, with a governor APP
pointed by the president. They say 1t is
desirable that the inhabitants of the archi-
pelaeo should enjoy large measure OF
nome rule In local affairs. their towns to
enjoy substantially the rights and privi-
leges OF towns in territory.
The provinces should be vested with SUBJ
etantially the functions Of county in q
territory: this system might be applied to
Luzon and the Viscayan islands at once.
and a beginning might be made on the
coast OF Mlndanao. The Sulu archipelago.
calling for special arrangements with the
sultan. the commission says. need not be
considered In this connection.
Filipino Officers.
Tho Filipinos could manage their own
town and county affairs through their own
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 educs tional
or property qualifications, or both. This
system would necessitate q small body of
American officials of great ability and in
tegrity and Of patience and tact in dealing
With other races. and on this account the
commission recommends that they should
be paid high salaries. The commission says
they could be called advisers or commits
sioners. and that one for every 100000 ma
tives should suffice. 1t would be the duty
Of such commissioners to report upon their
work to the central government at Manila.
Ihe1r main function would be to advise
town and county councils in the discharge
of their duties and to watch the collection
or revenue and It's expenditures. Our gov
eminent of the Philippines. the commission
insists. must be adapted to the Filipinos
Basis for the Government.
A territorial government, 1t concludes, is
a desideratum The commission takes as q
basis for the government proposed the ter
ritorial organization of Louisiana. The act
Is set forth in full. 1t provides for a gov
ernor and secretary Of the treasury. and
vests the legislative power in a council APP
pointed annually by the president. Courts
are also provided for. This scheme Of
government" says the commission, pos
sesses, besides its intrinsic merits. the his
torical interest attaching to origination
with the author Of the declaration Of in
dependence"
Thinks Task Would BE Easy.
The commission, while not undertaking
the difficulty of governing the Philippines.
Is disposed to believe the task easier than
is generally supposed. The Filplnos, they
say. are Of unusually promising material,
possessing admirable personal and do
nestle virtues and being naturally peace
full. docie and deferential to constituted
authority Tho educated among them,
though constituting a minority, they say.
are far more numerous than is generally
supposed, and the commission bears strong
testimony 10 their high range Of intelli-
gence and social refinements.
These picked Filpinos will be of infinite
cd of In, tha ~
establishing and maintaining civil gov
eminent throughout the archipelago.
Conclusions Reached.
ment the commission reaches the following
conclusions:
u. The United States cannot withdraw
from the Philippines. We are there and
duty bids US remain. There is no escape
from our responsibility to the Filipinos
and to mankind for the government Of the
archipelago and the amelioration Of the
condition of it's inhabitants.
20. The Filipinos are wholly unprepared
for independence. and If independence
were given to them they could not MAIN
tain it."
Under the third head is included copy
OF Admiral Dewey's letter to Senator
Lodge. which was read in the senate the
other day. denying Agunaldos claim that
he was promised independence.
~. There being no Philippine nation, but
only collection Of different peoples, there
is no general public opinion In the archi-
pelago; but the men Of property and edu-
cation. who alone interest themselves in
public affairs, In general recognize as in
dispensable American authority, guidance
and protection.
Is. Congress should, at the earliest prac-
ticable time. provide for the Philippines
the form Of government herein recon-
mended or another equally liberal and
benetlcent.
&C. Pending any action on the part OF
congress, the commission recommends that
the president put in operation this scheme
of civil government In such parts Of the
archipelago as are at peace.
a. So far as the finances Of the Philip
pines permit public education should be
promptly established. and when established
made free to all.
49, The greatest care should be taken in
the selection of officials for administration
They should be men of the highest char
acter and fitness and partisan politics
should be entirely separted from the gov
eminent of the Philippines"
Cuban Revenue Receipts.
Washington, Feb. 6.-The war de.
partment gave out an itemized state.
ment of receipts in the department OF
internal revenue for the island of Cuba
during the five months ended Novem
Der 80, 1899. The chief items are as fol