Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1900-09-06
COMMISSIONERS WOES.
Troubles of Peacemakers in Pro-
ducing Order in Philippines.
INsURG ENT LEADERS CRUELTY.

General Caillea, An the Province of
LaGuI,a, Put to Death the OmcInIs
of the Town of Bny, Who Had
Been Installed by the Americans.
Manila, Sept. 3.-The Filipinos seem
incapable of realizing the scope and
purpo Sc of the legislative functions OF
the commission Of peace. There is no
posi- bility of separating the legislative
from the executive branches OF the
government, and therefore the COM
MISSIONS announcement Of its assump-
ton of power has met with childish
con lments at the hands Of the Span
iar'is and foreigners, who Jealously
snper at the new arrangement. The
&C nmission enters upon the govern
IN entail field under the following con-
ditions:
A majority of the islanders desire
Ieace and the resumption of business
under the Americans, but they are so
,,owed by a long series OF murderous
atrocities and destruction Of property
by their armed countrymen that they
dare not actively show their feelings,
especially because experience has
taught them what such an expression
of sentiment will bring upon them
from the mercilessly revsngeful rebels
A genuine reign Of terror Is exercised
by insurgents and ladrones over peace
full country folk In order to collect the
revenue and recruits their operations
require, and widespread vengeance is
wreaked in the vicinity OF garrisoned
towns. For example, the insurgent
General Cailles. In the province Of
Laguna, put to death the presidente
| and officsholders Of the town Of Bay,
on Laguna de Bay. officials who had
been installed by the Americans, and
gave orders that a similar fate should
be meted out to other adherents Of the
American cause. He also ordered that
all Filipino soldiers who sold their
rifles to the Americans should be kill
ed.
A change of policy involving the
withdrawal Of the United States troops,
without substituting for them an ade-
Quate defensive force, ts certain to re-
suit in fearful retaliation at the ex-
pense Of the friendlies. The approach
ing patriation of the volunteers tends
to influence the situation unfavorably.
In northern Luzon the status quo is
fairly we'll maintained and the people
In that quarter are quiet and engaged
in planting, except In the provinces OF
Nueva Eci1a and Bulaoan, where there
has been a recent outburst of rebel
and ladrone activity. But In southern
Luzon conditions are far from salts
factory. Life there is not safe out
side the garrisoned towns. Travellers
are subject to ambush by guerrillas.
Rarely does Q day pass without an en-
counter between the United States
troops and the insurgents or ladrones.
resulting in casualties.
There are $4,000 troops In that dis
trict, Gen. Bates commanding. and in
three regiments over third of the
men are sick. The activity OF the
enemy increased last month. There Is
evidence that the insurgents have come
into possession Of new rides and that
they wish TO annihilaAe small Ameri-
can garrisons.
Twelve Americans. including two
captains and two lisutenants. have
been killed during the past two weeks.
| The Official reports Of the encounters
in which these Casualties occurred are
meager.
The commission will frst organize
municipalities In the provinces. no
tably In Pampanga province. Substan-
TALLY 1t will turn its attention TO need
ed reforms In the civil and criminal
! codes, passing In due time to other
features OF its instructions. with the
idea of establishing q central civil gov
ernment during the next Is months.