The Savannah morning news., 1900-09-03
FIGHTING GOES ON
PARTS or THE PHILIPPINES ARE
FAR FROM Tranquil.
INSURGENT REIGN OF TERROR.
TRIBUTE LEVIED ON PEOPLE IN
SOUTHERN LUzON.

Filipinos Incapable of Realizing the
scope OF the Commirsioner'. Pow
ers-Foreigners sncer NJ the Com-
missions Recent Announcement,
over "a THIRD OF the Men ia Gen.
Bates Command Are sicIs-IiardIy
Day Without Casualties.
Copyright. is1. tho Associated Press.
Manila, Sept 2.-rhe Fniplnos seem in
capable OF realizing the scope ana pur-
pose OF tho legislative functions OF the
Commission OF Peace
There - no possibility OF separating
che legislative from the executive
branches q the government. and. there
fore. tho commissions announcement Of
It's assumption OF power yesterday has
met with childish comments NJ tho hands
Of the spaniards and foreigners. who jeal-
ously sneer at the new arrangement. as
they are ap, 60 do "a every beneficial IN
novatlon on the part OF the United States
authorities
The commission enters upon the gov
ernment neld under the following condl-
tlons: fs
A majority OF the islanders desire peace
and the resumption OF business under the
Americans: but they are 80 cowed by a
hong series OF murderous atrocities and
destruction OF property by their armed
countrymen. that they dare not actively
show their feelings. especially because ex-
pcrienee has taught them whas such an
expression Of sentiment will bring upon
them from the mercilessly revengeful
rebels.
Reign of Terror.
A genuine reign OF terror n exercised
by insurgents and i.aGrones over peaceful
country folk ia order to collect the reve-
nue. and recruits their operations requires
and widespread vengeance r. wreaked IN
the vicinity of Earrisoned towns. For
example. the insurEens Gen. Cables IN
the rronvince % Tagunn put 20 death
the president and ofiieehoders Of the town
of baya. on Laguna de Bay. officials
who had been Installed by the Ameri-
cans and gave orders that q similar fate
should b. fneted out to other adherents
81 che American cause. He also ordered
that al Filipino soldiers who sold their
rifles 20 the Americans should be killed
Any faisnre 81 policy involving the WITH
tEswg of the United States troops. witn-
<h.situtng for them an adequate
%t4ge toree. ie certain 10 result Ia
y retaliation at the expense % the
Aief The approaching patriation ~
a., volunteers tends 70 influence the sit
a~on unfavoFably.
No Day without Casualties.
IN Northern Luzon the status quo Is
fairly well maintained. aud the people
IN that quarter are quiet and engaged Ia
painting. except In the provinces OF Nueya
Eciia and uuiRcan. where there has been
resent outburst 81 rebel aud Lsdrone
activity.
But In Southern I.nxon conditions arc
far from &asiHfnetory. fAfe there Is not
safe outside the garrlsoned towns. Trav-
elers are subject 10 ambush by guerilas
Rarely does day pass without an en-
counter between the United States troops
ana the insurgents or Iadrones. resulting
IN casualties. There are iS.000 troops In
TINT district. Gen. Bates commanding.
and In three regiments over third OF the
men are sick. The activity OF the enemy
increased iast month. There Is evidences
that the insurgents have come into pos
session OF new rifles and that they wian
TO annihllatc some small American garri-
son.
Conditions IN the vlsayans continue
virtually unchanged. The lack OF troops
In Samar prevents aggression. Negros.
RomDlon. Masbate. slbuyan Tablas and
Bohol are tranquil. all desiring civil gov
ernmenta. Mindianno b also Tranquil
excepting the districts OF TeaRayan and
surisam. where occasional encounters
with the Fiipinos occur The enemy'a
ighting force there IL limited. but "a has
a number OF rifles.
The surrenders. although they have no.
tlceably decreased since May. continue
work Of the Americans.
The experience OF Northern Luzon shows
that the American occupation OF any 10
caiity tends TO it's pacineation and well
being An unsettled American policy re-
tards the investment OF capital. Never
theless the imports for the last quarter
and a half were greater than during any
period OF the spanish regime.
No doubt the needs of the army OF oc-
cupation are responsible for very con-
siderable fraction Of the present COM
merce. The Internal revenue collections
are third -greater than those made BY
Spain. This II due TO an honest system
OF accounts. TO a lack OF favoritiem aud
20 impartial enforcement OF the law. The
military authorities VIII turn over $500
co. Mexican, to the commission: and this
Will probably be expended IN public
improvements. notably IN harbor improve
ments, the need which Is to-day greatly
hampering the shipping industry
The commission win fret organize mu-
inequalities IN the provinces. notably In
Pampanga province Subsequently n VIII
turn iis attention TO needed reforms In
the civil and criminal codes. passing IN
due time 20 other features of ifs instruc-
tons. with the idea of establishing a CEN
iral civil government during the next
eighteen months.
Twelve Americans. including two cap
saiie and two lieutenants. have been kill
ed during the past two weeks. The OIL
rlai peporfa ~ fha enruuufera ln euhtre.