New-York tribune., 1900-02-07

sions for purely partisan considerations, but on
account of the salutary effect it will probably
have influential natives of the Philippines
who fail to appreciate the fact that one of the
most able and trusted American judicial officers
has consented TO sacrifice his assured position
here to direct them in the maintenance of pros
porous and peaceful good government
APPOINTED ON JUDGE DAYS ADVICE
Judge Taft's appointment and his inducement
70 surrender his life position the bench are
attributed TO Judge Day formerly Secretary Of
State and President of the Paris Peace Com
mission as well as the most trusted friend and
adviser OF the President. Judge Day brought
Judge Taft to Washington to-day. ard Joined
with the President in urging him TO make the
personal sacrifices required and to take up the
great responsibility It became known to sew
eral officials few days ago that the Presidents
first impulse was to trust the establishment of
the Philippine Territorial Government to Judge
Day. whose health however, was too precarious
10 permit him to undertake the voyage and the
long confinement in the tropics. II was Judge
Day who suggested Judge Taft. and secured his
acceptance.
Judge Taft is only forty-two years Of age. and
is physically fitted for the extremely arduous
labors that will fall TO a conscientious man un-
dertaking the great task before him He re-
signed from the bench to-day TO take effect
March 10 when it is expected that the new Com
mission of which he is the head viii start for
Manila. The President promptly sent to the
Senate the nomination of Judge Henry S Sew
erens, United States District Judge of Michi-
gan, in order that the vacancy could be filed
immediately and that Judge Taft might be free
to arrange his personal affairs without delay
and take up the preliminary work of organizing
the Commission late this month. He VIII be as
e+aJ b,-T ToE NJ Ar+t7,
earlier Commission, who has been virtually de-
cided upon as the first secretary of the new
Commission and the Territory
DUTIES OF THE NEW COMMISSION.
The Taft Commission has no connection with
that composed Of President schurman. Admiral
Dewey General Otis. Colonel DENLY and Pro-
fessor Worcester. They have finished their
field work and are now completing the final
volumes of their report It Is not likely that
any of them. or certainly not more than one
of them. viii be connected with the new Com
mission, which is constituted solely for the in
auguration of civil administration to replace
military rule as soon as possible in the pacified
portions of the Philippines Judge Taft and his
colleagues will go to Manila and will relieve
General Otis of all but strictly military mat
ters. They will take over the customs and
other services, establish schools and courts and
put rhe territorial machinery at work assum-
ing the chiet places themselves according 70
their special fitness The Commission will take
with it a large number Of employees as the
government now organized will be the founda-
ton Of all others TO come so long as the Philip
pines remain territory of the United States
Exactly what line VIII be drawn between the
new Commissions powers and the power OF
General Otis. or the Military Governors. has not
been definitely settled but it is the Presidents
hope TO make the civil government supreme and
TO be able to withdraw a large part OF
the military and naval power now required
Judge Taft's appointment Commissioner
does not require the consent of the Senate for
until Congress provides for the government of
the Philippines they viii continue under the
supreme control Of the President whose agents
will be compensated out Of the island revenues
II is understood that Judge Taft will receive
S25,O 900 year, and that his colleagues on the
Commission will be treated with similar lib
eralty.
Judge Taft called at the War Department to-
day in company with Judge Day and had a
long talk with Secretary Root as to the plans
for the Commission. There viii be five members
OF the Commission. all Of them civilians
William Howard Taft was born in Cincinnati
on September Is, 1857, and was graduated from,
Yale in 1873 He was at one time SoIicttor-cen-
eral of the United States. He was couuissior,a ~,
and has ever since held that place. He is SON
OF the late Alphonso Taft, Attorney General OF
the United States