The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-06-11
TAFT BEGINS HIS WORK
Philippine Commission Finds
Many Difficult Problems.
AUTONOMY is ASKED
FILIPINoS AND INSURRECTIoN-
lists MAKE PROPOSAL.

Manila, June 10.-Judge Taft and his
colleagues of the Philippine civil COM
mission were beset during their first
week in Manila by multitude of call
ers of all nationalities, professions and
interests, who presented a bewiIdering
assortment of recommendations touch
ing military and civil policies. The
commissioners maintained the attitude
OF unprecedented listeners. They admit
that, while they anticipated an enor-
nous task, the cOmplexity and difficult
~ of the problems and conditions are
well nigh staggering.
They find General Macarthur admin
istering civil and military affairs in a
way that is universally popular, The
Filipino party, embracing prominent
insurrectionists who accepted the
American rule through force of cir
cumstances, is already making over
lures for the discussion of a scheme of
permanent government, practically re-
v1ving the old proposition of autonomy
under an American prOtectorate.
Taft is Conciliatory.
Judge Taft's Utterances indicate a
cOnciliatOry policy toward the natives.
Ee has conferred with the high army
8
that a larger army is necessary to sup
press the instruction, holding that
civil government viii be impossible I'M
til the rampant rebellion in the south
ern districts of Luzon, in the extreme
northern provinces of the island, and
in the Viscayas, except Negros, is
crushed.
Take Treachery For Granted.
American experience with the ma
tiveS discOGrages the hope of honest
government through them until gen
Grafton or more have eTadiCated the re-
suits Of SPANS tutelage.
A large proportion of the provincial
officials already installed have proven
treacherOus, while the native police
and officials here in Manila are living
on a scale of luxury suspiciously dis
DroDoruOnate to their salaries. Charges
against native judges of failing to ao-
count for thousands of dollars received
in fines are under investigation.
Await Presidential Election.
At present the governmental alterna-
( tlVeS are the army on the one hand and
anarchy on the other. General Otis
plan of municipal government is being
, inaugurated in the principal towns of
central LuzOn, and in parts of the Wis
Coy etoi DGJ the ElElpIuOS DSlSlSL III
thinking that the question whether the
United States viii retain the Philip
pines is still open, and some local lead
ers ask that municipal elections be
postponed until after the presidential
election.
Church Problem is Difficult.
The future state of the church is a
leading question in the minds of many
although most of those who have
talked with Judge Taft and his col
leagues draw the inference that the
commissioners are opposed to the re-
/ instatement of friars. Archbishop
/ Chappelle has taken a strong stand in
supporting the request of the friars to
be installed in their old position.
As a result of last weeks scouting
more than 200 Filipinos were killed and
100 captured, While 40 rifles with am
munition and stores We're seized.
The American loss was nine killed
/ including 2 captain and lieutenant:
two captains and twenty-One privates
wounded, and one captain taken pri-
sOner by the FilipinOs.