New-York tribune., 1901-01-27

cal controversies and the regulation OF all civil
innsttutions and relations to the Government of
into harmony Wth the o5 so as to br9g IN It
tba ai'eG S states Such reformation will be made by
tiie commission In due time. But a system OF
Jurisprudence il in its essentials undoubtedly meets
tne needs Of the people of the Philippine Islands
duties; 1t is thought that only such changes
renSere9e De mace IN the BODY OF the law ITSELF as are
1tons In passing from the sovereignty OF Spain 10
. Under military orders issued by Major-GeneraI
by III the civil courts as composed ana CONSTITUTES
istered prior to August l3 1898, were permitted to
by Spanish laws within the islands subject such
supervision of the military government Of the
cordance with those orders supreme court for
she Islands MAS orgahized and courts OF rst IN
military orders, acts passed by the Commission.
Isabella cavite' fIoiio' Pampanga. Nneva i5eija.
Ilocos Norte, Bataan, Cebu, Bohol La Union and
Courts of justice of the peace have likewise been
largely organized in the provinces. The judges
of all these courts except the Supreme Court have
been, and are, Filipinos. In the Supreme Court
courts all performing their regular functions
at the present time. but the ARRANGEMENT under
stood to be provisional and temporary. The salaries
We're very small the highest being that paid the
chief justice of the Supreme Court which was. for
now to s. $50 American money The judges of the
courts OF first instance received no allowance and
American money to s. 80 Mexican CsiS75 Amer
lean money! each WITH these aId ai
ceptance of bribes should have been freely made
that the chaTres were well founded The judges
appointed under the American Administration re-
are entirely inadequate to secure competent men.
Charges of corruption and incompetence against the
present Filipino Judges common.
The appointment of Spaniards 70 judicial posi-
lions appears impractica bic one such
nate. The animosities between the Spaniards and
Fiipinos such that it found to be practical
impossible
without exciting very high degree OF 1i-feeling:
Such appointments are not considered advisable at
least for the present. The number of Fipinos who
are fitted by nature. education and moral stability
10 MI such positions Is very small very rev ca can
be found among them In whose integrity and ab-
Nldespread that Tor time ana untlI the S
OF bribery and Incompetence have in part been for
Americans II is likewise almost indispensable TO
have Americans. for time, for the proper admin
that the courts Of justices of the peace may ALL or
nearly an be presided over by Ftlipnos the rights
bensive appeal to the courts OF nIs1 instance: @
procedure will receive its most important applica-
uons, American judges, in most cases. seem in,
dspensable. In the court OF last resort IT will
doubtless be important 20 have some judges who
are familiar with local institutions and customs.
and for that doubtless Fflpnos of high char
acter and excellent attachments can be selected to
consolidation cf provinces into judicial districts,
with authority Oh the part of the Judge assigned
stated periods in each province of the district the
number OF judges may be materially reduced, so
much enlargement Of the salary account
The Spanish language is the only common to
all educated Fipinos, the great of the people
speaking only the native dialect peculiar TO their
respective localities. A knowledge of the Spanish
language is exceedingly important for the success
fu performance of judicial duties in these islands
and the Commission is making strenuous efforts
TO secure men for such positions who. in addition
TO the other requisite attainments, have likewise a
sufficient knowledge OF the Spanish language 1t is
hoped that the judiciary may be reorganized early
in the year 1901. substantially upon the same lines
herein indicated. 1t is not thought that Con-
gressional action, aside from the Spooner bill or
other analogous legislation. is necessary to enable
the Commission TO carry its purposes in regard
10 codes OF procedure or reorganization of the
courts in general.
The establishment of one or more Federal courts
the islands is within the competence Of the
Commission. For that reason no discussion is made
at this time in relation 10 that subject