Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1901-01-31
THE TAFT REPORT
Good Progress Reported in P2tifi>I
ton CT Philippines.
SUBMITTED TO TIE S2y,,.
The Commission Urges the Pass.
OF the S2ooner Bn-Secset1r..
War Reports.

Washington, ID. c., s. I--
President Friday Transmitted =, -
Senate a report of the Se-re,a-v
War, enclosing the report OF the +.
Philippine commission. The P~c,ias.
says: Il earnestly recommend ~
islation under which the goye-nrs..
of the islands may have AUTHORITY :.
assist in their peaceful industrial 4.
velopment in the directions indics...
by the Secretary Of War"
The report is dated November =.
Secretary Root, in his letter OF ira,
initial calls attention to the condi,jo,.
requiring congressional action. 5.
says:
l. The commission gives a graf.
ing account Of the progress made
the pacifcation Of the country and -,
gradual subsistence OF guerrilla Va
fare. Information received SubSeavs.
to the date Of the report confirms -
favorable anticipations OF the comr.,I
sion. A personal letter received /,
me from Judge Taft, dated Deoent.,
IA. 1900, says: Since writing u-.
about 5000 insurgents in IlOilo han.
surrendered and 10000 persons VI,
were not we'll affected toward US i,
Panay have taken the oath of allsfI
ance. I have already received two r.
pers from native priests, IS in nun.
Der, and / am told that there will =
a great many other papers signed b.
a great many more promising fdear
without mental reserve. The nati7.
priests are those who have he'd or
longer in favor Of the insurgents an.
against the Americans, and deem It's
action as Of great Importance. Th.
army is hitting small but hard knobs
against the Insurgents everywhep
Since the election there has been
great falling off in the activity 0. Ii.
insurgents in aggressjveness and thar
sole activity has been displayed i
avoiding the fights which small d.
tachments Of our troops have brous-
about"
On the I'd Of January the commits,
as a body REINFORCED the views co.,
tanned in their report by the follow.
dispatach from Manila:
Root, Secretary of War, WASH;
ton:
IF you approve, ask transmits,
to proper Senators and Represtrg
tives of the following: The Tassg
of the Spooner bill at the present So:
sion is greatly needed to secure i
best result from improving cond:tio1
Until its passage no purely cent
civil government can be estabiShG
no publicfranchises of any kind, an
no substantial investment Of priyat
capital in internal Involvement wi
be possible. All are needed as t.
most important step in compleve pad
fication. A strong peace party Ia
been organized, with the defined pr
pose Of securing a civil govesrmsr
under the United States and reasc,
ably expects civil government and =
lief from inevitable but annoying =
straints of military rule lon5 beto7
the subject can be taken UP by 3!
new Congress. The time is near
hand, in our opinion, when diSto->
ances existing can better be suppre-
ed by native police of a civil gOTeH
ment, with an army as an auXiIln
force, than by the continuance Of COZ
plate military control. The power
make a change should be put in -'
hands of the President to act prOmg|
ly when the time arrives to give u
Filipino people an object lesson in ID
advantages of peace. The qua6i-ci'.
government under war power is no;
restricted and unsatisfying. Hund'e-
of American miners are on the grorI
awaiting a law to perfect claims Mo-
are coming There is a good eienf~
in pacification. Urgently recOmne-
the amendment Of the Spooner bill 7
that its operation be not postponed u;
til complete suppression of all l2sE
rection. but only untu in the Pre-.
dents judgment civil government M
be safely established.