The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1901-12-20
Annual Report Of the Philippine
Commission Outlines I'm.
pOrtant Legislation.
ISLANDS POLITICAL FUTURE
Outside Of Provinces OF Batan-
gas, Cebu, BOhOl, Samar
and MindOrO, Islands
are Pacified.

WASHINGTON. Dec. ls.-proyislon
for permanent civil government and
for much important legislation regard
ing the Industrial development OF the
Philippines is embodied In the annual
report Of the Philippine Commission.
II is declared that the federal party
spread like wildfre throughout the
archipelago and there are few towns
lin any Of the provinces which have not
their federal committees. The mem
bers Of the party were most active and
effective in inducing insurgent leaders
to surrender. 1t is stated by the com
mission.
"Outsied OF the provinces named
(Batagas, Cebu. Bohol, samar and
MindoroJ there is peace in the remain
der Of the archipelago. All Insurgents
have surrendered and in most OIL the
provinces except among the lake Moros
it is entirely safe during the day for
travellers unattended to 90 from one
town to another"
Taxing up the question OF the politi-
cal future Of the Filiplnos 1t is de-
clared that the theory upon wnicn the
commission is proceeding Is that the
only possible methods OF insiructing
the Filipino people in methods of free
institutions and self-goyernment is to
make a government partly OF Ameri-
cans and partly OF F'iliplnos with ulti-
mate control in American hands for
some time to come.
Meantime it is proposed by practical
lessons TO eliminate from the minds
OF the more intelligent part Of the
community those ideas OF absolutism
in government which now control and
TO impress on them the division OF
power prevailing under the American
system. For the purpose OF carrying
out these views the commission out
lines a project which in brief con-
templates the continuance for two
years OF the existing powers Of the
commission. Then a representative
government is to be formed, COM
posed Of civil governor, legislative
council and a popular assembly. The
president of the United States would
Of course reserve absolute veto power.
The Filipinos should also have the
right TO be represented before con-
gress and the legislative government
at Washington by two delegates.
The commission proposes To settle
the vexed question OF land titles by
Legislation providing for the sale Of
public lands upon the homestead pr1n-
ciple and the payment through a bond
issue of the price of the lands now held
by the religious orders. A so per cent
reduction in the tariff on Philippine
imports into the United States would,
lit is said, increase trade by leaps and
bounds. other recommendations are
in substance that the present system
OF timber cutting under license be con-
tinued. that mining and incorporation
laws be passed; that the commission
be permitted to confer charters upon
railways to aid them by grants of land
or guaranteeing low interest upon the
Investment that laws be passed provid-
ing for coinage on the great standard
of the local silver system and also a
system of national banks and land
mortage banks,
A full account is given by the COM
mission OF the organization of the sys-
TEN Of education which has been going
on so vigorously under DR.. F. w. At
kinson. the general superintendent.
The English language is the basis of
all public instruction.
Manual training schools and agri-
cultural colleges are part Of the
work which is being carried out for
educating the people to better methods
of labor and production.