The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-06-05
Will NAAE G|]V. Taft
HEAD OF CIVIL GOVERNMENT TO
BE ESTABLISHED IN THE
PHILIPPINES
CHANGE TO BE MADE JULY /
ISLANDS WILL BE RULED UNDER
THE PROVISIONS OF THE
SPOONER ACT
WILL BE NO EXTRA SESSION

WASHINGTON, June 4-About the
first of next month full civil government
will be set up in the Philippine islands,
exactly as provided by the Philippine
commission. AS soon after that date as
an administrative machinery can be
made ready for 1t, the new Philippine
tariff will be proclaimed also following
out the original plan formed before the
announcement of the decisions of the
supreme court last week
AS to the legal status of the islands,
the officials have nothing to say, but
while reserving full liberty to meet any
legal attacks as may be thought best, the
general statement is made that the ex-
eTcise Of authority in the Philippines Is
TO be by virtue of the supreme power
repo3ed in the president; it may be either
as commander-in-chief Of the United
States military establishment or by rea-
son of the special designation in the
Spooncr law, perhaps either, it is said,
would be sufficient.
CIVIL ONLY IN NAME.
The civil government to be set up is to
be established under the military govern
men, and will be a civil government ex-
ercised through the military powers of
the president. The collector at San Fran
cisco win continue collecting Dinglev
duties on imports from the Philippines,
the practice is legal, or at any rate they
are not bound to declare otherwise in
the absence of a controlling decision by
the highest judicial authority. The fall
ure of the court to announce a decision
In the fourteen diamond rings case-the
one involving the legality Of the imposi-
tion of Dingley duties on goods com
ing from the Philippines-is regarded as
Warranting the belief that the court did
not find in this case a parallel to the
DE Lima case.
The report of the Philippine commits
sion setting out in vast detail the COM
plete scheme Of civil government de-
vised by them is now in Washington,
and the legal difficulty being passed,
consideration win be now given to this
report. 1t would not be feasIole to no
tify Judge Taft by mail of his appoint
ment as the first civil governor of the
Philippines in time for him to assume
office July l, so that must be done by
cable.
NO EXTRA SESSION.
The cabinet today unanimously decid-
ed that existing conditions do not war
rant the calling of an extra session of
congress. Secretary Root and Attorney
General Knox both rendered legal opin-
ions to the effect that the authority 10
govern the Philippines in the president
by the Spooner amendment was sufficient
These opinions were concurred in by all
the members of the cabinet
The decision Of the cabinet was an
nounced after the cabinet meeting in the
following statement issued by Secretary
Cortelyou:
THE president has determined that ex-
isting conditions do not require or war
rant calling congress together during the
present summer or making any change
in the policy hitherto pursued and an
noqnced in regard to the Philippine ISL
ands.''
1t can be author tatively stated that the
Dingley rates upon goods from the Phil
appines entering the United States will
remain in force as heretofore The pres
1dent will put into effect such changes in
the tariff duties on goods going into the
Philippines as the Taft commission NAV
recommend
The supreme court decisions, as viewed
by the administration, settled first that
the Foraker act is constitutional; second.
mat the collection Of duties on Porto
Rlcan products between the time of the
cession of the island of Porto Rico and
the passage of the Foraker act was IL
legal and must be refunded.
4heSe are held to be the main essen
ual points Of the DECISIONS Nothing in
Ihem Is construed to apply to the tariff
situation as between the United States
sliiN CIe FuIIlpplneS. The conclusions of
the cabinet are not based on any knowl-
edge as to the prospective Philippine de-
clslon Of the supreme court though 1t
is declared there is little apprehension as
10 the findings Of that decision. If the
PLeS6ht system is upset in that dec sion.
MEn3lh IS not anticipated there will he
IttuG d1hculty it is believed in refund
14S Uhe amounts collected under protest.
PLATT AMENDMENT.
. inside information concerning the az
Ton OF the Cuban convention on The plat
amendment has Just been received in
washington. 1t appears that the FIRST
Qratt OF the amendment as internret sS
by the majority Of the committees on re-
Iatlons with the United States. was sun
nltIed to Gen Wood and bV him sent
10 Washington. This draft was apDroTeS
by Secretary Root, and his approvai was
made known to the Cuban convention
When the matter came III, for discussion
however, 1t was found that there were
a number of delegates whose votes could
only be obtained by the extended altera-
tlons, amendments and Interpretations
which finally were adopted by the con-
Nent1on and rejected by Secretary Root
1t is stated officially that the people Of
Cuba believed at first that the PIatt
amendment had been adopted and that
they were satisfied. Such was the belief
or the people OF the United States until
the draft of the adopted amendment was
received here. The belief is Expressed ir7
of1cial circles here that the Cuban people
as whole are perfectly satisfied with
Nhe Platt amendment and that II will