Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1901-04-11
PHILIPPINE MATTERS
The Civil Government Will Not
Be Very Elaborate.
JUDGE TAFT TO Be FIRST GOVERNOR.


Washington, April 9.-The news
from Manila regarding the establish
nent Of civil government is in accord
With information already made pub
lc here that the new Philippine gov
ernment will be established about
July /. Immediately upon the pas
cage Of the army appropriation bill
the entire Spooner amendment was
cabled to the Taft commission and
the commission was directed to pre-
pare plan for the government OF the
Islands in accordance with the law.
This plan has not yet been completed,
but it is expected to be about the time
Of the return Of the commission to
Manila and 1t will be cabled here for
approval or amendment. The civil
government proposed will not be
very elaborate, but sufficient to meet
the present requirements.
One Of the most interesting fea-
lures Ia the question as to who will
b the supreme authority under the
president. Judge Taft, it is under
stood, is to be the governor OF the
islands, but It will be necessary to
have some one in Washington to act
q the medium of communication be-
tween the president and the gov
ernor. Authority over the islands
will be exercised by the president
through Secretary Root, as the sec
setary already is familiar with the
governmental machinery Of the is
lands. The fact that the actual con-
troll Of the islands remain in the war
department does not mean that Gov.
Taft will have his power curtailed.
Necessarily the president will remain
the court Of last resort for everything
relating to the islands, but the gov
crnor and his council will exercise
the broadcast authority and much that
heretofore has been submitted to
Washington for determination by the
military governor general and the
Taft commission Is expected to be
settled by the governor, council and
the executive assembly, should one
b thought necessary. The general
belief expressed here is that the gov
crnor and council will be about all
the government necessary.
Late mail ndvices to the war de-
partment contain the details of the
surrender Of the insurgent leader,
Emiterio Fumes, at Bulan, on Febru-
ary 20 last. The expedition to cap
ture Fumes was instigated by the
federal party and the soldiers were
accompanied by four members of the
federal party Of Bulan, who, upon
arrival Mt Irocin, addressed the peo-
pie Of the village gathered in con-
vent, setting forth to them the ad-
vantages that would accrue from a
declaration Of fealty to the Ameri-
can cause. As Il consequence 1913
natives from the surrounding coun-
Airy took the oath Of allegiance within
the next few days. Meanwhile
Emiterio Fumes had signifed his in
tention to surrender all the insilr-
gent forces in Sorgorson province to
the Americans, but asked permission
to take part in the celebration OF
Washington's birthday at Bulan on
the ED. The next evening the entire
force formally laid down their arms
NJ Bulan, Capt. McIain, of company
B. who commanded the post at Bulan,
expresses the opinion in his report
that this surrender brought all armed
insurrection in Sorgorson province to
an end. The total military force
which surrendered consisted of "a
officers and 1876 men.
Gen. Macarthur cables that the
manifesto which Agulnaldo has been
preparing has not yet been signed
and that Aguinaldo is reluctant to
comply with the conditions. II ap-
pears that the majority of the Fill
pinos in Manila distrust Aguinaldo
and dislike To see him accorded spe-