The sun. (Wilmington, Del.) 1897-19??, 1901-12-19
REPORT ON PHILIPPINES
Commission Provides For Much
Important Legislation.
ISLANDS PRACTICALLY PAOIFIED.

Outside of Five Provinces There Is
No Insurrection - Permanent Civil
Government May BE Established
With Americans In Control.
Washington, Dec. 19.--Provision for
permanent civil government and for
much important legislation regarding
the Industrial development of the Phil
ippines is embodied in the annual re-
port of the Philippine commission.
1t is declared that the. Federal party
spread like wildfire throughout the
archipelago and that there are few
towns in any of the provinces which
have not their Federal committees. The
members of the party were most active
and effective in inducing insurgent
leaders to surrender.
The commission says that outside of
Batangas. Cebu, Bohol, Samar and
Mindoro there is peace. All insurrec-
tionistS have surrendered. and in most
of the provinces, except among the
Lake Moros, il Is entirely safe during
the day for travellers unattended to 80
from one town To another. In other
provinces recent war conditions and
suffering and hardship from cattle pest
and locusts have developed ladronism
The people are friendly to the civil gov
ernment and manifest no desire what
ever for II continuance of the war. hu
only desire for peace and protection
Taking up the question of the polit
ical future of the Filipinos. it Is de
clared that the theory upon which til,
commission is proceeding is that til,
only possible method of inStrlcting I'll,
Filipino people in methods of free in
situations and self government is t,
make q government partly of Ameri
cans and partly of Filipinos. with ah
solnte control in American hands 10
some time to come.
Municipal Suffrage.
Less than 10 per cent of the peopl
speak Spanish, and the educated peo
pie, under the influence of Spanish
teaching. have but a faint conception
of real civil liberty and the mutual sci
restraint required for its maintenance
The commission has already, however
established municipal suffrage in til
pacitied parts of the islands and ha
limited the suffrage to those who cal
read and write English or Spanish 0
who own property to the value of $3.50
pay an annual tax of Slj or have beel
municipal officers.
Thus far only 1923 electors hav
qualified under these provisions out 0
a population Of 2,69J.aul in 100 munic
palities, showing only 1887 elector
per LOO inhabitants. This is onl
about 10 per cent of the number whic
would qualify with similar populatio
under American law. The commiSsio
declares that in fixing these qualiticu
tons it followed the recommendation
of all the Filipnos who We're consult
ed, except that there We're many VIII
advocated a higher qualification.
The commission proposes to scttl
the vexed question of land titles b
legislation providing for the sale {
public lands upon the homestead pril
ciple and the payment through Il bon
issue of the price of the lands now hel
by the religious orders. A 50 per cei
reduction in the tariff on Philippil
imports into the United States wou
1t is said, increase trade by leaps NJ
bounds.
other Recomme ndnfionN.
Other recommendation are In su
stance, that the present system of til
her cutting under license be continue
that mining and incorporation laws
passed: that the commission be perm
ted to confer charters upon railwa
AMI to aid them by grants of lands
guaranteeing low interests upon the
yestnents fprobahly the total oblie
ton would not exceed 81 $50. 0Ou: til
laws be passed providing for COMA
on the gold standard, with local silk
currency, and for system Of nation
banks and land mortgage banks.
A full account is given by the co
mission Of the organization of the $.
tenn Of education which has been goi
on so vigorously under DIR. +. w F..
kinson, the general superntende
The English language is the basis
nil public instruction, and nearly
thousand trained teachers from I
United States already have been put