The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-11-28
CIVIL GOVERN MENT.
The President Decides on a New
Philippine Policy.

washington, Nov. pa definite line
of policy has been decided upon by
the administration as to the Philippine
Islands. On authority of a member OF
the presidents cabinet it can be stated
that the president will urge congress to
take action looking to the establish
ment of civil government in the IS
lands
There has been long and serious con-
SideratiOn of the subject. For time
it looked as though the ADMINISTRATION
was satisfied with the progress which
was being made and that the policy
to be recommended by the president
would be one which would require lit
tie legislation outside the provision for
a monetary system for the islands. II
was believed that the dual government
now in effect in the islands would be
satisfactory indefinitely. There has been
no serious friction between the military
and civil governments and yet cond1-
lions have not been entirely Sat1Sfac-
tory. The massacre of almost an en-
tire company in Samar had the effect
for a time of bringing about serious
consideration of extending the military
authority even further than it now ex-
lists Investigations by the war depart
ment, however leads to the belief that
the disturbances about which there has
been much said in the public prints
We're confined to portions of the islands
in which there had been little or no
effort to extend civil authority. Fur
Their investigation of conditions leads
to the belief that conditions generally
of civil government.
That the administration has made a
definite decision in favor of civil govern
ment is taken to indicate that it has Sc
cured assurances that in such a pro-
gramme it will have the support of a ma
jority, in both houses of congress. The
fact that the president has discussed fully
and freely every proposition which is to
come up at this session. now close, is not
lost sight of. Neither is the fact ignored
here that the present head of the commit
tee on Philippines is Senator Lodge,
The action of congress will most proba-
bly, be along the line of approval for the
acts of the civil government up to this
time. 1t will then proceed to grant addi-
tfonal power to the commission there and
furnish the machinery for the general ex-
tension of civil government to which all
Philippine questions can be referred for
handling by men on the ground and ia
miliar with existing and ever-chang1ng
conditions. Investigation having estab-
civil government for the whole archipel-
ago, many advantages are claimed for
1T, and it is believed the whole Philippine
problem will be greatly Simplified- A civil
government of this kind which is contem-
plated will not likely be able to provide
machinery for the furnishing of revenue
for the conduct of it's own affairs, but it
will be expected to cope with the military
situation as it exists at the time when the
government is organized.
plan to remove the handicap which has
existed thus far in the. Hoar amend
ment. which prevented the granting of
franchises. There will be ample safe
guards in the matter of accomplishing
this, but the new arrangement will be
opportunity for Investors of capital and
the development of the island.