The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1901-12-19
CONDITION
OF THE
PHILIPPINES
AS Set Forth in Re-
port of Commission
Civil Government to be
Instituted.
Other Matters of Interest
Handled.

WARRINGTON, Dec. l9.-PTovision for q
civil government and for much import
ant legislation regarding the industrial
development Of the Philippines is EN-
bodied in the annual report Of tie Phil
ippine com mission.
II is declared that the Federal party
epread like widfre through the Srchi.
pelago, and there are few towns in any OF
the provinces which have not their Fed
ersl committee.
The members Of the party were most
active and effective in inducing insurgent
leaders to surrender. 1t is stated by the
commission that;
"Outside Of the provinces named bat
angas, Cebu, Bohol, Samar aud Mindoro)
there is peace in the remainder OF the
archipelago. All insurgents have sur
rendered and in most Of the provi noes
except among the lake Moros it is en-
tirely safe during the day for trav-
ellers unattended to go from one town
to another" Taking up the question Of
the political nature Of the Filipinos it is
declared that the theory upon which the
commission is proceeding is that the
only possible methods Of instructing the
Filipino people in method Of free insti-
tutions and self government is to make
a government partly OF Americans and
partly Of Filipinos with ultimate 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 COM
munity those ideas of absolutism in gov
ernment witch now control, and TO inn
press on them the division Of powers
prevailing under the American system.
For the purpose Of carrying out these
views the commission outlines q project
which in brief contempates the con-
tinuance for two years OF the existing
powers of the commission. Then re-
preventative government 10 to be formed
composed Of a civil governor, legisla-
tive 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 legisla'
tion providing for the sale Of public land
upon the homestead principle and the
payment through bond issue Of the
price of the lands now held by the reli-
gious orders. A 80 per cent reduction In
the tariff on Philippine imports into the
United States would, it is said, increase
trade by leaps aud bounds.
Other recommendation are in sub
stance that the present system OF timber
cutting under license be continued, that
mining and incorporation laws be passed
that the commission be permitted TO
confer charters upon railways and to
aid them by grants OF lands, guarantee
ing low interest upon the investment
that laws be passed providing for coinage
on the great standard Of the local silver
system, and also a system OF national
banks and land mortgage banks.
A full account Is given by the commits
sion OF the organization OF the system
Of education which has been going on 90
under Or. F. W. Atkinson,
the general superintendent. The Eng
iish language is the basis Of ell public
Manual training schools
and agricultural colleges are a part
which has been carried out for educat-
ing the people TO better methods Of
abor and production.
TuIHK ne HINGES pOR XMAS pREsENTS.