Waterbury Democrat., 1901-12-19
PHILIPPINE REPORT.
The Commission Provides For
 Government Of Islands.
FIVE PROVINCES ARE UNSETTLED.
People Generally Friendly and De- sirous For Peace-Fi1ipinos Are to Be Taught Self Rule Under
 Ameriean Management.

sirOus For Peace-FiIipfnos Are
 to Be Taught Self Rule Under
 Ameriefn Management.
 WASHINGTON, Dec. 19.-Provision for permanent civil government and for much important legislation regard ing the industrial development of the Philippines is embodied in the annual report of the Philippine commission.
 It 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 in the remain der of the archipelago. All insurrec tionists have surrendered, and in most of the provinces, except among the Lake Moros, it is entirely safe during the day for travellers unattended to go 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 continuance of the war, but only desire for peace and protection. Taking up the question of the polit- ical future of the Eilipinos, it is de clared that the theory upon which the commission is proceeding is that the OT11u nncgih1n method of ir,C eff n ho Filipino people in methods of free in- stitutions and self government is to make a government partly of Ameri- cans and partly of Filipinos, with ab- solute control in American hands for some time to come. Less than 10 per cent of the people speak Spanish, and the educated people, under the inf1u- ence of Spanish teaching, have but faint conception of real civil liberty and the mutual self restraint required for it's maintenance. The commission has already, however, established mu- nicipal suffrage in the pacified parts of the islands and has limited the suffrage to those who can read and write English or Spanish or who own property of the value of S25O, pay an annual tax of $15 or have been munich pal officers. Thus far only 49,5 ,523 electors have qualified under these pro- visions out of a population of 2,695, ,So1 in 39O municipalities, showing only 1887 electors per 1000 inhabitants, This is only about 10 per cent of the number which would qualify with similar population under American law. The commission declare that in fixing these qualifications they follow ed the recommendations of all the Fili- pinos who were consulted, except that there were many who advocated higher qualification.
 A full account is given by the com- mission of the organization of the sys- tenn of education which has been going on so vigorously under Dr. F. W.s At kinson, the general superintendent. The English language is the basis of all public instruction, and nearly 1000 trained teachers from the United States already have been put to work in the towns and cities of the pacified prov inces. Applications for teachers have been received from many towns where it has not yet been possible to send them. The greatest eagerness is shown among the natives to obtain knowl- edge of English and a general primary education. In Manila secondary schools have been established, normal school is engaged in the instruction of Fill ipino teachers, and night schools are holding regular sessions with 1,SOO pu- pills. Manual training schools and az ricultural colleges are part of the project which is being carried out for educating the people to better methods of labor and production. Recently in- struction in telegraphy has been begun with the aid of the signal department of the army, and it is proposed to gradually transfer the telegraphic serv- ice from the army to the civil govern ment by provinces as young Filipinos become sufficiently competent to act as operators. On the opening day of the normal school the number enrolled was 45O, the number eventually enrolled be- ing over 600.