The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-05-08
PAC|HCA1|ON OF TAGALS
COMMISSIONERS DOING GOOD
WORK IN PHILIPPINES.
Proceedings With Vigor to Bring About
Peace-The Military Authorities Do
Not Pull with the Civil.

Progress toward the pacihcation of
the Philippines islands has certainly
been making more rapid strides during
the opening days of the new year than
during my similar period in 1900 The
situation has begun to brighten. Mill
tary men We're far from sharing the OPP
timistic views of the Philippine COM
missioners as expressed in their report
| last November, but they did not place
| confidence in the general preparations
! for a more aggressive campaign.
While the army industriously chases
the remnants of the insurgent army up
the mountain sides the no less indefa-
tigable Philippine commission is build
ing up framework of civil government
as effective as the representatives of
the administration can make it. The
pending bill for the government of the
municipalities will, in a few days be
enacted; the act establishing systema-
tic conduct and public control of pub
lie schools is about to be passed; ST.
100000 has been appropriated for high
ways and bridges; code prescribing
methods of legal procedure and the con-
duct of the courts is nearing compile
ton, and under it new judges will be
appointed for courts of first instance;
forestry and mining bureaus have oeon
reorganized; new customs tariff sche-
dulles have been sent to Washington for
approval; the salaries of civil-service
employees have been regulated and a
civil service system put into effect;
bank examinations have been provided
for and a million dollars has been APP
propriated for the greatly needed inn
provement of Manila harbor
1t is believed here that the commits
sion is peculiarly favorably constituted
to handle impartially the various
church and land questions with which
it will shortly deal, for the reason that
of II
to be prejudiced in matters of religion.
The general sentiment of the commits
sioners is that those things which will
lend toward the making of better Chris
tians and better citizens are infinitely |
more desirable than the PROSECUTING of
any branch of Christian faith at the |
expense of others.
The commissioners proceed with vigor |
in the execution of their well Defined !
legislative, appointive and judicial du-
ties, with slight heed of what the army |
may think or say and the natural sepa-
ration between the forces of war and |
the architects of the settled peace con-
tinues. In consequence the military au-
thorities and the commission can scar
cely be said to be pulling together in
the same harness, notwithstanding both
are in the service of the same depart
ment of the home government. Com
between the two depart
ments, situated at either end of the
palace corridor, are more distinguish
ed by formality than by cordiality.
These things, however, detract in
nowise from the utmost feelings of per-
sonal respect and appreciation. The
average army officer, judging from his
places the date of ultimate
at not sooner and generally
much later than one year hence. The
placing more faith in the
leaven of local autonomy and the en-
lightenment of progressive civil govern
ment, looks forward to an earlier peace.