New-York tribune., 1901-12-19
PHILIPPINE REPORT.
PECONNENDA TONS MADE BY
THE TAFT COMMISSION.
PROVISION FOR PERMANENT CIVIL GOV
NENT-LEGIsLATIoN ASKED
FROM CONGRESS.

permanent civil government and Recommendations
.o- essential legislation affecting the Industrial de-
velop-rent OF the Philippines embodied in the
annual report Of the Taft Commission covering the
period from December. 1900. to October l5 last.
Among the most important subjects discussed are
The form Of the government to be provided for the
Islands, the adoption OF diferential tariff in favor
u Philippine products entering the United States,
the issue Of bonds for taking up the lands Of the
frfars. the granting Of franchises for public and
private corporations the creation OF a distinctive
coinage. the extension Of the American banking
system the islands, provision for aid TO railways.
and authority from Congress TO pass proper public
land mining and timber laws.
The commission, in opening the report, reviews
the history of the military and civil operations
during the year, including the Inauguration Of
Governor Taft July 4. and the transfer OF au-
hority in the pacifed provinces Of the islands 10
the civil government
An account is given Of the growth Of the Fed
eraI party among the Filipino people under the
lead Of prominent Filipinos including the three
men who afterward made members Of the
Civil Commission. It appears that the party. which
IS pro-American, spread like wildhre throughout
the archipelago. and that there are few towns in
any Of the provinces which have not their Fed
eral committees. The members Of the party were
most active and effective In inducing insurgent
leaders surrender.
THE PACIFIED PROVINCES.
In January last the commission adopted munich
nal code and provincial law, and in February be-
were deemed to be prepared for civil government
This work continued through February. March.
April and May. and. indeed. was not completed IN
rhe north until August The collapse OF the IN
surrection came in May. after many important sur
renders and captures, including that or Aguinaloo
Il is declared by the commission that:
Outside OF the i've provinces named CBatangas,
Cebu Bohol. Sanar and AIindoro) there is peace in
includes thirty organized provinces. and all the dis
9ts t Mndana&o & ne S JS9 iSea2 2ncPe I
Infanta- All insurrectos have surrendered, and, in
Noes IF t5 e enSsT sae as he dsy for
e unattended to go from one tGW1 TO 6 sF
fering and hardship from cattle pest and !ocus5s
haze n o fs e7 and manifest
whatever for continuance OF the war puS oIIS
desire for peace and protection
Reference is made TO the recent massacre OF
American troops IN samar. but it is pointed out
that this occurred in a savage district in re-
mote and always turbulent island stu devastated
by war. and that small posts Of Americans isolated
In the pacihed provinces have remained IN perfect
security for many months.
FORM OF CIVIL GOVERNMENT.
Taking I'D the question Of the political future Of
the FIlipinos Il IS declared that the theory upon
which the commission is proceeding Is that the
only possible method OF tnstructing the Filipino
people in methods OF free institutions and self
government Is make a government partly OF
Americans and partly of Filipinos with ultimate
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 influence OF
Spanish teaching, have faint conception Of real
civil liberty and the mutual self-restraints re-
ouired for its maintenance The commission has
already, however, established municipal suffrage
In the pached parts of islands and has limited
the suffrage TO those who can read and write Eng
Iish or Spanish who own property of the value
Of $50 pay an annual OF SIS, or have been mu-
nicpal officers. Thus far only 1888 electors have
qualified under these provisions out Of a popula-
ton OF 265 In 3eo municipalities, showing only
1887 electors per 1000 Inhabitants. This Is only
about 10 per cent Of the number which would
qualify with a similar population under American
law. The commission declares that in fixing these
qualifications il followed the recommendations Of
all the Fiipinos who consulted, except that
there were many who advocated a. higher Qualihca-
ton Many OF the common people, the commits
sion believes. viii be brought within these quail
fcations IN one generation by the widespread sys-
TEN Of education which is being inaugurated and
the electorate will thus be gradually enlarged
Meantime it is proposed by practical lessons to
eliminate from the minds Of the intelligent
part Of the community those ideas Of absolutism in
government which now control. and to impress
upon them the division Of powers prevailing under
the American system For the purpose OF carrying
oUt these views the commission outlines the fol-
lowing project:
We think that II Congress were TO give the pres
government the benefit OF Congressional author
ity continue under the limitations which II now
has BY virtue Of the Presidents Instructions until
1904, would probably give time enough
form a complete government as going concern,
and al the end OF fhat time provisions might well
be made for change in the form OF government, |
so that Il should consist of civil governor OF
legislative council, and Of popular assembly cho-
by limited electorate. There should De these
limitations upon the power Of the popular assem-
bly,. to-it-: First that IL should sit annually for
three months, from the 1st day OF January to the
day Of April and then that its power of legisa3
ton should cease in each year, unless summoned |
for definite period in special session by the Gov
ernor. second, If curing the three months OF its
regular session IL failed 10 vote the supplies neces-
sary for the carrying on OF the government as pro-
law the right TO vote these suppnes shoud
be vested the legislative council The Governor
should have the qualified veto power; the Iegls-
larive council, consist OF Americans ana FIJI
pinos should be created by appointment or the |
President The popular assembly should not exceed
thirty in number be selected from districts TO
be determined after q census OF the Islands =, |
that the power hnaily 10 WlIaholo
supplies important legislative function,
and modify il in the way suggested IS not
usual. But we think the moCllcatlon very essen |
in the habit OF exercising any political power at all
IL q country which has been exposed 10 the pas |
Of vi many years, IS certain 10 nave
In il many members lacking altogether IN that |
eminent which must be present in each legislative
branch in order to make certain that the govern |
ment may live and We ought not oenoeTately 10 /
form government containing IN II one pFanch /
which might, because Of its passion and tnexperi-
ence be led into choking the government ltSeIf
Il viii be observed that IN respect TO all other |
popular assembly would exercise the same power |
any popular assembly IN q similar government |
and its vote would be indispensable TO the passage
OF all laws but the budget We believe that this |
Il would give them opportunity to take part in |
the government through electorate and II would /
form place IN which public discussion could be |
effectively had OF course, an absolute veto power