Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-04-30
PHILIPPINE
GOVERNMENT.
An Experiment in the Island Of
Negroes,
NOT UNQUALIFIED SUCCESS.
Commission Holds a Public session
Politicians Develop Wonderful APP
utude In the Act OF Vote Getting.

Bacolod, Island of Negros. Philippine
Islands. March misconceptions Of
the Associated Press. THE three days
stay Of the United States Philippine
commission part at this rather re-
motely situated capital Of great is
land has been particularly notable Tor
the various forms Of entertainment
provided The people began on the
night OF arrival with an illuminated
procession, remarkable for its beauty
and variety, More than hundred
novel and handsome illuminated designs
We're carried about the plaza and to
the home of the governor where a re-
ception was held. Next day the FEAST
ing began with Il banquet the ike OF
which the commissioners had never
seen before In all their Philippine
journeys. Ii was given at the splen-
lid country home Of Anisado Lacson,
five miles south OF Bac0lod. on a sugar
plantation five miles in area. and said
to be productive. IN years Of good crops,
of profit Of upwards Of $40 900 annual
~. A hundred people were served
with a menu the choiceness and varie-
ty Of which would have done credit to
city establishment In the United
States and the outlook was upon
charming scene OF field. woodland and
sea. Today the commissioners were
entertained in similar manner by
Severno, the civil governor Of the prov
ince
The political situation in Negros
since the American occupancy has
been unique. Under a special order or
| Gen Otis the people had practical SELF
| government for nearly two years, the
| only limit being the absolute veto
power vested In the military governor.
| The people elected their governor sec
retaries OF state, treasury and interior
| auditor and attorney general, besides
| an advisory or legislative council They
| took most active interest In the elect
| tions and were not slow TO crltlclse the
| officers. who were paid salaries OF from
| $500 to $4,000 (Mexican) annually.
The public sessions of the commission
| developed the fact that free popular
government had not been an unquali-
fled success. The arts of the poll
ticians in vote-gettng had been quick
| ~ grasped by the leading spirits, VINO
| I'm some instances, made combinations
which would have done credit or dis
credit, to a city political boss In Amerl'
ca, and according to the natives testi.
mony improvements In the island had
been commensurate with the taxes
paid
The delegates seemed disappointed on
learning that the new general law FOL
government Of the provinces was SC
much more simple and limited than the
previous form OF government For the
first time during the organization OF
provincial governments were heart
suggestions that all the offices be elect
ed by the people, or at least those
whose positions did not require tech
nical professional training.
President Taft replying, questioned
one of the native speakers as TO wheth
err the Negros civil government estao
llehed by Gen. Otis had been really sue
cessful. The man declined TO answer
what he characterized as $50 delicate
question"
Judge Taft said that the committee
enacting the provincial government
law had TO save expense, provided tina
the governors be elected by the council
of the town, like the election o
United States senators by legis
latures, but that IL the peopl
OF Neyros desired 10 elect thei
provincial governors direct the com
mission would consider the proposition
and probably assent to It,
As to the complaint that the propose'
provincial government would be mar
rover. and In fact curtailment OF tn
peoples former privileges in the wa,
OF self government, President Taft SAT-
| 49,. a e,aparal oapfral government u