The Savannah morning news., 1901-01-26
THE HAPPY fILIPINOS
TAFT COMMISSION OUTLINES ITS
PLANS FOR THEM.
THE PRESIDENT APPROVES.
LEGISLATION INDICATED by ROOT
RECOMMENDED.

tSEeeAuS heautn&-Ine tsiunus
Becoming Rapidly Paciaed, the
Commissioners state, and the PeO-
pie DESTROYS of Accepting Ameri-
can Ruie-ResuIt of National EIec-
Limited Suffrage Only Recon-
mended-Friars Not to BE Depriv-
ed of Their Property, but Their
Return to the Islands Not Favor
ed.
Washington, Jan. 25.-The President to-
day transmitted to the Senate a report
of the Secretary of War enclosing the
report of the Taft Philippine Commission.
The President says:
Il earnestly recommend legislation un-
may have authority to assist in their
peaceful industrial development in the
directions indicated by the Secretary of
War"
The report rs dated Nov. 80. Secretary
Root in his letter of transmittal calls at
slonal action. He says:
First. The Commission gives a graft
flying account of the progress made in
the pacification of the country and the
gradual subsistence of guerrilla warfare.
Information received subsequent to the
date of the report confirms the favorable
anticipations of the Commission. A per-
sonal letter received by me from Judge
Taft, dated Dec. a. 1900 says:
''Since writing you, about 5000 insurg-
10000 persons, who were not well affect
ed towards us in Panay, have taken the
oath of allegiance. l have already re-
ceived two papers from native priests,
eighteen in number, and l am told that
there will be great. many other papers
signed by great many more native
priests, rendering their allegiance to the
United States and promising fidelity with
out mental reserve. The native priests
are those who have held out longest in
favor of the insurgents and against the
Americans, and 1 deem this action as OF
great importance The army is hitting
small but hard knocks against the in
surgents everywhere. Since the election
there has been a great falling off in the
activity of the insurgents in aggressive
ness and their sole activity has been dis
played in avoiding the fights which small
detachments of our troops have brought
about"
On the 22nd of January the commission
as body reinforced the views contained
in their report by the following dispatch
from Manila
Root, Secretary of War. WASHINGTON.
If you approve ask transmission to prop
er senators and representatives of fol-
lowing: Passage of Spooner b II at pres
ent session greatly needed to secure best
result from improving conditions. Until
its passage no purely central civil gov
ernment can be established; no public
franchises of any kind and no substantial
investment of private capital in internal
improvements possible All are needed as
most important step In complete pa oifica-
ton. Strong peace party organized with
defined purpose of securing civil govern
ment, under United States and reason
ably expect civil governmen mt and relief
from inevitable but annoying restraints
of military rule long before subject can
be taken up by new Congress. Time
near at hand in our opinion when
disturbances existing can better
government with army as auxiliary force
than by continuance of complete mill
tary control Power to make change
should be put in hands of President to
act promptly when time arrives to give
Filipino people an object lesson in advan-
tages of peace Quasi civil government
under war power most restricted and un .
satisfying. Hundreds of American miners
on ground awaiting law to perfect claims.
More coming. Good element in pacifica-
tion. Urgently recommend amendment
Spooner bill so that its operation be not
postponed until complete suppression of
all .insurrection. but only until in Presi-
dents judgment civil government. may
be safely established. Conditions rapidly
improving to point where civil govern
ment with aid of army will be more eff
ficient to secure peace than military con-
:iol. Commission
dispatch from Judge Taft, dated Jan.
9, 1901. says:
Conditions rapidly improving Rifles.
officers, privates are being captured or
surrendered daily in considerable numbers
in North and South Luzon. Same con-
ditions in Panay where more than 5000
have taken oath of allegiance. Insurgent
forces completely scattered and leader.
Delgado negotiating for surrender. Work
i'm Samar slower, because of insurgent
bands long uncontested occupation of IN
terror and swollen streams early In cam
paign Campaign in Samar mas driven
bands into Leyte. producing disturbance.
but information is that conditions there
favorable. Federal party for peace; direct
result of election. Well organized and
rapidly increasing in Manila"
The report shows that the islands con-
tain about seventy-three million acres Of
land. over sixty-eight million acres Of
public lands. There must be mining laws.
homestead and land laws, general trans
portation laws, banking and currency
laws.
Continuing. Secretary Root says the
commissions powers are ample to deal
with the liquor traffic. which, he says,
is more rigidly and effectually regulated
and kept within bounds in Manila than
in any city Of similar or greater size in
the United States. A strict high license
law is enforced under which the native
saloons or wine shops have been reduced
from four thousand at the time Of Amer
lean occupation to four hundred at the
present time, and the saloons sell
ling American liquors. includ-
ing hotels and restaurants have
been reduced from 22l In February
1900. 10 ss az the present time He COM
mends regulations adopted by the COM
mission since the date OF It's report H.
hopes that examination Of the commits.
sion's legislative acts and reading of tho
report will convince Congress that the
commission Is with discretion pressing
~ ,.ttfl ali ..raatfea al, anaad tho 80