Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1901-06-06
NO EXTRA SESSION.
Cabinet Decides There Il No Reason
to Call Congress Together.
The POLICY FOR The PHILIPPINES.


Washington, June 5.-About the
first of next month full civil govern
ment will be set up in the Philippine
islands, exactly as projected by the
Philippine commission. As soon after
that date as an administrative ma
chinery can be made ready for it
the new Philippine tariff will be pro-
claimed, also following out the
original plan formed before the an
nouncement of the decisions Of the
supreme court last week. 1t was also
decided that there was no reason for
an extra session of congress. These
determinations followed careful
study Of the jurisdictions Of the
courts by Attorney General Knox and
Secretary Root, the results of which
were made known at the cabinet
meeting yesterday. After two hours
discussion the cabinet was unanimous
in the opinion that the recent SUI
preme court decisions called for no
change in the governments pro-
gramme. Secretary Root has had lit
tie doubt at any time since the courts
action of the feasibility Of continuing
the execution of the Philippine pro-
gramme without violating any of the
principles enunciated by the court,
and his study Of the courts opinions
was mainly to make sure that he had
not overlooked anything in the deci-
sions that might qualify that belief
on his part. He has not found in
any of the decisions delivered by the
justices anything to shake his origin
al idea and has so advised the cabinet.
Attorney General Knox, after an in
dependent consideration of the deci-
sions, was Of the same mind, so the
original programme will be carried
out. The attorney general submitted
to the cabinet very elaborate re-
view of the supreme court decisions
with his conclusions thereon.
As to the legal status of the islands,
the officials have nothing to say, but
while reserving full liberty to meet
any legal attacks as may be thought
best, the general statement is made
that the exercise of authority in the
Philippines is to be by virtue of the
supreme power reposed in the presi-
dent; it may be either as commander
in-chief Of the United States military
establishment, or by reason of the
special designation in the Spooner
law; perhaps either, it is said, would
be sufficient.
The civil government to be set up
Is to be established under the mill
tary government and will be a civil
government exercised through the
military powers of the president.
The collector at San Francisco will
continue collecting Dingley duties on
imports from the Philippines, as the
cabinet has assured itself that the
practice Is legal. or at any rate that
they are not bound to declare other
wise in the absence of a controlling
decision by the highest judicial au-
thority. The failure of the court to
announce decision in the IA diamond
rings case-the one involving the le-
gality of the imposition of Dingley
iuties on goods coming from the Phil
ippines-is regarded as warranting
the belief that the court did not find
in this case a parallel to the Delima
ease.
The report of the Philippine com
mission setting out in detail the
complete scheme of civil government
devised by them ia now in Washing
ton and, the legal difficulty being
passed, consideration win be now
given to this report. 1t would not be
feasible to notify Judge Taft by mail
Of his appointment as the first civil
governor of the Philippines in time
for him to assume Office July I, so
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