New-York tribune., 1901-01-26
PRICE THREE CENTS.
NEEDS OF PHILIPPINES
PRESIDENT .H'KINLEY URGES
LEGISLATION.
SPECIAL MESSAGE AND REPORT OF
TAFT COMMISSION SENT To THE
SENATE - TALK OF AN
EXTRA SESSION

retary of War, inclosing the report of the Taft
Philippine Commission. In his message OF trans
initial the President says that the report in
cludes not only the report of the Commission.
but its acts of legislation and other important
| information relating to the conditions and i'm
mediate wants of the Philippine islands" Con-
cIuding the President says:
I earnestly recommend legislation under which
| the government of the islands may have au-
thority to assist in their peaceful industrial de-
velopment i'm the directions indicated by the
| Secretary of War.
The brief recommendation in the message
urging immediate legislation in the interest of
| the FilipirOs caused surprise among Senators.
/ and occasional speculation on the probability
| of an extra session of Congress Immediately
| after March g. Senators say they have had M
/ ntimation from the White House that special
| session of Congress may he desirable, but they
unite in saying that no Philippine legislation is
possible in the remaining five weeks of the pres
| ent session. The Spooner bill vesting all power
| for the government of the archipelago in the
| President, the only Philippine general bill.
| II is believed that whenever an earnest effort
| is made to secure legislation bearing this
| subject much time VIII be required
Some Senators also express the opinion that
| legislation may he necessary in connection with
| the Cuban constitution, and. while there are diff
| ferences of opinion to the emergency. all
/ agree that if such action should become neces-
sary it would be impossible TO secure it at this
session.
| SECRETARY ROOTS RECOMMENDATIONS.
Secretary Roots letter to the President is
dated January n and is in part follows:
| beg leave to supplement my annual report of
November 30 1900 by transmitting report
made by the Philippine Commission on that date.
but only recently received at the War Depart
ment. At the same time I wish TO call atten-
tiOn To some conditions existing in the Philippine
Islands which indicate that the development OF
that country along the lines OF peaceIul lhous-
trial progress now requires the exercise of pow
ers of civil government not vested in this De-
partment, or in you as military commander. but
requiring grant of authority from the CON-
gTeSS.
First-The Commission gives a gratifying ac-
/ count of the progress made in the pacihcatlon
of the country and the gradual subsistence OF
| guerilla warfare. Information received to the
date of the report confirms the favorable antict
| pations of the Commission y personal letter re-
ceived by me from Judge Taft, dated December
| II. 1900, says:
| Since writing YOU about three thousand insurgents
| sand persons who were not well affected toward Us
/ in Panay have taken the oath OF allegiance. have
/ already received papers from native priests.
1 eighteen In number, and told that there will
many nstve @ priests tanderins their allegiance
TO the United states and promising fidelity with
tswho have held out longest in favor 81 the in
5his action n as 81 Fea importanee The Army IS
| hitting small but hard knocks against the in
been a great falling on in the activity of the in
| has been displayed in avoiding the fights which
about
| PASSAGE OF SPOONER BILL URGED.
| On January > the Commission as a body
/ inforced the views contained in their report BY
| the following dispatch from Manila:
Root Secretary of War. Washington.
| If you approve, ask TRANSMISSION TO proper Sen
/ ators and Representatives of following: Passage
to secure best results from improving conditions
Until its passage purely central civil govern
any kind granted, and no substantial Investment OF
private capital in internal improvements Is posSlpie
| pac1caton- Strong peace party ORGANIZED Win
United States, and reasonably expect civil govern
hleht anu It!iet - s - 80 -, ~,
straints OF military RUE long 9eIore SuoJec I 90. ~
i taken up by new Congress. Time near at hand IN
be suppressed oy hatVe ponce oL d L Sts.I 80
ment, with Army as auxiliary force. than ny eoa-
t scr nranptIr when time arrives to give Filipino
| people an object lesson in advantages Of peace.
\ Quasi civil government under way, power most re-
I rassed In securing good material for judicial and
other service by necessarily provslGnal caaIsG,er
/ Sale OF public lands and allowance Of mining
Of American miners ground awaiting law to
feet claims More cons. (1ooG 5t eISeI e spoo5ar
| bill that its operation be not postponed untl
| until in Presidents Judgment civil government
| NAV be safely established.
Conditions rapidly improving 70 point whers civil Slyil
government with aid Of Army viii be more efficient
to secure peace ''''" "''''''' COMMISSION.
| A dispatch from Judge Taft dated January ..
/ 1901. saws:
| Conditions rapidly improving. Rifles. officers.
RTiVS1Sst VSSo5stdarabIe numbers in North and South
than dnzGp thirfyfve thousand have taken oath OF
/ Iegiance Insurgent forces completely scattered.
| and leader DegabO negotiating for surrender;
| long uncontested occupation of interior and swollen
streams early in eampaIsn CamPaIsn IN 1;trh sdI9br
ance. but Information is that conditions there ere
St az eecfon Wen organized ana rapidly in
creasing Manila: preparing TO extend organiza-
Invitations itrUii from leading citizens.
The report shows that the islands are esti-
| mated TO contain about t3,OOopo acres OF lahu,
of which than five million are held IN
private ownership. More permanent laws than
| the military government can supply are needed.
| LIQUOR TRAFFIC. STRICTLY REGULATED
| The section of the report the liquor traffic
/ in Manila indicates that the powers OF the Com
| mission are ample 20 deal with that subject and
/ that the success which they have attained viii
| compare favOrably with the results in this coun-
/ try. Many false and misleading statements have
been made regarding the use of intoxicating
| liquors in Manila The fact is that this traffic
| is more rigidly and effectively regulated ana
kept within bounds in the city of Manila than In
| any city Of similar or greater size in the Unired
1 States
/ Acting upon that clause of your instructions
| which vests in the Philippine Commission au-
| thority 10 exercise. subject to your apprOvaI
4 through the War Department, that part or your
I military authority which is legislative in its
character. the Commission has adopted regular
methods OF legislative procedure. / vent
| ure to express the hope that an examination OF
these acts as we'll the reading of the report.
| will carry TO your mind as il has TO mine, the
hat he Ct0r1Uo :