The times., 1901-06-05

Immediately after the adjournment Of
the Cabinet meeting yesterday an official
announcement Vas made that it Is not
necessary to have an extra session Of
Congress this summer. The statement
made public is as follows:
The President has determined that
existing conditions do not require or
warrant calling Congress together
during the present summer or making
any change in the policy hitherto
pursued and announced in regard to
the Philippine Islands.
The decision was reached after over
two hours deliberation of the question of
how far the Supreme Courts decision in
the Porto Rican cases affected the status
of the Philippine Islands and the Presi-
dents power to control them. Both Sec
retary Root and Attorney General Knox
made long statements supporting the
contention that It was not necessary to
in any way alter the policy now pursued.
They explained how the government of
the Philippines has been administered
heretofore by the President under his
military authority as Commander-in-
Chief Of the Army and how the Supreme
Court decision had not affected that
power in the least.
1t was shown that the President has full
ment, either civil or military, which is
necessary for the islands by reason Of his
military authority, and the point was
made that with such power it is not neces-
sary TO proceed under the Spooner law
1t had been the intention Of the Admins
tration to put into operation a civil gov
ernment in the Philippine archipelago with
a civil head which should displace the
military authority there. This would have
meant that the military control would
have ceased absolutely upon the inaugu-
ration of a civil government.
The plan proposed. by the Philippine
Commission, it is said, contemplated the
appointment of a civil governor with au-
thority equal TO that Of Governor Allen in
Porto Rico. and the military force would
be used merely to police the island as at
present in Porto Rico. This government
was expected to be inaugurated the 1st Of
July, but there has been some indication
OF postpOning its Inauguration until a
month or more later. The point now
raised Is that under his military authority
the President can put into operation a
civil form of government, but he must
continue the civil administration under
military control. At the present time
the island is under military control yet
civil forms Of government have been put
INTO operation in the provinces and mu-
tary authority. and courts Of justice have |
exercised their proper functions.
mat this work can continue under the /
Presidents 5 military authority is the de- /
cisiOn OF the Cabinet. 1t means also /
that the tariff now in operation can be re- 1
vised and altered and that the proposed !
revised tariff viii be promulgated at the 1
proper time when it has been fully stud /
led and examined This tariff viii con- |
tain export duties, and it may be decided /
that there is nothing to prohibit the i'm |
position of additional export duties in |
lleu of collecting duties under the Ding /
ley law on goods imported into the |
United States from the Philippines
This would obviate the necessity of de- |
Gliding the legality of the collection of |
duties on such imports until after the /
Supreme Court has decided the four /
teen diamond case. In any event the |
policy to be pursued by the Government |
the placing in operation of |
a civil government within the next few I
Philippine tariff. as proposed by the Taft /
Commission, without the necessity of an /
extra session of Congress
The customs duties under the DinGley |
law Will continue to be imposed against |
goods shipped from the Philippines to the 1
the Supreme Court, in its decision, hollis /
that these duties are illegally collected It /
VIII only be necessary to refund the
amounts paid, which IL is presumed will 1
not be great. The decision of the Cabinet |
Mi probably mean that the President Will
not appoint a civil governor for the
Philippines until after the Supreme
conduct Of civil government through the
Taft Commission, which, II is held, will /
answer the SAINT purpose as II a Cover
nor were named.