Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-06-04
NO ExIRA SESSION
Qualification It the Decision of the
sGbinet
NO CHANGE TN PHILIPPINE POLICY
President Has Ample Authority in
-
TIE Premises.
GREAT RELIEF TO MANY


The decision reached by the President
and the cabinet today in the Philippines
situation was received with great interest
in official and political circles throughout
the city, and especially among the few
congressman now in the city. The news
spread rapidly and was soon the general
topic Of discussion.
1t was assumed that the announcement
that there would be mo change in the pol
Icy hitherto pursued and announced in re-
gard to the Philippine Islands" meant that
the administration sees its way clear to
1naugurat1ng the plan of civil government
Tor the Philippines beginning July l, as
originally Intended, and at the same time
continue the collection of duties on goods
imported from the Philippines into the
United States and the imposition Of duties
on merchandise brought into the Philip
pines.
Ample Authority in the Premises.
The Attorney General and Secretary
Root. who have been handling the case and
examining the decisions of the Supreme
Court, fortified the President in his deci-
sion with assurance of ample authority in
the premises. 1t is understood that the
position taken by these two officials was
unanimously indorsed by the other mem
bers Of the cabinet present
me determination to go ahead with the
eStaDllshment Of civil government in the
fhil1pplnes will be especially gratifying to
a large element In Congress, and it Is
thought will meet with general approval
throughout the country. 1t Is felt, 1t Is
SAID, that the administration could better
t 'isK processing with this program. con-
tlnuIng at the same time the customs
tarif, than to abandon the civil govern
ment for purely problematical question Of
customs duties.
iS oy~
biiHy of an unfavorable decision at some
later day from the Supreme Court on the
customs question, it would entail but a
mere refund of duties without inf1iction
OF material damage to the protected in
terests. But. in the light of the opinions
given the President today the officials are
confident that there will be no trouble of
this kind, and that they have plain sail
ing ahead.
Great Relief.
The announcement that there will be no
extra session will be a great relief to many
congressman. A number of senators and
representatives: are in foreign lands. Speak
er Henderson and a dozen or more mem
bers Of the House are on the continent Of
Europe or en- route, and some twelve or
fifteen representatives are in the Philip
pines or on the point of sailing for those
Islands. The calling Of an extra session
would have upset many plans for the sum-
congressional circles that the Presidents
advisers have taken such a decided stand
against disturbance OF the existing pro-
gram.
Program of the War Department.
AS explained at the War Department the
action taken by the cabinet today indicates
that the previously announced policy Of
the administration with respect to the
Philippines will be carried out without
hv 'ny1p In,
other words, the existing military govern
ment will be superseded by civil govern
ment as soon as the conditions ripe,
and the existing customs tariff promulgat-
ed by Gen. Otis, and based the old
Spanish tariff, viii be superseded by the
customs tariff recommended by the Taft
Philippine commission and now undergoing
consideration and revision at the War De-
partment
AS has been previously indicated it may
be found necessary to defer the establish
ment Of a supreme civil government beyond
the date originally fixed, viz, July / next
1t Is not believed that there will be more
than one or possibly two months delay In
this matter. 1t Is admitted to be possible,
however, that complications may arise
which may make 1t expedent to continue
the present military administration for
greater period and even until Congress
meets but such a contingency is not an
ticipated at the War Department.
The instructions of the President to the
Philippine commission. will continue to be
enforced and will be carried out except
where it is found that the action would
be subject to legal dispute and necesstate
litigation and +stpreme Court decision.
The determination reached today means
that the administration is satisfied that
1t has all the power necessary to govern
the Philippines in practical manner.
Limited civil authority will still be ex-
ercised by the Taft commission, and 1t is
said that the Taft commission, under the
Presidents Instructions has practically the
same authority in insular affairs that Judge
Taft would have if appointed civil governor
1t Is also the intention to promulgate the
new tariff as amending the old Otis tariff
now in force, and the general idea is to
carry along the affairs Of the Philippines
much in the same manner as business was
transacted prior to the Supreme Court de-
cision.
WANTS A DEFINITE REPLY.