The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-12-19

OF MASSACRE
TAFT Commission On the
SaIIlar Disaster.
LAID 70 PASSIONS OF FEW FILLP[E0S
Detailed Information Regarding
the Installation Of Civil Gov
eminent IN the Islands.
Progress Of Natives.

The first section Of the detailed report
Of the Tart Philippines Commission naN,
public today at the War Department deals
principally with the organization OF civil
Government in the various provinces of
the archipelago, although some space IS
devoted 10 q discussion Of military. opera
tons during the past year N regard to
the recent disaster 10 The army in Samar,
the Commission says:
Nothing could be more unfair than to
attribute to the Filipino people at large
the motives OF those who carried out the
weli-laid plot at BEIangiga- That was in
remote and always turbulent island,
still devastated by war, and was devised
by persons with all the war passions who
have experienced none Of the benefits Of
either peace or civil government Surely
a sense of proportion is wanting IN those
who would allow an incident Of this kind,
deplorabie as it Is, to overcome the evil
dence which accumulates on every hand
of the desire OF the people at large for
peace and protection BY the civil gov
ernment
other Opportunities offered.
Had the people OF the provinces in
which civil government has been organized
desired TO crafty feeling Of treacher-
Gus hostility toward the American troops
by such attacks many posts all over the
islands would have afforded opportunity
10 them long before this
1t would be a sad injustice Il the So
mar disaster shall induce On one side
rigor in the treatment CT all FiIipin0s and
on their part consequent revulsion in
those feelings Of friendship toward the
Americans which have been growing
stronger each day with the spread and
development of civil government.
American Soldiers and Sailors.
In IT'S discussion Of the relations be-
tween the American soldiers and sailors,
the Commission says:
''One OF the great desires Of the people
of the province IS protection against the
robbers and ladrones Of their own race.
They have wished for the presence of
american troops to afford them this pro
lection. Troops spend money in the towns
where they are stationed and this also
makes their presence desirable.
But these benefits are becoming more
and more Offset by disadvantages that
cause a good deal of irritation and the
PEOPLE would now prefer immediate pro-
lection by means of civil police The
army occupies the priests house or con-
vent. municipal and provincial buildings
the school houses, and often many Of The
best private houses for officers quarters
while their owners are required 10 live
in Nipa shaeks.
Best Feeling SOt Promoted.
Rents are arbitrarily fixed ard in many
instances are either paid at long intervals
or not at all Il does not promote the
best feeling to throw soldiers and natives
so closely together as this Quartering OF
soldiers involves. especially if discipline
is lax. as it sometimes is, and the longer
these conditions continue the more irri-
tajfng they will become.
Nothing would delight the people OF
the provinces more than 10 see the Amer
lean soldiers withdrawn to posts outside
the towns. It would be vastly better for
the people and the soldiers The change
Is urgently recommended.
The scheme of Government.
The general scheme Of the central
civil government outlined in the report