The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1901-04-26

Promoters and syndieates "Ftxtng''
q Get Things usder Their
Control.

Inc reports Whlcn are proceeding
from Washington regarding the fu-
ture OF government in the Philippines
plainly carry with them the earmarks
of their administration origin. Read
between the lines they reveal pos
sible changes of far-reaching signifi-
in the prevailing notions as to
the division Of powers among the
several departments of the federal
government.
From time to time we have heard
suggestions offered OF new depart
ments to be added 10 those existing,
and represented in the cabinet coun-
ellis of the president. But the only
addition made to the established d.
visions since the foundation of the
government has been that OF secre-
tary OF agriculture. The elaboration
Of the statements Of the administra-
ton officials involved in so-called
press dispatches as TO the needs OF
the government of the Philippines
leave little doubt that there is in
| process OF incubation a scheme to
spring n new federal secretary on the
country and establish a new depart
ment of federal government
The war department has now sole
control OF the details Of administra-
ton at Manila. There is the Taft
| commission, of course: but up to
within a few days nobody paid the
slightest attention to that admins
tration tender. Since Gen. Funston
brought the Philippine insurection to
n virtual close the Taft commission
looms up into prominence, and with
il the question of the enduring basis
on which the conduct of the Philip
pine affairs shall be handled from
Washington. If there is no war there
can be no use for the war depart
ment in connection with the affairs
of the Tagalogs and the other Of our
political brethren in the east.
What then can be more rational than
the creation of a colonial secretary.
They have one in England. you know
ana he is by no means a small admin
i~strative potato. If we have to indulge
ourselves in the possession of colonies
we will necessarily need a colonial
secretary in our business. This is evi-
IDENTITY the covert reasoning of our
rulers. They are plainly not yet in a
position TO show their hands; and SO
the enorm4ty of having the business OF
such a vast aggregation Of new lands
as the Philippines managed from the
war department after peace has beer
declared is forcing itself on the oficia'
mind with terrible pressure.
While the plans are being laid fol-
this new evolution in American consti
tutional government il might be worth
the while of our great men at Wash
ington TO reflect that the little opera
tons carried on some time in the di
r~ection of "fxing" the supreme cour
by the appointment of those in whom
the members of that court have
natural interest, may not prove as sue
c~essful as some are disposed TO antici
pate. II is still among the possibilitie
that in spite of the promoters AM
their s~vndicates the Philippines am
Porto Rico may be found to be in pre-
cisely the same constitutional classifi
cation as the Hawaiian islands. an
entitled to have their governors ap
pointed otherwise than under the ex
ercise of the dictatorial powers con
ferred on the president in connection
with the government of those places
st. Paul Globe.