Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-06-29

gress. for forwarding the scheme OF
government. As three Of the commits
sioners resigned after presenting their
report. Mr.. Mckinley created another
body, with more extended scope con-
sisting Of Judge Taft, Professor Dean
G. Worcester Hon Luke u. Wright,
Hon. Henry c. Ide and Professor Ber'
nard Moses They were to serve Tor
two years or for such period as might
be necessary for the accomplishment
Of the purpose in view and they We're
to go to the Philippines and establish
themselves, with headquarters at Ma
Mia All were prominent men Of al
fairs I'm their respective states ana were
appointed for their known or assumed
ability without reference to politics
OF the five Professor Worcester OF
Michigan was the best Informed re-
spectng the Philippines, having made
several visits to the islands and written
OF them extensively. Mr.. Wright Is
from Tennessee Mr.. Ide from Vermont
and Mr.. Moses from California; 50 the
Union was well represented geograph-
ically.
In his instructions TO the commits
sloners, embodied in letter addressed
In April 1900, to the secretary Of war;
President Mckinley outlined the scope
Of their mission which was to ''con-
tinue and perfect the work Of organic
ing and establishing civil government
already commenced by the military au'
thoritles, subject in all respects to any
laws which congress may hereafter en-
act" As It was surmsed that the
transfer Of authority from military
commanders TO civil officers would con-
sumo much time and necesstate per-
| feet cooperation for It's successful ac-
compIishment, both services were 10 be
directed during the transition period
| By the secretary of war, 10 whom the
commission was instructed to report.
| These instructions have been followed
to the letter. and the authorities, from
| Military Governor Macarthur down,
/ have afforded every facility to the COM
missioners for the successful prosecu-
| ton OF their work On their arrival
at Manila they were comfortably es-
! tablished at central official residence,
whence. after famlliarizing themselves
with the natives, studying the sItua-
ton. they paid visits to the various is
lands in the vast archipelago, being
provided for the purpose with a special
| transport and escorts by the military
governor
( Special stress was laid by President
Mckinley upon the desire Of the admin
istration that the Filiplnos should have
accorded them the largest measure OF
autonomy consistent with safety and
! commensurate with their capacity. This
commissioners were to devote their et.
forts in the first instance to the estab
llshment Of municipal governments II
which the natives of the Islands botl
In the cities and IN the rural communi
ties. should be afforded opportunities t
manage their own local affairs TO tn,
, fullest extent Of which they were capa
, bic and subject TO the least degree o
! supervision and control consistent will
/ the maintenance Of law aud order.
Next to be considered In order Of i'm
. portance was the organization Of gov
. eminent in the larger divisions CORE
q spending 20 counties or provinces II
! which the common interests OF man
: or several municipalities falling withii
q the same tribal lines or the same natu
\ raj geographical limits might best b
subservcd by a common administration
o Whenever the commissioners shoul'
e arrive at the conclusion that the condi
. ton OF affairs in the islands was sue
. that the central administration Nigh
y safely be transferred from military {
To- civil control they were 20 report tina
B conclusion 20 the secretary OF war a
d Washington, together with rec6Smen
- dations as to the best form to be adopt
j. 3D.
u At the same time II was cautlone
2 that the people OF the islands shoul
70 ba made plainly to understand tina
Pc there are certain great principles whic
% have been made the basis Of our COY
S, ornmontal system which we deem es
l. sential 10 the rule OF lawand the maintt
e nance OF individual freedom and whlc
Do they unfortunately had been denle
IS during the long centuries Of SPANS
p. misrule The Filipnos, In fact, were t
be treated In a spirit Of Justice an
N generosity and, while being instructe
~ as tothsirdutles, given larger measul
y Of liberty than they had ever enjoye,
h. BY the articles Of capitulatlon Of II