The San Francisco call., 1901-12-19
FUTURE BRIGHT
FOR F|L|P|NOs
United States Commis-
sion Reports on a
Years Work.

| WASHINGTON, Dec. 1S-Provision for
a permanent civil government and much
important legislation regarding the indus
| trial development of the Philippines is
embodied in the annual report of the Phil
ippine Commission. 1t is declared that the
Federal party spread like wildfire
throughout the archipelago and that there
are few towns in any of the provinces
which have not their Federal committees.
The members of the party were the most
active and effective in inducing insurgent
leaders to surrender. 1t is declared by the
commission that:
Outside of the five provinces named CBatan-
gas, Cebu, Bohol, Samar and Mindoro) there
is peace in the remainder of the archipelago.
All insurrectos have surrendered and in most
OF the provinces except among the Lake Moros
1t is entirely safe during the day for travellers
unattended to go from one town to another.
In the other provinces recent war conditions
and suffering and hardship from cattle pest
and locusts have developed ladronism. The
people are friendly to the civil Government
and manifest no desire whatever for a continu-
ance OF the war. but only desire for peace
and protection
Taking up the question of the political
future of the Filipinos, it is declared that
the theory upon which the commission Is
proceeding is that the only possible means
of inStructing the Filipino people in meth
DDS CT free institutions and Self-govern-
ment is to make Government partly of
Americans and partly Of Filipinos, with
ultimate control in American hands for
some time to come. Less than 10 per cent
of the people speak Spanish and the edu-
Gated people, under the influence of the
Spanish teaching, have but a faint concep-
ton Of real civil liberty and the mutual
self-restraints required for its mainten-
ance.
The commission has already, however
established municipal suffrage in the paci-
fed parts of the islands and limited the
suffrage to those who can read and write
English or Spanish, or who own property
to the value of $3.50, pay an annual tax of
SIS or have been municipal officers. Thus
far only 1888 electors have qualified under
these provisions, out of a population of
2.695, ,SO1, in $50 municipalities, showing only
1887 electors per 1000 inhabitants. This is
only about 10 per cent of the number
which would qualify with similar popula-
ton under American law
The commission outlines a project
which, in brief, contemplates the contin-
uance for two years of the existing pow
ers. of the commission. Then a represen-
tative government is to be formed, com
council and a popular assembly, the pow
ers Of the latter being closely limited so
as to prevent It from choking the gov
ernment in making the budget in fits of
| passion or through inexperience. The
President of the United States would of
course, reserve absolute veto power. The
! Fflipinos should also have the right to be
represented before Congress and the ex-
] ecutive government at Washington by
two delegates.
vexed question of land titles by legislation
providing for the sale of public lands up
on the homestead principle and the pay
ment through a bond issue of the price
| of the lands now held by the religious
orders. A so per cent reduction in the
tariff Philippine imports into the
! United States would, it is said. increase
trade by leaps and bounds. Other recon-
mendations are, in substance, that the
! present system Of timber cutting under
| license be continued; that mining and in
| corporation laws be passed. that the COM
mission be permitted to confer charters
/ upon railways and to aid them by grants
of lands or guaranteeing low interest up
on the investments (probably the total
obligation would hot exceed 81 $50 0OO)
| that laws be passed providing for coin
age on the gold standard, with local sill
yer currency, and for system of national
| banks and land mortgage banks.
A full account is given by the COM
mission of the organization of the system
of education which has been going on so
vigorously under DR.. F. w. Atkinson. the
general superintendent The English lam
! guage is the basis of all public instruction
/ and nearly one thousand trained teachers
! from the United States already have been
! put to work in the towns and cities of the
! pacified provinces. Applications for teach
ers have been received from manv towns
! where ii has not vet been possible to send
! them. The greatest eagerness is shown
among the natives to obtain a knowledge
/ of English and general primary educa-
ton.