The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-01-26


day transmitted to the Senate report o
| the Secretary of War. inclosinG the repor
Of the Taft Philippine Commission. In nj
message OF transmittal the President say
| taat the report includes not only the re
| ports OF the Commission. but its act OF IeS
islation. and other important Legislation
relating to the condition and immediat
wants or the Philippine Islands
| Concluding. the President says: Il ear
| nestly recommend legislation under whlci
the government Of the islands may have
| authority to assist in their peaceful induS
trial development in the directions indi
| Gated by the Secretary OF War.
| Secretary Roots letter of transElittat i
dated January 2t. addressed 10 the Presi
dent, and is In Part as follows:
Il beg leave to supplement my annual re-
! port of November 81. l90o. by transmitting
report made by the Philippines Commits
| aion on that date. but only recently re-
| ceived at the War Department. At the
| same time l wish TO call attention To some
conditions existing i'm the Philippine Islands
/ which Indicate development Of that cour-
| try along the lines OF peaceful industrial
hpraeress which require the exercise OF pow
ers Of civil government not vested IN ms
/ department. or in you as miiI1ry 'coin-
/ Irarrfer. but requiring grant OF authority
from Congress
/ Progress of PnciHcatiop.
I THE comiriission gives gratifying ae-
i;rount Of the progress made in the pacif-
cation'of the country and the gradual sub
| sidence OF guerrilla warfare. Information
received subsequent TO the date of report
confirms the favorable anticipations OF the
/ commission. a personal letter received by
me from Judge Taft. dated December Il.
1890. says:
" Since writing you about 5000 insurgents
. in llocos Noite have surrendered and TO-
GO persons who were not well affected to-
wards Us In Panay have taken the oath OF
allegiance. l have already received two
papers from native priests. eighteen in
plumber. and / am told that there will be
great many other papers signed by a
great many more native priests. rendering
their allegiance to the. United States and
promising fidelity without mental reserve
The native priests are those who have held
out longest in favor of the insurgents and
against the Americans and deem this NC
tiOn as of great Importance. The army
is hitting small but hard knocks against
the insurgents everywhere. Since the cleo
tior there has been a great falling on in
the activity OF the insurgents In aggressive
ness
"On the End of January the commission
as a body re-enforced the views contained
IN 'nelr report by the following dispatch
from Manila;
Urge Passage of Spooner Bill.
Root, Secretary OF War. Washington:
II you approve ask transmission 10 proper
Senators and Representatives OF following:
Passage of Spooner bill at present session.
greatly needed TO secure best result from
improving conditions. Until its passage 10
purely central civil government can be es
tabished: no puDlc franchises Of any kind.
and no substantial investment OF pftva.e
capital or internal improvements possible.
All are needed as most important step
In complete pacincation- Strong peace par
ty organized with defined purpose OF secur-
ing civil government under United states
and reasonably expect civil government and
relief from inevitable but annoying re-
straInts Of military rule long before subject
can be taken UP by new Congress Time
near az hand. when, in our Vpini1n. DIS
tGThanceS existing can be better suppressed
by native police of a civil government with
ancs of complete military contros -
- . Power should be put in hands of Presl-
dent TO act when time comes TO give FIJI
pino people an object lesson in the advani
der waS-power most restricted and unsaiis-
flying. Commission embarrassed in secuf-
ing good material for judicial and other
service by necessarily provisional character
of military govern ment and uncertainty OF
tenure.
Sale of public lands and allowance Of
mining claims impossible until Spooner bill
is passed Hundreds of American miners on
ground awaiting law 10 perfect clalms. More
coming. Good element in paeification- Ur-
gently recommend amendment SpGoner bill
SO that its operation be not postponed until
complete suPpresslon. OF insussrseiiSn' s aaii bai
government may safely be established.
Changes rapidly approaching point where
civil government with aid of army Will be
more efficient TO secure peace that military
control.
CsignedD COMMISSION
"A dispatch from Judge Taft. dated Janu-
:" Conditions rapidly improving. Rifles are
being captured or surrendered daily in con-
siderable number in North and South Luzon.
Same conditions In Panay. where more than
S5o0O have taken oath of allegiance. Insur-
gent forces completely scattered and Leader
DelgabO negotiating for surrender. Work in
Samar slower because insurgent bands long
contested occupation of interior, and swoll-
en- streams early in campaign. Cam
Leyte. producing disturbance, but informa-
tion is that conditions there are favor
able Federal party for peace; direct re
il creasing IN Manila: preparing TO extend
organization to many Provinces on pressing
and numerous invitations from leading cit
zens.'
''The report shows that the islands are
estimated to contain about 73.OO0.OO0 acres
Of land. of which less than 5.0eO.Ooo are
held IN private ownership. More per-
manent laws than the military Government
can supply are needed.
The section of the report on the liquor
traf1c In Manila indicates that the powers
OF the commission are ample 10 deal with
that subject. and the success which they
have attained will compare favorably with
TIE results I'm this country.
MANY false and misleading statements
nave been made regarding the use Of in
Z '
that this traffic is more rieidly and effec-
lively regulated and kept within bounds in
the city Of Manila than in any other civ |
or similar or greater size I'm the United (
Acting upon that clause Of your ipstr,,c- !
tons. which vests in the Philippines Com
mission authority TO exercise subject 10
your approval through the War Depsrt-
ment. that part of your military AUTHORITY /
which Is legislative in its character. the |
commission has adopted regular metho,is |
OF legislative procedure.
Il venture 10 express the hone thar nm
{ examination of these acts as well as n
reautlg OF the report will carry 70 ,-o,,-
mind. as II has to mine. the convic,ion tbo,
the commission are proceeding in accord l
ahce with the hig hspirit OF Your instruc /
tlo1s ana with zeal and discretion are /
pressing forward with all practicable sDeed i
the establishment of civil governmA5f a.
,cnlormity to- American institutions and
N fulillmeut OF our duty to the peon,e ~
the Philippine Islands,
Manila Liquor Problem.
,tsi.i t.Sppen1ed 10 the Secretary's report are
traffic: 'He ii4aoE
TAFT, Manila Jan. Is. Isol.-Cable an
E,eI. W. ioIiowing questions: What is present !
eating liquors. drunkenness and d,.arsoIo
1loN ~ aoes II compare with principal Ameri
cai ciuess DO natives frequent American
saloohs or drink American liquors.? How !
iiarI9 ahiuhkenness among American SOL
,.ra. are houses of prostitution licensed |
authorities? encouraged Dy
!.Signedl .S ROOT"
yz-aS: 1anila, Y.s., Jan. Il: = Root. Secretary of
W az Win reference TO your Telegram ~
iotn; first--NeTy good. Second-ABetfer tha, I
any American city OF same size T-ssrS
ssossioIy not at all. Fourth-Consi3arahi hio .
because several barracks are psar ~ a. holne h
OF the city and the freoT.enfed saiao,l .eant