The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-03-01
THE PRESIDENTS POWER.

THE PRESIDENTS POWER.
The Philippine amendment to the army
appropriation bill confers upon the Presi-
dent extraordinary powers. 1t is a ques-
ton whether che parliament OF England
would confer so much power on King Ed
ward. Evidently Congress has the utmost
confidence in the ability, integrity and
patriotism of the President. He is 40 he
the virtual dictator OF the islands until
that body gets ready to provide civil
government for them.
The President is given authority to es-
tablish civil government and to appoint
officials to administer il. II is probable.
therefore, that by the time Congress is
ready to act the Philippines will have a
central civil government and governments
for all of the provinces and towns. The
only thing that will remain for Congress
to do will be to ratify what the President
has done.
1t Is true that the President cannot dis
pose of any of the lands OF OF timber and
mining rights, and he is to some extent
restricted in disposing of franchises. 1t
Is almost certain that he will not do any
thing that viii be against the interests
OF the American people or the Fiipinos.
His ambition has been gratified by his
reelection to the presidency. and his aim
is now to increase his reputation for
craftsmanship. He may make mistakes
but 1t is hardly probable that he will
make any that can result in great
amount of harm II his Intentions are in
the right direction.
There is doubt expressed by some that
the Philippines are anywhere near being
pacihed. In his speech in the Senate on
Wednesday Senator Bacon expressed
doubt of that kind. Still. facts are accu-
mulating which Justify the conclusion
that the war in the islands Is practically
over. Almost erery day there are ac-
counts in the Manila dispatches which in
dictate that the insurgents are rapidly tir-
ing OF strife. and are so anxious for peace
that they are willing to accept American
rule. Indeed, some OF the most infiuen-
tial of the Filipino leaders are convinced
that the islands will 0e better off under
American rule than they would under an
independent government.
There was never much doubt in any
body's mind IN this country-at least not
in the minds of any considerable percen-
tage of those who have given the matter
careful consideration-that American rule
would be better for the Filipinos. The
question has been, and now is, whether
4 colonial system would not be a very
s, &c
IL would However, there does not seem
to be much to be accomplished by dis
cusslng that question now. AS Senator
Teller said in a speech a day or two ago,
it is almost foregOne conclusion that
the United states will never give up the
Philippines. The thing to do therefore is
to so shape our government of them as
to do ourselves the least possible harm.
It does seem as IL very little time was
given TO the Philippine question by Con-
gress. a question OF such vast import
ance TO the future of this country should
have been thoroughly discussed, instead
of being disposed OF by the Senate in a
day or two. as IL IT were OF minor i'm
portance Senator Morgan warned the
Senate against haste. The anxiety to
avoid an extra session was so great, how
ever, that the warning was unheeded.
II is to the credit of the President that
he refused to assume the responsibility
of deciding what should be done in re-
spect 40 the Philippines and Cuba. He
told Congress plainly that unless he were
given instructions he would call an ex-
ira session. The fact that he was not
anxious to exercise practically unlimited
authority in Cuba and our far east pos
sessions is the main reason probably why
Congress was so willing to permit him
to have such extraordinary power.