The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-04-30
IN ROYAL STYLE
The Philippine Commission is
Entertained in Negroes.
enne

| Correspondence of Associated Press.1
Bacolod, Island of Negros, Philippine
Islands, March 24.-The three days stay
of the United States Philippine commits
sion party at this rather remotely stu
ated capital of a great island has been
| particularly notable for the various
forms of entertainment provided The
people began on the night of arrival
with an Illuminated procession, remark
able for its beauty and variety More
than hundred novel and handsome IL
| Illuminated designs were carried about
the plaza and to the home of the COVER
nor where a. reception was held Next
day the feasting began with a banquet,
the like of which the commissioners had
not seen before in all their Philippine
journeys. It was given at the splendid
country home of Anisado Lacson, five
miles north of Bacolod, on a sugar plan
tation five miles in area, and said to be
productive in years Of good crops, of j
profit of upward of $4,000 annually. A
hundred people were served with
menu the choiceness and variety Of
which would have done credit to a city
establishment in the United States, and
the outlook was upon a charming scene
Of field woodland and sea. Today the
commissioners were entertained in
similar manner by Severino. the civil
governor of the province.
The political situation in Negros since
the American occupation had been uni
Que Under q special order Of Gen. Otis
the people had practical self govern
ment for nearly two years. the only linn
it being the absolute veto power vested
in the military governor. The people
elected their governor, secretaries OF
state. treasured and interior, auditor
and attorney general besides an advis-
DRY or legislative council. They took
most active interest in the elections and
We're not slow to criticise the officers,
who We're paid salaries Of from 800 TO
Sc 900 (Mexican) annually.
The public sessions of the commission
developed the fact that free popular
government had not been unqualified
success The art of the politician in
vote-getting had been quickly grasped
by the leading spirits, who in some in
stances made combinations which would
have done credit, or discredit, to a city
political boss in America, and, accord
ing to the natives testimony improve
ments in the island had not been COM
nensurate with the taxes paid
The delegates seemed disappointed on
learning that the new general law for
government of the provinces was so
much more simple and limited than the
previous form Of government of Negros.
For the first time during the organizd-
ton of provincial governments in the
Philippines were heard suggestions that
all the officers be elected by the people,
or at least those whose positions did not
require technical professional training.
President Taft, replying, questioned
one of the native speakers as to whether
the Negros civil government establish
ed by Gen. Otis had been really success
ful The man declined to answer what
he characterized as $50 delicate a ques-
ton
Judge Taft said that the committee,
enacting the provincial government law
had, to save expense, provided that the
governors be elected by the town cOun-
cilIors, a parallel to the election of Uni
ted States senators by legislatures, but
that if the people of Negroes desire to
elect their provincial governors direct
the commission would consider the pro-
position and probably assent to it.
As to the complaint that the proposed
provincial government would be mar
rover. and in fact a curtailnent of the
peoples former privileges in the way OF
self-government, President Taft said
that a general central government of
the Philippines would shortly be eStab-
lished in which the people of NegrOs
would certainly have representation;
that there was no purpose on the part
of the United States to give any less
voice in the government in their prog
ress and circumstances entitled them to,
and that all present governments were
practically provisional IN character ana
intended to be eventually replaced by
laws Of greater scope and nberallty-
Some of the leading Visayan speakers
argued that it were better to make all
the provincial officers appOintive by the
commission, for the reason that where
evils such as extOrtion and mismanage-
ment existed they would be best stamp
ed out by the use of another system.
The official result of the three days
visit in Bacolod was the adoption of a
resolution declaring the advisa bility of
establishing two provisional govern
ments in NegrCs in the territories sep
arated by the chain Of mountains run
ming lengthWise of the island, called re-
spective1y Occidental and Oriental
Negros; but the application OF the pro-
yincia1 law be deferred until the eastern
district was visited and its conditions
more accurately determined The reso-
luton included several provisions as to
carrying over the government, and for
adapting certain provisions of laws ZEN
acted by the island counciD to the new
and simple conditions of the provincial
governments. It also directed that the
Negros officials enter into no agree
ment pending the change. The Negroes 7
country is the richest, agriculturaIly
and the most industriOusly titled IN the
not inclined to be niggardly about
taxes but they insist upon good govern
ment.
The experiences related by natives
about the difficulties, petty drawbacks I
and alleged njustices which seemed to |
scheme applied solely to Negros and /
which appeared to have extended even !
into their social relations was considered l
as impressive Illustration of the dangers /
of self government in the Philippines |
unless the tonic be administered in /
homeopathic doses Under the new 1
frame work of government now grad /
ualIy approaching completion, d COM I
plete self government is bestowed on /
Tire MUNICIPALITIES. and a limited meas
ure of self government upon the prov
inces
49, II