The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-19
MUCH EAGERNEsS SHOW To LEARN
THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE.
Medal Proposed for Private Heintz
Who Fought Bravely While
wounded in Three Places.

A~OI1lANGlONs Ott- c.
permanent civil government and for much
legislation regarding the industrial develop
ment of the Philippines is embodied in the
annual report of the Philippine Commits
sion. 1t is declared that the Federal party
spread like wildfre throughout the archi-
pelago and that here are few towns in any
Of the provinces which have not their fed
eral committees. The members of the
party were most active and effective in
inducing insurgent leaders to surrender.
1t is declared by the commission that:
Outside of the five provinces named-Ba-
tangas, Cebu. Behold. Samar and Mindoro-
there is peace in the remainder of the
archipelago. All insurrectos have surren-
dered and in most of the provinces ex-
cept among the Lake Moros it is entirely
safe during the day for travellers unat-
tended to go from one town to another.
In other provinces recent war conditions
and suffering and hardship from cattle
pest and locusts have developed ladronism.
The people are friendly to the civil gov
eminent and manifest no desire whatever
for a continuance of the war, but only a
desire for peace and protection"
Taking up the question of the political
future of the F1lipinos, it is declared that
the theory on which the commission is
proceeding is that the only possible method
of instructing the Filipino people in meth
DDS OF free institutions and self-govern-
ment is to make a government partly of
Americans and partly of Filipinos, with ul-
innate control in American hands for some
time to come. Less than 10 per cent. of
the people speak Spanish, and the educated
people under the influence of Spanish teach
ing have but a faint conception of real
civil liberty and the mutual self-restraints
required for its maintenance. The commits
sion has already, however. established
municipal suffrage in the pacified parts of
the islands and have limited the suffrage
to those who can read and write English
and Spanish or who own property OF the
value of $3.50. pay an annual tax of SIS or
have been municipal officers. Thus far
only 1883 electors have qualified under
these provisions out of a population Of
2,695, sol in 800 municipalities. showing only
1887 electors per 1000 inhabitants. This is
only about 10 per cent. of the number
which would qualify with similar popu-
lation under American law. The commits
sion declares that in fixing these Qualifica-
lions il followed the communications of
all the Filipinos who were consulted, ex-
a higher qualification. Many of the COM
mon people, the commission believes, will
be brought within these qualifications in
one generation by the widespread system
of education which is being inaugurated,
and the electorate will thus be gradually
enlarged.
Meantime it is proposed by practical les
sons TO eliminate from the minds of the
more intelligent part of the community
those ideas of absolutism in government
which now control, and to impress on
them the division of powers prevailing UNI
der the American system. For the pur-
pose of carrying out these views the COM
mission outlines a project which, in brief,
c~ontemplates the continuance FOR two years
of the existing powers OF the commission.
Then a representative government is to be
formed, composed of a civil governor, a
legislative council and a popular assem-
bly,. the powers of the latter being closely
limited so as 10 prevent II from choking
the government 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 Filipinos should also have the right to
be represented before Congress and the
executive government at Washington by
two delegates.
The commission proposes to settle the
vexed question of land titles by legisla-
ton providing for the sale of public lands
upon 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 on
Philippine imports into the United States
would. it is said, Increase our trade by
leans and bounds. Other recommendation
are in substance that the present system
of timber cutting under license be con-
tinued; that mining and Incorporation laws
DE PASSED.. lIdl tile COMMISSION De per
mitted to confer charters upon railways
and TO aid them by grants of lands oil
guaranteeing low interests upon the in
vestments (prObably the total obligation
would not exceed ST. $50. 00O); that laws be
passed providing for coinage of the gold
tandard with local silver currency, and
for a system of national banks and land
mortgage banks.
A full account is given by the commits
sion of the organization of the system OF
education which has been going on sc
vigorously under DIR. w. F. Atkinson, the
general superintendent. The English Ian.
guage is the basis Of all public instruction
and nearly one thousand trained teachers
from the United States already have beer
paciied provinces. Applications for teach,
ers have been received from many towns
where ii has not yet been possible TO send
them. The greatest eagerneSS is shown
among the natives TO obtain a knowledge
of English and a general primary educa'
ton. In Manila secondary schools have
been established, a normal school is en-.
gagged in the instruction of Filipino teach.
ers and night schools are holding regular
sessions with 1880 pupils. Manual training
schools and agricultural colleges are a par
of the project which is being carried on
for educating the people to better method:
of labor and production. Recently instruc,
ton in biography has been begun with the
aid of the signal department of the army
and ii is proposed to gradually transfeI
the Geographic service from the army tC
the civil government by provinces as youns
FilipinOs become sufficiently competent tC
act as operators. On the opening day o
the normal school the number enrolled wa:
$50. the number eventually enrolled beins
over 600.
PRIVATE uEINTV uEDn