The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-26

riculuD. 1t is not certain that this wou.c
meet completely the views o. the Catho-
lie hierarchy. but 1t Is likely that it would
avoid that active hostility to The public
school system which might be formda-
bic obstacle in spreading education among
| these Catholic people
The report then takes up the question
of the sale of liquors in the island ard
| shows the advantages which have attain
ed under American control by tAe plan OF
license. which has been adopted. The re
port says II is confidently anticipated that
the increa 5ed charges imposed on the Ii
quor traffic, The restriction as 10 streets
on which a Iiqucr business may be cor
| Quoted and the wide discretionary powers
! given to the provost marshal general VIII
| materially reduce the number of places
in the city at which intoxicants are sold
| In regard to the question of native troops
I and police the report says that ,here ap
| pears to be among '1s "fiicers of the
army a general consens Is { I opinion hat
| the time is ripe for these organizations
| 1t is proposed tina the troops should be
J otficered i'll the main by Americans, We
| have made investigations" says the re-
| port, 'as to the probable cost Of one of
! these native regiments, the officers of
| which are to be paid as in the regular
| service of the United States, and have
| reached the conclusion that if win not
|
| maps will be something less. II is recon-
mended that the scheme of police organ
| ization' be separate and distinct from:
| the army. The only objection urged TO
| the employment OF natives as soldiers and
| constables. the report says, is that their
loyalty may be questioned and that it
| might prove a source of danger to put
arms in their hands at present. The com
mission, however, does not take this yiew
nff ba l.,A
ate Judgment that not only is the organ
ization of native regiments not prema
ture, but might safely have been begun
at least year ago"
F,Iipinos Make Poor Judges
Upon the subject of reorganization OF
the coHts the report states that there
are very few Filipinos who are qualified
for judicial positions, and that it would
be impracticable to fl! them with Span
iards: therefore the feeling is wfdespTead
that for a time, and gntil the traditions
of bribery and in ompetency have in part
been forgotten, those positions must be
filled mainly by Americans. II is thought,
however, that the courts of justices of
the peace may all, or nearly ALL be rre-
sided over by Filpinos, the right OF tue
parties being secured by an easy ana in
expensive appeal to the courts of first
instance, these courts to be filled by
American judges. A knowledge of the
Spanish language is considered exceed
ingly important for the successful per-
tcrmance OF judicial duties in these ISL
ands.
Concerning the civil code the court
expresses the opinion that only such
changes should be made in the body Of
the law itself az are rendered necessary
by reason of the changed conditions in
passing from the sovereignty of Snain TO
that of the United States
Under the subject of public healil the
report says. among other things:
1T is believed by this commission that
no tropical islands in the world enjoy a
letter climate than do the Philip ines
While This is true two classes of diseases
have to he reckoned with here. These are.
first. diseases common TO temperate and
tropical countries, aud, second diseases
especially characteristic of the latter re-
Sions. Under rhe former head would fall
smallpox. cholera, bubonic plague. and |
leprosy. Smallpox is endemic in these isl |
ands. The natives have very little fear !
OF it, and are apt to neglect the necessary /
precautions 40 prevent its spread, unless /
compelled to adopt them. Experience has |
shown. however. that it can be stamped
cut by thorough vaccination particu- I
larly effective virus is obtained from the I
water buffalo. in laboratory established /
at Manila for this purpose, by Dr. Frank I
s. Bourns. Similar labora tories viii be es- |
tablished at convenient points throughout /
the archipelago, and vigorous attempt /
made to yaccinate the whole population.
Dangers of Cholera Epidcmics.
There have been more or less destrur- !
tive epidemies Of Asiatic cholera in the |
Philippines in the past but they nave oc-
CURED at long intervals. The last was in |
1889. Cholera has not appeared in the !
Islands Eince that time but we are near I
China. which is a breeding ground for dis !
ease and danger from epidemics imported /
from that country can be avoided only by /
the maintenance Of a strict quarantine |
service"
Bubonic plague appeared in Manila in
december. 1899, but has never .aade any |
considerable headway. No systematic ef- !
fort has ever been made to stamp out |
leprosy in these islands The report rec
the isolation of the lepers to a /
small island. It Is confidently az .lcipated !
that the establishment of a Gepaflm Of |
we'll organized public health win lead /
to i general improvement in sanitary con
dltions. Under this subject the report
also treats Of The climatic effect upon /
sick and wounded soldiers
Speaking Of public lands. n, report
states that the total amount af land in
the Philippine islands is apprcE inlately
% ,69i 800 hectares, or 73.345,4l5 ares. OF 4
this amount it is estimated that about
100000 hectares, or about 4 $40 N90 acres
are owned by individuals. leaving In pub
lie lands 27694,J00 hectares, or g, ,4O5. .4l5 !
acres. The lani has not been surveyed
and these are merely estimates or the
rubiic lands thore are about twice or
three times aB much forest land as there
Is waste land. The LAID Is most fertile
nd Tor The greater part naturally irri-
gated. There was a very grent demand
for this land but owing to the i~-cgy-
ar-ties. frauds. ard delays in the Sr.uish
system. the natives generally abandoned |
efforts to secura good title md con-
ented themselves with Temalni-- IN the |
and as simple squatters. subject to ,gic
an by tie State. IN 1894 the Minister
or the Colonies reported to the Queen
u Spain that there were abol. geo 600
'quatte-s on the public lands. but IL is
houRht by employees in the forestry i,-;
eau. who have been in a pc osit;oD to
tnow, that there are fully double that
i'mber ln the various Islands OF the
irchipelago the proportion of private land
o public land is about as Slated abova !
Except in MindaEao, Mindoro. and prIa-
van. Where the proportion OF r,loIlc land
. far greater
The Public Lnnd system,