Evening star., 1901-04-29
SITUATION IN NEGROS
People Not Altogether Satisfied With
Present Free Government.
RECEPTIONS TO TAFT COMMISSION
The Island Has Fine Land and In
dustrious Population.
THEY WANT GOOD RULE


Correspondence Of the Associated Press
BACOLOD, Island Of Negros, Philippines,
March 24.-The three DAYS STAY of the
United States commission party at this
rather remotely situated capital of a great
island has been particularly notable for the
various forms of entertainments provided.
The people began on the night of the arri-
val with an Illuminated procession remark
able for it's beauty and variety. More than
hundred novel and handsomely iilumi-
mated designs Were carried out about the
plaza and to the home of the governor,
where reception was held. Next day the
feasting began with banquet, the like of
which the commissioners had not seen be-
fore in an their Philippine journeyings.
1t was given at the splendid country home
of Anisado Lacson, five miles north of
Bacolod, on sugar plantation five mil IS in
area, and said to be productive, in years Of
good crops, Of a profit of upward of $40, 900
annually. A hundred people We're 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 charming scene of
held, woodlawn and sea. Today the COM
mlSSlonerS We're entertained in a similar
manner by Severino, the civil governor o.
the province
The Political Situation.
The political situation in Negros since the
American occupation had been unique
Under a special order Of Gen. Otis the Leo
pie had practical self-gOvernment for nearly
two years, the only limit being the absolute
vetO-pOwer vested in the military governor.
The people elected their governor. secre-
tar1es of state, treasury and interior,
auditor general, besides an advisory or leg
islative council. They took most active in
tereSt in the elections, and were not slow
to criticise the officers, who were paid sal
aries of from $500 to $4,000 (Mexican) an
nually.
The public sessions of the commission
developed the fact that free popular gov
ernment had not been an unqualified sue
cess. The art Of the politician in vote-get-
ting had been quickly grasped by the lead
ing spirits. who, in some instances, made
combinations which would have done credit
or discredit to city political boss In Amer
lea, and according to the natives testi
mony, improvements in the island had not
been commensurate with the taxes paid.
The delegates seemed disappointed on
learning that the new general law for gov
ernment Of the provinces was so much
more simple and limited than the previous
form of government Of Negros. For the
first time during the organization Of pro-
Elnclai governments in the Philippines We're
heard suggestions that all the officers be
elected by the people, or at least those
professional training
President Taft Asks Questions.
President Taft. replying questioned one
of the native speakers as to whether the
Negros civil government, established by
Gen. Otis, had really been successful. The
man addressed declined to answer what he
characterized as $50 delicate a question" >"
Judge Taft said that the commission in
had, to save expense provided that the
governors be elected by the town coun-
cllors, parallel to the election of United
States senators by legislatures but that if
the people Of NegroS desired to elect their
provincial governors direct the commission
would consider the proposition and prob
ably assent to 1t.
AS to the complaint that the proposed
provincial government would be narrower,
and, In fact, a Curtailment Of the people 9
former principles in the way of self-gov-
ernment, President Taft said that a general
central government of the Philippines would
shortly be established, in which the people
Of Negros would certainly have representa-
ton; that there was purpose on tho
part Of the United States to give any of
the people less voice In the government
than their progress and circumstances en-
titled the n to- and that all present gov
ernments were practically provisional in
character and intended to be eventually
replaced by laws Of greater scope and liber-
ality. Some of the leading Visayan speak
erS argued that it We're better to make all
the provincial officers appointive by the
commission, for the reason that where
evils such as extortion and mismanagement
existed they would best be stamped 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 advisabiity Of establishing
two provincial governments in Negros in
the territories separated by the chain Of
mountains running lengthwise of the ISL
and, called, respectively, Occidental and
Oriental Negros: but that the application
OF the provincial law be deferred till the
eastern district was visited and it's condi-
tions more accurately determined.
Industrious People in Negroes
The resolution included several provisions
as to carrying over the government and for
adapting certain provisions of law enacted
by the island council to the new and sim
pie conditions Of the provincial govern
ments. 1t also directed that the Negros
officials enter into no contracts pending the
change. The Negros country is the richest
agriculturally, and the most industriously
titled in the archipelago. The sugar plant
ers are not inclined to be niggardly about
taxes, but they insist upon good govern
ment.
The experiences related by natives about
the dlfhcultfes, petty drawbacks and al
ieged ln1ustfces which seemed to have fol-
IN ,oii soNeI hiHelt Scneme applied
solely to Negros, and which appeared to
nave extended even into their social rela-
lions, was considered an impressive illus
tration of the dangers of self-g government
in the Philippines, unless the tonic be first
administered in homeopathic Doses Under
the new framework of government now
gradually approaching completion, com
plete self-government Is bestowed on the
municipalities and a limited measure Of
self-goVernment upon the provinces. The
question of the character and the form of
the first centralized general civil govern
ment of the Philippines is not yet decided
but 1t is certain that the ultimate author,
lty under the first general civil government