Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1901-02-04
PHILIPPINE COMMISSION WANTS
CIVIL GOVERNMENT.
PRESIDENT MAKES REPORT
Passaoe of spooner Bill Urged With
Amendment That it Become oper-
alive in Presidents Discretion
Peace Party Growing-Liquor Tra1-
fIc at Manila Regulated.

Yesterday transmitted to the senate
the report of the secretary Of war en-
closing the report of the Taft Philip
nine commission. In his message or
transmittal, the president says the re-
mort includes not only reports of the
commission but it's account or 1egls-
-lation "and other important informa-
ton relating to the conditions and I'M
mediate wants of the Philippine
islands" Concluding, the president
SAYS: ST earnestly recommend legls-
lation under which the government OF
the islands may have authority to as
sist in their peaceful industrial devel
opment in the directions Indicated by
the secretary of war"
Secretary Roots letter OF transmit
tai is in part as follows:
"The commission gives a gratifying
account of the progress made IN the
pacifcation of the country and the
gradual subsistence of guerilla warfare.
Information received subsequent to
the date of the report confirms the
favorable anticipations of the com
mission personal letter received
by me from Judge Taft dated Dec. Ia,
says: Since writing you about 5000
insurgents in IIocos Norte have sur
rendered and 10000 persons who were
not we'll affected towards us in Panay
have taken the oath of al
1egiance. have already received two
paners from native priests, eighteen
in number, and am told there will be
a great many other papers signed by
a great many more native priests, ten
dering allegiance to the United States
and promising fidelity without mental
reserve. The native priests are those
who held out the longest in favor Of
the insurgents and against the Amer
leans and I deem this action as Of
great Importance The army is hit
ting small but hard knocks against the
insurgents everywhere. Since the
election there has been a great falling
off in the activity of the insurgents in
aggressiveness.
IfOn the second of January the com
missioners reinforced the views con-
tanned in their report by the follow
ing dispatch from Manila: IF you
approve, ask transmission to the prop
er senators and representatives of the
following: The passage of the Spoon
er bill at the present session is greatly
needed to secure the best results from
the improving conditions. Until it's
passage no purely central civil gov
eminent can be established; no public
franchise Of any kind granted and no
substantial investment of private cap
ital in internal improvements is pos
sibley All that is needed as the most
important step in complete pacifca-
tior A strong peace party is organ
lied with the defined purpose of secur-
ing civil government under the United
States and reasonably expects relief
from the inevitable but annoying re-
straints of military rule.
In our opinion the disturbances ex-
listing can better be suppressed by
native police of civil government with
the army as an auxiliary force than by
a continuance Of complete military
control The power to make the
change should be put in the hands of
the president to act promptly when
the time arrives to give the Filipino
people an object lesson in the advan-
tages of peace. The commission is
embarrassed in securing good material
for judi oial and other service by the
necessarily provisional character of
the military government and the I'M
certainty of tenure. The sale of pub
lie lands and mining claims will be i'm
possible until the Spooner bin is
passed. We urgently recommend an
amendment to the Spooner bill
so that it's operation will
not be postponed until the
complete SUPPRESSION of all insurrec-
ton, uuC only until in the presidents
judgment a civil government may be
safely established. Conditions are
safely improving to the poirt where y
civil government with the aid of an
army will be more efficient to secure
peace than military control"
The section of the report on the
liquor traffic in Manila indicates the
powers of the commission are ample
to deal with them and the success at
tanned will compare favorably with
results in this country. Many false
and misleading statements have been
made regarding the use of intoxicating
liquors in Manila. The fact is this
traffic is more rigidly and effectively
regulated in the city of Manila than N
any city of similar or greater size in
the United States.