New-York tribune., 1901-02-04
PHILIPPINE CONDITIONS.
THE TAFT COMMISSION OK CIVIL GOV
ERNMENT. HARBOR IMPROVEMENTS
AND A NATIVE CONSTABULARY.

Washington. Feb (speciaD.-Among the in
structive chapters Of the Taft Commission report
OF November 80 which the President sent TO Con-
fress Friday, those relating 10 civil govern
ment hy Judge Taft and 10 harbor improvements
and 10 native troops by General Wright From
those chapters the following extracts are taken;
CIVIL GOVERNMENT.
The restricted powers OF a military government
are painfully apparent IN respect 10 mining claims
.,,ber 80 ~ sraDfir's ~ franrl,ises
generally IL Is necessary that there be some body
officer vested with legislative authority 10 pass
laws which shall AFFORD opportunity 10 capital 10
make investment here. This is the true ana most
corporations here are OF spanish English origin
with but limited CONFESSIONS and American capital
nnds tsef completely obstructed Such difhcHitles
would al be removed by the passage OF the SpoOner
The TAR reaching effect upon the feeling Of the
people OF changing the military government 10 one
10 the administration Of civil la~. cannot De too
strongly emphasized Military methods in admin
5 l5, ~ i u IN 1,1 J nm ami
trary. even when tney are those ~ the Army Of
The Republic; and unul "a civil government is es-
OF the PhiipTine Islands 10 realize the fun meas
ure OF the difference between government under
The relation between The Postotice Department
IN the Philippines and the insulaI government has
not been as clearly cgiI.a as II might oe: Al
present The Director II Posts considers that by
the Postofice ncparrn1ent he has The rlght 10 ap-
point employees in the Department and 10 fix their
except 10 make the appropriations out OF the
Treasury 10 meet the 0bliga lions which ne thus
3ncurs. During the incumhClcy of the present Di-
rector OF Posts, u must he said that his efficient
administration and his anxious desire TO cooperate
~ every way with the Government have relieved
the doubtful questions OF much en- arrassment but
IN the opinion OF the Commission IL would be much
wiser either TO give 10 the inSular Government
complete control over the POstoftCe Department or
20 transfer il 10 the United States Government for
its sole management and support as has been done
in Porto Rico.
Assuming that it had legislative and executive
control OF appointments i'm the Postofiice Depart
mont, the Commission brought il within the oper-
alton or The CIVIL Service act and II now recon-
mends that the selection Of pOstOtice employees be
made subject that act
The Commission WAS requested 10 appropriate
money for tho construction Of a postoffice in the
city Of Manila and 10 devote certain public land
10 that purpose. II entirely willing make
the appropriation both Of the land and OF the
money, but declined 10 do until IL should be
definitely settled whether il was assume control
OF the Postofficc Department and pay the expenses
thereof or whether the control and cost 10 be
assumed by the United States Government
A similar question mas arisen in regard 10 the
Marine Hospital Service. This IL seems 70 US.
ought 10 he under the Insular Government and the
officers in charge should De subject TO orders by
oition is that the InSuar Government has been
obliged 10 appropriate 100000 10 make improve
ments for the hospital service without exercising
the slightest control over the expenditure. The
hospital service is efficient. doubtless. hut occa-
sions might arise when II would ne exceedingly
embarras ssing 10 have "a branch Of the Government
here entirely independent Of the control by the
Chief Executive and the Legislature. Certainly
there Is nothing about the quarantine service that
reNures that II should be administered from the
Treasury Department ten thousand miles distant.
rather than by the Insuar Government Cor even
IN the States Of the United States the quarantine
service, by tnaction of Congress Is usually per-
of the States instead of being solely a Federal
function.