New-York tribune., 1901-05-27
MoRos WANT LITTLE GOVERNMENT
l. ION OF LIVELIHOOD MORE SERIOUS
AND PRESSING

Lamooansa, Island OF Mudanao. Anrfl Ae.o-
taking copious notes coucernfnr ~ - - 'er
AaiTs III me sulu Islands the Philinnne Co,,i
slOhers came on 10 Mindanao vbsro .,b.- -
=, H-eS'-oh OF ciVi! administration still more ccr,
plcatec Practically the entire nonu1s+ir - -,
N'"S i moro but the vast island OF Nipdar.o
contains. besides the estimated hale rrfIIt. y.
-i'TOs' unnumbered thousands Of Visava,s ,5
1asalogs' besides the Indonesians and other .,,,.
oeeIheF Win many Malays and the usual pIenttf,,r
sI-nAlins OF Chinese Since it seemed desirable 10
CDIstr-ct civil government Of some sort F2rtgs
oler-tiereral hobbe. commander Of the ra-a-+r-
OF hlndanao and Jolo, in his conferences with ~
commissioners recommended that Minda1ao he or
canned into two huge provinces The general srz-
gested that the provincial officers be apDoi1,a7 ~
the commission rather than elected He .rso
recommended joining the two r1uricira Ii+io. % ~,
Zamooanga district into one. and similar actfo,
elsewhere. ~
among the subordinate army officers stationed NJ
zailDoahsa the opinion seemed 10 prevail that any
P'oFlhcla4 government IN Nindanao would be pre-
mature Colonel Petit. commander Of this dis
ulct' SAID that the people were so peaceful and
tractable that they would get along with almost
any sort OF government. provided the taxes were
light The fact was emphasized in the statements
made by alcaldes from the various barrios r,a+
the people were very reluctant about Undertaking
expensive civil governments. They had sold moth
ing 10 speak Of for two years The carabao the
strong and patient ally OF all the Filipino people
--
pest plague. and the getting Of living had be-
come for them a far more serious and pressing
problem than that Of their future form OF gov
ernment.
II had, Of course, all along been apparent that
the Moros could have part whatever in anv
scneIne OF self-government; that they could be
reckoned with only savages and that they
would have TO be Disseminated against in any
scheme Of civil government The present intention
Of the commissioners Is 10 provide expressly in
whatever laws are enacted for governments in the
extreme southern islands the provision that no
Moro shall participate therein by voting or other
wise. unless he shall duly rrnounce all allegiance TO
his datto (and 10 the Sultan, If he be a resident
From the present outlook few Moros would take
advantage OF such a privilege. their preferences.
Where they have any. and their MahOmetan pTeju-
dlces, being all the side Of the old careless Idea
OF leaving public questions 10 their masters and
IN consideration OF the Moro question and Of the
many lesser ones peculiar 10 MindanaO and Suu.
the commissioners are evolving scheme for a de-
Governor and lesser officers to be appointed by the
body, which alone VIII legslate for this territory.
The Governor, representative of the United
the commission witt the SuItaT Of SuIu the dat
tos and the chiefs Of tribes other than the Moros
He Will report 10 and be instructed By the commits
sion, and there will be no councillors or other
body having powers Of legislation any functions
such as are possessed by the provincial councils in
the northerly islands. Establishment OF provincial
governments in certain portions OF MndanaO Will
not separate these from the departmental govern
ment But IN any event. whatever be me details of
the form Of governments established in the ex-
treme southern islands, they will be governed en-
rirely separately and in radically different way
from the rest Of the Philippine Islands
The existence OF destitution in a part Of the
islands noted for its fertility and heathfulness was
rather depressing. The commissioners are con
cattle. both in Mindanao and Masbate At any
rate, measure viii be enacted placing the re
plague. upon some Of the local officers.