The Lamar register., 1901-02-06
LEGISLATION FOR THE PHILIP
PINES.


PINES.
The report of the Philippine COM
mission, of which Judge Taft is the
president, and which has sent to the
President n communication setting
forth the needs of the islands, who in
turn has transmitted the report to
Congress, sets forth very clearly and
with some urgency the need of some
legislation Mt this session giving au-
thority to the President to establish
civil government in the islands. Their
report is backed by n message from
the Federal party among the FilipinOs
themselves, n party composed of pa
triotic Filipinos who desire the SOW
ereignty of the United States, but who
wish for as great n degree of local
autonomy as Is possible, and for the
supersession rs soon rs may be of the
military by the civil authorities of the
United States.
There is no desire on the part of the
commission, and none either on the
puil VI thc thhl
Congress should attempt at once to
enact final legislation us to the form of
government of the islands. They real
ize, us do all sensible men, that the
time has not yet come when detailed
and final legislation on this matter is
possible. What they want now is that
the President be granted the authority
to establish civil government in the
islands as far as he deems 1t advisable
and proper in any particular district,
and that thus n beginning be made in
the task of superseding the military
government. The establishment OF
civil government, with II large degree
of autonomy, in those portions of the
islands which are now ready for it
would be a guarantee to the other
parts. which are not yet ready. that as
soon as they shall show that they are
pacified and ready to get along without
military rule, the same measure of
self government will be extended to
them as has already been given to
their more advanced compatriots. The
effect would be excellent, and such n
measure would go far toward pacify-
ing some of the districts in which dis
trust still exists as to the desires and
purposes of the government of the
United States. Such distrust has been
fomented and encouraged by the Agui-
naldo party persistently, and with
some success. That 1t should be re-
moved is evidently both desirable and
necessary.
There Is measure now before the
Congress, in the shape of bill intro
duced more than year ago by Sen
ator Spooner, which provides exactly
the Legislation desired by the Taft COM
mission and the Federal party among
the Filipinos. This bnl simply pro-
vides that the President may, in his
discretion, pending fuller and further
legislation by the Congress, establish
in the Philippine islands such form OF
government rs seems desirable anG
necessary.
This is vesting in the President 8
SEeut ueiil VI ulSCittlOH Ill u very
portant matter, and it will be resisted
by the Democrats on the ground tina,
no such authority ought ever to b.
granted to the executive. as n matter
of principle. But the majority of tn.
people of the United States are moi
afraid of President Mckinley, nor are
they afraid to trust him with greai
deal of reserved power He has
showed that he is an eminently safe
man, and certainly it will be better
| to trust to his judgment than either to
attempt final legislation ut this time by
the Congress or to leave the Flipinos
under military rule.
| The Spooner bill should be passed al
this session of Congress, and If there
is not time before March 4th, and tbs
| Democrats tilibuster so as to proven,
the passage. the President would be
perfectly justified in calling an extrc
| session.