Evening star., 1901-03-26
Secretary Boot Wishes to See Oondi-
tons Himself.
GEN. CORBtN WILL ACCOMPANY HIM
Expect to- Establish Civil Govern
nentsJune 80.
TOUR OF: INSPECTION

Unless present plans mfscarry Secretary
Root and Adiutant General Corbin may be
present and take leading part in the cere-
monies incident to the installation Of a
civil government in the Philippine Islands
The latest advices from Judge Taft OF the
Phiiippine commission and General MacAr
thur, the military governor, Indicate the
complete collapse of the instruction at
an early day. and the Secretary of War is
on record as having expressed the belief
that control of affairs may properly be
transferred from the military to the civil
authorities by the 3Oth of June. At any
rate. complete arrangements are being
made to that end. When the time II ripe
the transfer will be made smoothly and
without the slightest friction. Not sin
gle detail has been omitted in the prepara-
tions for the event which will mark an
epoch In the history Of the archipelago.
"A later date was originally fixed upon
as the probable time of the establishment
OF civil government, but recent events have
clearly shown that all the necessary prep
arations can be completed by the end Of
June. Judge Taft will be the first civil
governor. and Gen. Chaffee, now command
Ing the United States troops in China, will
succeed Gen. Macarthur in command Of
the military division of the Philippines.
the orders of the civil governor as the
direct personal representative Of the
President
Suggested by the President.
1t ls understood that the projected visit
OF the Secretary Of War was determined
upon at the suggestion Of the President
VINO desired to have one of his cabinet look
over the ground and judge of the situation
before the formal establishment Of the new
government Secretary Root has had d.
rect supervision OF the affairs Of the Phil
fppines under the military regime and is
perfectly familiar with every step that has
been taken in subduing the insurrection and
establishing municipal governments in the
various districts.
The Secretary Of War and the adjutant
general of the army will accompany the
presidential party on its transcontinental
1t at San Francisco and take an army
TRANSPORT bound for Manila. It is their
purpose to make tour Of inspection to the
principal points in the islands and to be in
Manila in time to assist, II possible, in the
inauguration Of Judge Taft.
Trip of Several Months.
The trip will consume at least three
months time and possibly four. which will
allow them about a month in the archipel-
ago. Leaving San Francisco about the
10th or 10Th Of May. they will reach Manila
about the middle of June, and. starting
home about the end Of July, they will re-
turn here about the end of August
During the Secretary's absence Assistant
Secretary Sanger will have control Of af-
fairs OF the War Department. It is said
that MS appointment at this time was for
the purpose Of enabling him to become ia
miliar with the business Of the War Depart
ment, 80 as to permit of the long absence Of
the Secretary.
objects Of the Trip.
One Of the objects Of the trip Is to give
Secretary Root and Gen. Corbin an oppor-
tunity to Study the military situation in
the Philippines at close range. SO that they
will be better prepared to deal with the
problems Of military management and ad-
ministration in the archipelago as they
may be developed in the future by the
rapidly changing conditions.
They will travel over the islands as ex-
tensiyely as the limited time Of their stay
will admit, and will advise with the mill
tary authorities on the redistribution Of
troops to the best strategic points and the
establishment of permanent garrisons at
the healthiest locations consistent with
the demands Of the service. The important
will be carefully looked into, as will also
the ration best suited to Americans sud-
denly transferred to the tropics The sub
ject Of supply and transport will also be
investigated.
To Learn the Conditions.
To accomplish their purposes. neither the
Secretary nor the adJutant general will re-
main any longer at Manila than may be
necessary to learn the condition and the
needs of the service. They will penetrate
into the interior Of Luzon and other nearby
islands wherever troops may at the time
be stationed. and will thus learn from
practical experience the daily routine Of
the American soldier engaged in this
hazardous service. Their observations and
the recommendations that will grow out
Of them will be embodied in the annual
report Secretary Root will make on the re-
assembling Of Congress.
lie business may interfere with Secretary
Roots plans but there is nothing in the
outlook at this time which will prevent
the trip.