Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1901-01-31
IT SPEAKS OF PROGRESS.
Work of PacificatiOn Is Slowly
but Surely Advancing.
MANILA AND IT'S SALOONS.
Number of Grogshops In the City Has
Greatly Decreased During Past Year
Commission Advocates Passage by
Congress of the SpOOner Bill.


dent yesterday transmitted to the
senate report of the secretary of
war enclosing the report of the Taft
Philippine commission. In his mes
sage of transmittal the president
says: Il earnestly recommend leg
islation under which the government
of the islands may have authority
to assist in its peaceful industrial de-
velopment."
The commission gives a gratifying
account of the progress made in the
pacitication of the country and the
gradual subsistence of guerrilla war
fare. Informatio received subse-
quent to the date of the report con-
firms the favorable anticipations of
the commission.
On January 2 the commission rein
forced the views contained in their
report by the following dispatch to
the secretary of war: IF you ap-
prove ask transmission to proper
senator's and representatives of fol-
lowing: Passage of Spooner bill at
present session greatly needed to Sc
cure best results from improving
conditions. Until its passage no
purely central civil government can
be esta blished; no public franchises
of any kind can be granted and no
substantial investment of private
capital in internal improvements pos
sble. All are needed as important
steps in complete pacification. Strong
peace party organized with defined
purpose of securing civil government
and relief from inevitable restraints
of military rule long before subject
can be taken up by new congress
The report shows that the islands
are estimated to contain about 73,-
1000 acres of land, of which less
than 100000 are held in private
ownership.
The section of the report on the
liquor traffic in Manila indicates that
the powers of the commission are
ample to deal with that subject and
the success which they have attained
will compare favorably with the re-
suits in this country. Many false
statements have been made regard
ing the use of Intoxicating liquors
in Manila The fact is that this
traffic is more effectively regulated
and kept within bounds in Manila
than in any city of similar or great
er size in the United States.
In November, 1898, the spread of
venereal diseases among soldiers led
the military authorities, in order to
maintain effectiveness of army, to
subject known prostitutes to certi-
fed examination and confinement of
diseased in special hospital, expense
of which was paid from fund in Gus
Il sol,
ly from fees charged for eXamina-
tion of from 80 cents to So, according
to place of eXamina ton. This sys-
TEN has greatly reduced the percent
age of disa bility from this cause.
Known prostitutes are not permit
ted to land. A number have been
deported General moral condition
of city is greatly maligned Crimes
of violence now comparatively few.
Gambling has greatly decreased.
Native vino shops in Manila in Au-
gust, 1898. numbered 1000 Now re-
duced to 400. American saloons, in
eluding hotels and restaurants, re-
duced from PA in February, 1900,
to SO now. OF these only 4S are Ii
censed to sell spirituous liquors.
ANY statement of the conditions
prevailing in the islands during the
last six months which ignores the ef-
feet of the American election as
controlling element in the situation
is inadequate. Since the result was
announced there has been great de-
crease in inSurgent activity. In
tense interest was felt by the insur-
gents before the election in the issue,
and intense disappointment since,
which will certainly effect the col
lapse of the insurrection in the near
future"
One of the longest chapters in the
report concerns the friars in the
Philippines. The commission gives
the history of the expulsion of these
friars from their places by the rebels
and declares that the burning ques
ton agitating the Filipinos is wheth-
er they shall be permitted to return.
Regarding the return of the friars
the commission says it would be an
assistance to the American cause if
the Catholic church were to substi-
tute American priests, but this is a
question of church policy with which
the commission has nothing to do.
Says the report: ut is enough to
say that the political question will
be eliminated if the friars are not
sent back"
The brief recommendation of the
president in the message sent to the
senate asking legislation in the in
terest of the Filipinos caused general
surprise among senators and occa-
stoned speculation upon the prob
ability of an extra session of con-
gress Immediately after March 4. Sen
ators generally say they have had no
intimaton from the White House
that special session of congress
may be desirable, but they unite as
one man in saying that no Philippine
legislation is possible during the re-
naming five weeks of the present
session. The Spooner bill, yesting
all power for the government of the
Philippine archipelago in the presi~