The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-06-07
CIVIL ADMINISTRATION
FORM OF GOVERNMENT FOR
THE PHILIPPINES AFTER
JULY 1.
JUDGE TAFT AS GOVERNOR

New Tariff for the Islands Will Be
Proclaimed as Soon After as Posi-
bIe-Recent Supreme Court Ueci-
sions Call for No Change in the
Federal Governments Programme.
Military Will Be in Control.
Washington, June about July l
full civil government will be set up in
the Philippine islands, exactly as pro
vided by the Philippine commission.
AS soon after that date as an admins
tratiVe machinery can be made ready
for it the new Philippine tariff will be
proclaimed, also following out the Or
iginal plan formed before the an
nouncement of the decisions of the su-
preme court last week. 1t was also
decided that there was no reason for
an extra session of congress. These
determinations followed a careful
study of the jurisdictions of the court
by Attorney General Knox and Secre-
tary Root the results of which were
made known at the cabinet meeting
during the day. After two hours
discussion the cabinet was unanimous
In the opinion that the recent supreme
court decisions called for no change
In the governments programme. Sec
rotary Root has had little doubt at
any time since the courts action of
G. Nv Nf
cution Of the Philippine programme
without violating any of the princi-
pies enunciated by the court. and his
study Of the courts opinions was
mainly to- make sure that he had
Not Overlooked Anything
IN the decisions that might qualify
that BELIEF on his part. lie has not
found Ia any OF the decisions deliver
ed by the justices anything to shake
his original idea, and having so adyis-
ed the cabinet. Attorney General
Knox, after an independent considera-
ton of the decisions, was of the same
mind so the original programme will
be carried out. The attorney general
submitted to the cabinet a very elab-
crate review of the supreme court de-
cisions with his conclusions thereon.
AS to the legal status of the islands,
the officials have nothing to say, but,
while reserving full liberty to meet
any legal attacks as may be thought
best, the general statement is made
that the exercise of authority in the
Philippines is to be by virtue of the
supreme power reposed in the presi-
dent; it may be either as commander
in-chief of the United States military
establishment or by reason Of the spe-
cial designation in the Spooner law,
perhaps either, 1t is said, would be
sufficient.
The civil government to be set I'D
Is to be established under the mill
tary government and will be a civil
government exercised through the
military
Powers Of the President.
The collector at San Francisco will
continue couectlng Dingley duties on
imports from the Philippines, as the
cabinet has assured itself that the
practice is legal, or at any rate, they
are not bound to declare otherwise in
the absence of controlling decision
by the highest judicial authority. The
failure OF the court to announce de.
cisiOn in the IA diamond rings case
the one involving the legality of the
imposition of Dingley duties on goods
coming from the Philippines-is re-
garded as warranting the belief that
the court Gid not find in this case a
parallel to the De Lima case.
The report of the Philippine COM
mission setting out in vast detail the
complete scheme of civil government
devised by them is now in Washing
ton, and, the legal difficulty being
passed, consideration will be now
given to this report. 1t would not be
feasible to notify Judge Taft by mail
of his appointment as the first civil
governor of the Philippines in time
for him to assume Office July /, so
this must be done by cable.