Evening star., 1901-04-08
REIGN OF CIVIL WAR
Preparing to Establish It in the
Philippines.
DISCUSSING TAFT COMMISSIONS PLAN
Secretary Root Will Exercise Su-
preme Authority.
THE GOVERNORS FUNCTIONS

, The cable announcement from Manila
regarding the establishment of civil gov
ernment July / is in accord with informa-
tiOn here that the government will be
ready for establishment by that date. The
Philippine commission, during it's trip
through the archipelago, devoted primarily
to the establishment of municipal govern
ments, has been hard at work preparing a
plan of general government for the islands.
Immediately upon the passage of the
army appropriation bill the text Of the
Spooner amendment was called to the at
tention of the Taft commission, and the
commission was directed to prepare plan
for government in accordance with the law.
This plan has not yet been completed, but
1t is expected to be about the time of the
return of the commission to Manila, and
it will be cabled here for approval or sug-
gestion and amendment. There has been
considerable correspondence upon the SUBJ
Ject since the adjournment of Congress
and quite a free exchange Of views by
cable as to the best form of government
and how it shall be operated. The author
tiles here have followed the law very close
ly, as has the commission, and the civil
government proposed will not be very
elaborate, but sufficient to meet the re-
qrirements until Congress makes perma-
nent arrangements.
In Supreme Authority.
One of the most interesting features of
the proposed government Is the question
as to who will be in supreme authority
under the President. The law says that
"all military, civil and judicial po vers
necessary to govern the Philippine Islands
shall be vested in such person and persons
as the President shall direct" The Ian
guage has been weighed very carefully and
oil NV
sens is taken to mean that the President
shall name some one to have supreme COM
mand under his own direction, and that
the persons shall be those acting under
that person This will be the governor
of the islands, Judge Taft; but even so.
It Is believed to be necessary to have some
one IN Washington as the medium of COM
munication between the President and the
governor
There will be a very great deal of i'm
portant business transac ed in regard to
the philippines with which the President
cannot be expected to burden himself, and
naturally some cabinet officer will be select
ed to have charge of the PHILIPPINES as
Well as other insular affairs.
Conducted by Military Authorities.
This indicates that the authority over the
Islands will be exercised by the President
through Secretary Root who Is entirely
familiar with most everything that per-
talns to the governmental machinery Of the
islands. More than this, the law specificaI-
ly asserts that the military as well as civil
and Judicial powers shall be exercised in
the islands, and it is not believed feasible
to divide the responsibility, as for many
years to come there must no doubt be Joint
action by the civil and military author
tiles, and for the present at least they must
be closely allied.
There has already grown up in the War
Department since the Spanish war divis-
ion of insular affairs, which has had in
ri oini, TO he oi,r
operations not only in the Philippines, but
in Cuba. 1t is in this division that all mat
ters relating to customs, tariffs and gem
eral business pertaining to the affairs Of
the islands is administered under the direc-
ton of the Secretary of War. 1t has been
found advantageous on account of the close
relations of the military and civil affairs
OF the islands to have an army officer as
chief of the insular division. At present
Lieut.. Col. Edwards is in charge, and his
familiarity with conditions in the Philip
pines, he having spent a great deal Of time
there. makes him valuable official. 1t is
probable that should the Philippines be ad-
ministered through the War Department
that Col. Edwards will continue in charge
of the division.
Governor and Council.
The fact that the actual control Of the
islands will remain in the War Department
does not mean that Gov. Taft will have his
power curtailed. Necessarily the President
will remain the court of last resort for
everything relating to the islands, but the
governor and his council will exercise the
broadest authority, and much that has
heretofore been submitted to Washington
for determination by the military governor
general and the Taft commission is ex
pected to be settled by the civil governor,
council and the legislative assembly should
one be thought necessary. The general be-
lief expressed here is that the governor and
council will be about all the government
necessary, and that the council can ex
ercise legislative functions as the Taft
commission has been doing.