The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-01-29

The President Sends Their Report to
the senate

Washington. January 25.-The presi-
dent today transmitted to the senate
a report OF the secretary of war. enclos-
ing the report Of the Taft Philippine
commission. The president says
IT earnestly recommend Legislation
under which the government Of the is
lands may have authority to assist in
their peaceful. industrial development
in the directions indicated by the Sec
rotary of war"
The report is dated November 30th.
Secretary Root in his letter OF trans
initial calls attention TO conditions re-
quiring congressional legislation. He
says:
The commission gives a gratifying
account OF the progress made in the
pacification of the country n the
gradual subsistence of guerrilla war
fare. Information received subsequent
to the date of the report. confirms the
favorable a~nticipations of the commits
sion A personal letter received by me
from Judge Taft, dated December 14th,
1900, says
Since writing you about 1900 in
surgents in Iloilo Norte have surrend-
cred and 10, 900 persons who were not
well affected towards us in Panay have
taken the pat of allegiance. l have al
ready received two papers from native
priests. eighteen in number. n L am
told that there will be a great many
other papers signed by a great many
more native priests, rendering their al
legiance to the United States and prom
Using fidelity without mental reserve.
The native priests are those who have
held out longest in favor of the insur-
gents and against the Americans and
/ deem this action as of great i'm
portance. The army is hitting small
hard knocks against the insurgents
everywhere. Since the election there
has been a great idlling off in the ac-
tivity of the insurgents in aggressive
ness and their sole activity has been
displayed in avoiding the fights which
small detachments of our troops have
brought about.
"a dispatch from Judge Taft, dated
January 9, 1901, says:
Conditions are rapidly improving.
Rifles. officers, ~privates are being cap
tured or surrendered daily in consider
able numbers in porth and south Luz
zon. Same conditions in Panay, where
more than $4,000 ave taken oath of
allegiance. Insurgent forces complete
ly scattered and Leader Delgado nego-
tiating for surrender. Work in Samar
slower because of insurgent bands
long unconteSted occupation OF inter-
rior, and swollen rea early in cam
paign. Campaign in Samar a driven
bands into Leyte, producing disturb
ance, but information is that conditions
there are favorable. Federal party is
for ~peace-direct result of election.
Well organized and rapidly increasing
in Manila; preparing to extend organi-
cation to many provinces on pressing
and numerous invitations from leading
citizens
1.-The report shows that the islands are
estimated to contain about 5000, 900
acres of land, of which less than $780,
| 900 are held in private ownership,
leaving in public lands over 6S, 600, 900
acres. The army-has brought the Phil
ippines to the point where they offer
ready and attractive field for invest
| ment and enterprise, but to make this
| possible there must be mining laws,
homestead and land laws, general
transportation laws, banking and cur
rency laws"