The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-06-05
Will NHNE GOV. TAFT
HEAD OF CIVIL GOVERNMENT TO
BE ESTABLISHED IN THE
PHILIPPINES
CHANGE TO BE MADE JULY /
ISLANDS WILL BE RULED UNDER
THE PROVISIONS OF THE
SPOONER ACT
WILL BE NO EXTRA SESSION

WASHINGTON, June 4-About the
hist OF next month full civil government
will be set up in the Philippine islands
exactly as provided by the Philippine
commission. AS soon after that date as
an administrative machinery can be
made reaCy for 1t, the new Philippine
tariff Will be proclaimed, also following
out the original plan formed before the
announcement of the decisions of the
supreme court last week
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 ex-
ercise Of authority in the Philippines Is
TO be by virtue of the supreme power
Tepo3ed in the president; it may be either
as commander-in-chie Of the United
States military establishment or by rea-
son Of the special designation in the
Spooncr law, perhaps either, it is SAID
would be sufficient.
CIVIL ONLY IN NAME.
The civil government to be set I'D Is 70
be established under the military govern
men,, and will be a civil government ex-
erclsed through the military powers of
the president. The collector at San Fran
cisco win continue collecting 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 a controlling decision bv
the highest judicial authority. The fall
ure of the court to announce a decision
In the fourteen diamond rings case-the
one involving the legality Of the imposi-
ton Of Dingley duties on goods com
Ing from the Phlippines-is regarded as
Warranting the belief that the court did
not find in this case a parallel to the
DE Lima case.
The report Of the Philippine commits
sion setting out in vast detail the COM
plete scheme Of civil government de-
Vised by them is now in Washington,
and, the legal difficulty being passed,
consideration viii be now given to this
report 1t would not be feasible to no.
tify Judge Taft by mail of his appoint
ment as the first civil governor of the
Philippines in time for him to assume
office July l, so that must be done bv
cable.
NO EXTRA SESSION.
The cabinet today unanimously decid-
ed that existing conditions do not war
rant the calling of an extra session of
congress. Secretary Root and Attorney
General Knox both rendered legal opin-
ions to the effect that the authority 10
by the Spooner amendment was sufficient.
These opinions We're concurred in by all
the members of the cabinet
The decision Of the cabinet was an
nounced after the cabinet meeting in the
following statement issued by Secretary
CortelyOu:
The president has determined that ex-
lSunS conditions do not require or war
rant calling congress together during the
present summer or making any change
IN the policy hitherto pursued and an
nounced in regard to the Philippine ISL
ands"
1t can be author tatively stated that the
Dingley rates upon goods from the Phil
applnes entering the United States viii
remain in force as heretofore The pres
1dent will put into effect such changes in
the tariff duties on goods going into the
Philippines as the Taft commission NAV
recommend.
Inc supreme court decisions, as viewed
ny the administration, settled. first. that
1le toraker act is constitutional; second.
Lhal the collection Of duties on Porto
Flcan products between the time of the
ceSslon of the island Of Porto Rico and
the passage of the Foraker act was IL
legal and must be refunded
Ihese are held to be the main essen
uaI points of the decisions. Nothing in
Illelh Is construed to apply to the tariff
et' DSbN SCIl the united States
ana the Philippines. The conclusions Of
the cabinet are not based on anv knovI-
ease as to the prospective Philippine de-
CIsloh or the supreme court, though If
is declared there is little apprehension as
20 the findings Of that decision IF tho
wbicb system So. is upset in that dec sion,
4f4i9lH IS not anticipated, there will he
ttILIe dIfhculty it is believed. in refund
1hs the amounts collected under protest
PLAT'T AMENDMENT.
inside information concerning the az
IlOn OF the Cuban convention on The Go1atf
S5mendment has Just been received in
w aSsllIlgton. 1t appears that the first
2IaII OF the amendment as internretSS
py the majority Of the committees on re-
LeIohS With the United States was sun
nlItIed 10 Gen Wood, and by him sent
70 ashlngton. This draft was approved
py secretary Root, and his APPROVAL was
MADE known to the Cuban convention
,When the matter came up for discussion
however, 1t was found that there Uere
a number Of delegates whose votes could
only De obtained by the extended alter9-
tons, amendments and intarnret a tion nc
Whlch hna!ly We're adopted by the con-
Nenuon and rejected by Secretary ROOF
1t is stated officially that the peopIe Of
Cuba believed at first that the Plat
amendment had been adopted and that
Lney were satisfied. Such was the belief
OF the people of the United States until
Une draft Of the adopted amendment was
received here. The belief Is Expressed in
ohcIal circles here that the Cuban pe0pIe
as whole are perfectly satisfied with
0he Platt amendment and that il will