Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1901-06-10
GETTING IT READY
FULL CIVIL GOVERNMENT FOR
PHILIPPINES.
TO BEGIN NEXT MONTH
Decision of Supreme Court Opens
Way to More Definite Action
Judge Taft to be First Governor of
Islands Report of Commission
Now in Washington.

Washington, June 5.-About the first
of next month full civil government
will be set up in the Philippine islands,
exactly as projected by the Philippine
commission AS soon after that
date as the administrative machinery
can be made ready for it, the new
Philippine tariff will be proclaimed
and also the following out of the orig
inal plan formed before the announce
ment of decisions of the supreme court
last week 1t was also decided there
was no reason for an extra session of
congress.
These determinations followed a
careful study Of the jurisdiction of the
courts by Attorney General Knox and
Secretary Root, the results of which
were made known at the cabinet
meeting yesterday After two hours
discussion the cabinet was unanimous
in the opinion that the recent supreme
court decisions called for no change
in the governments program. AS to
the legal status Of the Islands, the Of
reserving full liberty to meet any le-
gal attacks as may be thought best, a
general statement is made that the
exercise Of authority in the Philip
pines is to be by virtue of the supreme
power reposed in the president; it
may be either as commander-in-chief
of the United States military estab-
lishment or by reason of the special
designation in the Spooner law. Per
haps either, it is said, will be suf-
ficient.
The civil government to be set up is
to be established under military gov
eminent and will be a civil govern
ment exercised through the military
powers of the president. The collect
or at San Francisco will continue col
lecting Dingley duties on imports
from the Philippines, as the cabinet
has assured itself in the absence of
controlling decision by the highest jul
dicial authority. The failure Of the
court to announce the decision On the
fourteen diamond rings case-One in
volving the legality of the imposition
of Dingley duties on goods coming
from the Philippines-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 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 1, so this
must be done by cable.
Washington, June 5.--The cabinet
yesterday unanimously decided that
existing conditions do not warrant the
calling of an extra session of congress
this summer. Secretary Root and At
torney General Knox both rendered
legal opinions to the effect that the au-
thority to govern the Philippines vest
ed in the president by the Spooner
amendment was ample. These amend
ments were concurred in by all the
members of the cabinet. The decision
of the cabinet was announced after the
cabinet meeting in the following state
ment issued by Secretary Cortelyou:
"The president has determined that
existing conditions do not require or
warrant calling congress together
during the present summer or making
any change in the policy hitherto pur-
sued and announced in regard to the
Philippine islands"
It can be authoritatively stated that
the Dingley rates upon goods from the
Philippines entering the United States
will remain in force as heretofore.
The president will put into effect such
changes in, the tariff duties on goods
going into the Philippines as the Taft
commission may recommend.
The establishment of civil govern
ment so-called, in the archipelago can
proceed without interruption as soon
as the military authorities consider the
time ripe for it's establishment.