The times., 1901-05-25
CIVIL RULE FOR FILIPINOS
The Commissions Recommends
tiOns for Universal Suffrage.

! The veto Power Is vested in This
Country's Rcpresentatives-NO Ed
ucationnI Qualification for Voters
TO Go Into Effect July /.
/ Secretary Root yesterday received
! copy of the report of the Taft Philip
pine Commission, on the organization
of form of civil government for tie
J archipelago to go into effect on July l.
| The report contains recommendations
/ as to the organization of municipal and
provincial government in the islands.
and, unless the President amends some
sections. these will become laws on the
date given. The report has been await
ed for some time, and arrived yester-
day, having reached San Francisco on
! the transport Sheridan.
The report makes provision for
municipal and provincial governments
and at the same time the Philippine
Commission is expressly empowered to
veto any action taken, to remove any
official at any time, when in the judg
ment of the Commission this is desir-
| able and in any case wherein an official
| elected by popular vote does not suit
the members of the Commission. his
election can be declared vCid.
Under the head of municipal govern
ment. it is provided that special legisIa-
ton shall be had for the city of Manila
and for all settlements of mon Chris
tian tribes" The municipal officers
elsewhere shall be a president, vice
president, and municipal council to be
chosen by popular vote. The term Of
| office is two years.
The qualifications for voter are that
he must be at least twenty y-three years
of age, and must have resided in the
| municipality for six months. There is
no educational qualification. and it is
provided that when man can neither
read nor write an election official shall
cast the ballot for him
The following persons shall be dis
qualified from voting:
"(a) Any person who is delinquent in
payment of public taxes assessed since
August 13 1898.
"(b) Any person who has been deprived
of the right to vote by the sentence Of a
court of competent jurisdiction since
"(c) Any person who has taken and vio-
lated the oath Of allegiance to the United
States.
"(d) Any person who. on the first day of
April, 1901. or thereafter. shall be in arms
in the Philippine Islands against the au-
thority or sovereignty of the United
States, whether such person be an officer,
soldier, or civilian.
"(e) Any person who on the first day of
April. 1901, or thereafter, shall make con-
tributfon of money other valuable
thing in aid of any person or organization
against the authority or sovereignty of
the United States or who shall demand or
receive such contribution from others, or
who shall make any contribution to any
person or organization hostile to or in
arms against the authority or sovereignty
Of the United States for the purpose of
securing any protection, immunity, or
benefit.
10 ANY person who. on the first day
of April. 1901, or thereafter, shall in any
manner whatsoever give aid and com
fort to any person or organization In said
islands in opposititiOn to or in arms
against the authority or sovereignty of |
the United States.
''(g) Insane or feeble minded persons"
Municipal elections will be held on the |
first Tuesday in December. Each voter |
is required to make oath that he will |
never take up arms against the United |
States Government.
The municipal council, according to |
the report, viii be a sort of paternal |
board, and has power to regulate the |
private lives of the members of the |
community There is a list of more |
than 100 rules governing the conduct of |
the citizen, all of which are TO be looked !
after blythe council.
The vice president is authorized to
wear a uniform, and will use as his
badge of office, "a black cylindrical
cane, with gold head, gilt ferrule. and
black cord and tassels.'
Under the head of provincial govern
ment it is provided that each province
shall have a governor, secretary, treas
urer. supervisor. and fiscal. These viii
form the provincial board which will
enact laws for the province and submit
these to the Philippine Commission.
1t is provided that il any case where
the Commission removes any provincial
official, the vacancy will be filed by ap-
pointment by the President Of the Com
mission.
The report covers ffty-five closely
printed pages. and makes many inter
esting recommendations.
--
NTuTT cEDuTNE TN uA"aTT