The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-12-26
SOME VIEWS AT WASHINGTON.


pines commission is asking its hands this government
will not be called concern itself to any material
tent with the control of the islands The Taft commission
will do all The commission has exercised almost
limited amount of power for several months past, but in its
latest recommendations 1t follows the lead OF Oliver Twist
and asks for II these recommendations are approved
which does not seem at all likely this time the commits
sion will be clothed with authority such has before
been vested in any body Of having aught to do with the
government Of the United States Even republican
amazed the audacity of the requests
commission and is highly improbable that these requests
will be granted unless very decided change in opinion is
brought about here.
William II. Taft D. C. Worcester L. F. Wright II C.
Ide and Bernard Moses arc the men who compose the
mission As before stated they practically controlled
the affairs OF the islands for time past laws and
atons of wide having been decided and pro-
mugated by them In their recommendations congress
will have the effect of making the commission absolutely
supreme except in some few unimportant details
The commission asks among other things for the exclu
sive 10 grant electric light telephone railway
and other municipal franchises the islands such conce
sions TO be subject only confirmation by the president
1t also asks for authority to issue bonds
TO exceed 100000, sufficient make improvements which
alleged to be necessary the sewerage and drain
systems of Manila II this request is granted the
commission wants authority to give permission the
ncpa board Of Manila make such issue Of bonds This
s4oooooo does begin be large the which
the commission would handle be allowed grant
the franchises mentioned II is said that great many Of
these franchises being applied for and il the
sion he given authority handle all OF them Sub
jet only TO the approval of the president men
posing the body would he placed charge the disposal
Of privileges worth of millions dollars The power
franchises would be taken entirely the hands
of the local authorities of the affected
mission would have it in its enrich any all Of
its avortes by the hstowa of concessions for indefinite
period of time 1t is likely that such plain and unvar-
nshed request for permission control Of
money has before been brought the attention OF
congress
Another privilege asked for by the commission is scarce
ly less audacous Judge Taft and his colleagues want con
to confer them the right put in effect public
land law making provisions for the acquisition homestead
rights the pereeting of titles and the sale of the public
lands of the islands. Incidentally the commission asks
that it be given the right fix the price per on all
lands involved
Still another large of money would under the
control of the commission should requests
granted 1t desires authority appropriate all instruction
funds in the treasury the island purpose
of forming school fund the provinces whence the
rectonary funds originally 1t also authority to
charters TO commercial railroads with the privilege Of
aiding the concessionares with land grants
Of the payment OF the or both subject
only to confirmation by the president of the United States
Then too 1t asks in effect all of the pre-
vous laws and regulations enacted by the commission 1t
wants TO pass laws bearing mines and timber without
the OF any its own FIVE members wants
congress to require qualifications for in the islands
tina, each who exercise the right of suffrage
shall be able to speak read and write English Spanish
or have formerly been municipal officer taxpayer
This restriction against ignorant iterate is about
the only eommendabe thing among all those asked for,
Probably the greatest power that the commission
ing for is in relation to the issuance of nsuar bonds with
which TO buy the holdings of the religious orders which
became firmly fixed in the Philippines during the Span
ish regime The property in question is estimated to be
worth millions of dollars and those who claim he in
formed in the premises say that the Catholic church not
disposed to reinqush its holdings unless something of
and then sell it Of its selection, the pay
ments to he made easy terms.
The authority asked for is so great the whole that
those congressman who are warm admirers of Judge
Taft and his colleagues disposed with favor
upon the recommendations of the commission consider
able of opposition will doubt he forthcoming from
both sides and it safe predict that but few any, of
the requests will be granted except perhaps in modified
form.
The bill of Representative Grosvenor of Ohio providing
for the tagging of shoddy quite the commendabe
piece OF legislation that has emanaed from of the
republican party in many long day. II the bill he en-
acted into law and proper made the
enforcement of such law, the public will be protected
against fraud which has long been practced cover
of the protective tariff and against which there has been no
recourse Mr. Grosvenors bill provides that all manuac
turers OF shoddy shall their product in plain letters and
figures showing the OF shoddy in the goods
also that taos and cohers shall the way the
clothing they offer for sale
Il he pointed in this connection that Mr. Gros-
venor simply seeks apply the principle OF the
oleomagane law the mapufscture OF goods be
clothing etc There is doubt OF the justice of law
which requires oleo 10 be branded in such that
can not be taken for genuine butter although may look
exactly the and 1t is quite plain why the same
regulation should be applied to shoddy clothing which
although may be made to exactly resemble wooden goods
shows signs OF and before being more than
day or two Mr. Grosvenor be opposed by many OF
his republican colleagues, but there be little doubt
that he will receive the solid support of the democracy 1t
quite possible that the difficulty Of enforcing the proposed
law will be urged against It's passage 1t will doubt be
pointed out that would be exactly define the
word shoddy and to place very close surveillance over