New-York tribune., 1901-02-11
PHILIPPINE TOWNSHIPS.
THE TAFT COMMISSION REPORT on MU-
NICIPAL GOVERNMENT IN THE
ISLANDS

The ''Duebos' of these islands sometimes include
A hundred more square miles. They divided
into so-called ''barrios'' wards, which
the Interests Of the Inhabitants Of each ward may
be represented in the Council. the hand
ana that the body ay not become numerous as
TO be unwieldy, on the other. IT is provided that
ih onS9rs saii De ltN IA h9ii.es e 20
shall be elected at large; that where the wards are
shall be grouped into districts, and that one Coun-
oiii9r slaaI he IN charge OF each Waro or -
the inhabitants OF every ward thus assigned 70
touch with conditions in that portion of the town
ship which II is his duty 10 supervise and repre-
The subject OF taxation has been made the object
old Spanish system was to throw practically the
, whole burden those who could least anord 70
many man IL nssnees goS Vert free or nearly So unless they
were unfortunate e2ough 20 hold once and 1i mus
they failed 10 collect. There a considerable
nqmRr Of n5 sPes Se 80 many 6a ype6p % end Yielded
81 the best pititully small revenue !.
In dealing with the question Of taxation II has
been our purpose, frst TO do away with al taxes Se
which. through irritating those from whom whom ,hey af
resulting revenue were manifestiy objecuonanle' jl @
except where levied on Industries reguping penSe p
as the tax for lighting and cleaning the municipal
lty and the tax for the repair OF roaas an9
mate needs Of the township by system Whicn @
should adjust the burden OF eontroution Min some
20 bear il. To this end provision has been made
for moderate tax on land and Improvements
II is reasonably certain thar at the outset there
% 6s more S GF co;n s From Ihe 70 rich whS have
thus far escaped their fair share OF the burden
unwilling 70 assume II. II is believed. however.
that this opposition VIII he transient ana Sdi be
payment OF taxes results in direct henent 70 tne
communites in which they live ana 10 thein-
TIE exact rate Of taxation on land and improve
menis is left 10 the several municipal counclls'
forth oS ner cent If the assessed valuation
raise &; to one-hsf of per cent; but in any event
they must spend the amount accruinS from LgA tn&
schools Education is the CRYING need of the nhab,
iante Of This county, ana IS hopeG ed ana s Viii h
sufficient 70 enable establish adequate prl-
nToZsions haze Seen made for the determination OF
values and for the protection Of the rights OF
property owners
THE COLLECTION OF REVENUES.
In N. matter OF collection Of revenues COM
pe{e HnoTaI'Gn i On ,i mas nStn ~ ~ etsfact"r results
r. Is int.nded TO create for the siands Centralized
system Ter ne so e9eenon oao 81 2h8 8bcb snail he the
Insular. Treasurer Manila. II is proposed 10
establish subordinate Offices in the several depaTt
erel departmental ofees in me various pro{lnSes
81 81 reHenu@s M,a'n y aepaptmentai or in
suar treasury, will be collected by deputies OF the
over to the several munioiI aites all funds col
lected for hem II is seeyse teaI a oS env iS eaa
he secured than would be The case we're me .s col
by suffrase. y hiie it will be of great convenience
10 the taxpayer 10 be able 20 meet his Obligations
TO al departments OF the government at one time
and thus escape annoyance az the hands Of a % Inu.-
iipneity OF ofieisis, eaeh o, wh0m - be oro
vincal treasurer viii know the exact amount paid
! in each municipal treasury. and VIII thus nave
a valuable check on the finances OF every one l..
Corruption in the MANAGEMENT Of public funds
cos,,y, go 9 !, % is ereysa tbat if an honest and
eSpay' cent' hn 11 5,t al fEe head Of the financial
| system Of a province and IS given ETse 'onm2 oh
/ needed lesson can be taught 10 the municipal
! In order to meet the situation presented by the
! fact that a number of the pueblos have not as
while some Two hundred and nifty others are or
gaa.zed under a comparat yey simpIe form or gox-
Gated form which the new law IL based the
course of procedure which must be followed n
fetaii ana every effort mas been MADE 70 provide
against unnecessary friction in carrying out the
In View Of the disturbed conditions which still
prevail in some parts Of the archipeago It has
been provided that the military government should
Of the municipal police and that in all provinces
esfahlished by the Comnisslon me duties OF ths
Provincial Governor Pros:nclal IIeasHrtr ~ sho "a
performed by military officers assigned by the
Military Governor for these purposes II has b5Sn
further provided that in these provinces the ILL
suborSi9ais as he NAV designate for the purpc
10 Inspect and inveFtigate AZ any tine all the
official books and recoris OF the several IauniSl
officer for inef'ciehcy lnisoonduct or 1i5'yaIty 20
the United States. ~ u on inNeet.SatloH II Snal
prove that the suspended oiicer IS guilty, the Mi-
tary Governor has power 10 remove him and 10
appoint hts successor should ne 1 deem .sfSl sven
II is thought that where the necessity stiIi exists
Governor it viii ordinarily be desirable 70 allow
the towns 20 retain their existing ofEai4.La ION
until such time condi ions shall improve; hut
should Il prove necessary desirable IN Individual
Instances put the new law into operation IN
VIII giye 70 The Military Governor ample rover 70
deal with any situation which can arise, and ne
iaas expressed his sntisfS ction with them.
There at the present time a considerable
number Of provinces Whca, In the judgment ot
the Commission are ready for q provincial civil
government II is believed that in the majority
Of cases Il will he possible TO organize all the
municipalities Of { province. creating At the same
time a civil provincial government So soon as
Sov SSH ~ reao2e oeias for inefccy roi<eoa
duct or disloyalty. and should public safety de-
mand IT, 70 M The offices thus made vacant, IS
vested in the civil authorities
The law does rot apply TO the cry 81 MSniIa or
n is believed thar in both cases special conditions
require special legislation
DEALING WITH NoN-CHRIsTIAN TRIES.
The question as To the best methods Of dealing
with the non-Chrisian tribes is one OF no little
complexity. Tho number of these tribes is greatly
though The total number Of Mahometsns and
pagans is much lesS than The ngmber of CHRIS,
very far from forming an insienifcant element OF
the popula tio; They diner from each other wide
ccual state and in the readiness with which they
adapt themselves 10 the demands oI modern civil
The necessity of meeting this problem has been
brought home 10 the Commission by conditions IN
The IGorrotes. who inhabt this province. are 2
truthful people who have never taken amy part
in the insurrection. and who have rendered our
forces valuabls service by furnishing them with
information serving as carriers anc aiding them
In other ways They certainly deserve wei or Us
stated on good authority that there are not three
IEorrotes in The province VINO can read or Writ: t.
20 the mountain Businesses in the centre OF the