Evening star., 1901-12-04
Mr.. Conant on the Progress Made by
the Commission.
OBSTACLES FOISLAND'O DEVELOPMENT
Work That Has Been So Far
Accomplished.
l. EG ISLATION NEE DE D

Congress will be asked by the Philippine
commission to clear away the obstacles to
the development of the Philippine Islands
by providing proper laws governing the
grant of franchises for mining. cutting OF
timber, railway building and banking. This
was the substance of the statements made
today to a representative of The Evening
Star by Mr.. Charles A. Conant. who recent
Iy returned from the Philippines under a
special commission from Secretary Root to
investigate their needs in respect to coinage
and banking Mr.. Conant speaks with con-
siderable enthusiasm of the opportunities
which are opening in the islands for the in
vestment of American capital and for Amer
lean energy and enterprise, He said to the
representative of The Star:
Gov. Taft's Tact.
81 was very much disturbed on reaching
San Francisco to learn that Gov. Taft had
been taken so seriously III after 1 left Ma
Mia. II would be almost impossible to re-
place him as the governor of the Philippine
Islands. His rare tact and skill in dealing
with men have been combined in an un-
usual degree with capacity for work ana
with sound judgment in framing measures
for the Philippines. He has won the conf-
dence of the native leaders to an extent
which il would be almost impossible for any
other American to duplicate within short
interval | have been glad to learn that the
illness. which has probably resulted in part
from the hard steady work he has done
in tropical climate, does not promise to be
serious in its results. IL may prove bless
ing in disguise for the Philippines if the
consequence of the governors illness is his
coming to Washington and presenting the
whole subject of the needs of the islands to
Congress. He can do it in a manner TO Sc
cure the needed legislation, and as no other
man could.
What the Commission Has Accom-
plished.
What has the commission accomplished
thus far?" asked the representative of The
Star. -,- - -r,.--~ , .s.+,i
1T has practically built up government
and a system of education with new ma
teriaIs" was the reply. TT is astonishing
how little is left of the Spanish regime at
Manila The Spaniards prevented the
spread of their own language, in order to
keep the natives manageable; they did
practically nothing in the way of building
roads and improving harbors; they neglect
ed education. and they.had system of
courts in which it was almost impossible to
secure justice. The work fell upon the
civil commission soon as it reached the
Philippines to pass laws providing for these
conditions. Four volumes of its acts.
passed within the last year, will be sent
to Congress by the Secretary of War, and
testify at least to the volume of work
which the commission has done. This
work has included the framing of a new
code of civil procedure, provision for a sys-
TEN of insular transportation, the opening
OF roads the creation of an insular con-
stabulary, the organization of more than
thirty provincial governments, the adop-
tion of d charter for the city of Manila
and the extension of civil service reform to
the insular service 1t has also framed a
new tariff. which took effect on November
II. reducing the duties the neceSSarieS
of life and increasing them on luxuries.
. q
encouragement to the large Importation of
agricultural machinery. railway equipment,
and the implements, tools and food most
needed for the rapid development of the
islands,"
Appreciated by the People.
Are these measures appreciated by the
Filipino people?' Mr.. Conant was asked.
Il think they are to a very great degree"
WAS the reply. Governor Taft and his as
sOciates the commission have consulted
the Filipinos regarding matters directly af-
fecting their interests, and have followed
their recommendations wherever 1t was pos
sible. Thus, the new code of civil pro-
cedure was thoroughly discussed with the
local attorneys of Manila, and their pro-
posal was accepted that Spanish should
continue TO be the official language of the
courts for several years.
TIE chief difficulty encount cred at first
by the Americans was in convincing the
natives that the United States officials
were not like the Spanish in their methods.
Spoliaton and oppression by, Spain were
only to give way. in the opinion of many
Of their sincere leaders, to similar measures
on the part of the United States. They
would not accept mere promises, written or
spoken, that this was not to be the case.
because they had received plenty of such
promises from Spanish governors general.
When the commission last spring, however,
made its tour of the islands, invited sug-
gestions for the provincial charters. and
accepted many of them with good grace, the
fact began to dawn upon the more intelli-
gent leaders that theUnited States We're
really in earnest in their assurances Op-
position to American authority then began
TO crumble away At present the Filipino
people are represented on the governing
commission by three of their own number
All men of high standing and ability
One is leading professional man, who
was educated in Paris; another. Senior Le-
garda. is one OF the leading capitalists of
Manila, interested m its chief industries
and the third. SenOr LuzUriaga occupies
similar position in the Island of Negros
Their practical suggestions have proved of
great value TO the commission and have
usually been in favor OF the consuming
masses rather than any special interests
TO which they were devoted. This was
notably the case in the consideration of the
tariff bill. where all these gentlemen voted
against some of the American commission
ers for low duties on the necessary of
life
Legislation Most Needed.
What is the legislation which is most
needed for the development of the islands? ?''
asked the representative of The Star
The most pressing needs are provision
for the grant of franchises for important
business enterprises was the reply. TT
would not be proper for me to set forth In
detail what the commission recommend in
all cases, but Il is obvious TO every visitor
to Manila that the commission should be
authorized to grant charters for American
banks. for street railways and for ste
railways II is also important that order
should be brought out Of chaos in respect
to the working Of mines the cutting of
timber and the taking up of land by set
tiers Some Of the islands are rich in both
agricultural and mineral resources but all
serious action to open up these resources
is held in check by the inability to form
corporations. The provision of the last
army appropriation bill, that franchises
should not be granted for a longer term
than one year. has already proved Injurious
TO the progress of the islands and will
prove still more injurious IL it is continued
L have little doubt that a change in this
respect will be strongly recommended by