The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-04-09
GOVERNMENT FOR, ISLANDS.
Civil Rule VIII Be Established There
About the Ist of July.

Civil Rule VIII Be Established There
About the 1st of July.
Washington. April S-The new from
Manila regarding the establishment of
civil government is in accord with in
formation already made public here
that the new Philippine government
viii be established about July 1. Int
mediately upon the passage of the army
appropriation dill, the entire SpOOner
amendment was cabled to the Taft
cornuni ssion and the commission was di-
rected to prepare a plan FOR the gov
ernment of the islands in accordance
-t.-e Jaw ylan has not yet
been completed. but il is expected TO
be about the time of the return of the
commission to Manila and it viii be
cabled here for approval or amend
ment. The civil government proposed
viii not be very elaborate, bUt sufii-
ciept 10 meet the present requirements
one Of the most interesting features
$ the question as to who viii be in
The law says that all military, civil
and judicial powers necessary to gov
ern the Philippine islands shall be
vested IN such person and persons as
the president may suggest"
The language has been weighed very
carefully and the designation person
followed by persons" is taken TO mean
that the president shall Ylame some one
W nave supreme command under MS
own direction and that the persons
shall be those acting under that COM
mand. Judge Taft is understood to De
the governor of the islands, but it win
be necessary to have someone in Wash
inEtOn TO act as the medium of commit
nication between the president and the
governor. There viii be a great deal
of business. With which the president
cannot burden himself and some cab
met officer will be selected to have
charge of the Philippines as well as
other insular affairs.
Authority over the islands probably
viii be exercised by the president
through Secretary Root, as the secre-
tary already is familiar with the gov
ernmcntal machinery of the islands
More than this, the law specifically as
serts that military as vel as civil and
judicial powers shall be exercised in
the islands. and it is not believed fea-
sible TO divide the responsibility as for
many years TO come there must be Joint
and harmonious action by the civil and
military authorities.
There already has grown up in the
war department since the Spanish war.
a division of insular affairs which has
had IN charge all matters pertaining to
Philippines, but in Cuba. At present
Lieutenant Colonel Edwards is in
charge OF this division and his familiar
lily with conditions in the Philippines.
4io nav MS spent d great zeal OF time
there, makes him a aluabIe official. It
IS probable that if the Philippines be
administered through the war depart
meut Colonel Edwards viii continue in
charge of the division.
The fact that the actual control OF the
Philippines VIII remain in the war. de-
partment does not mean that Governor
Taft viii have his power curtailed
Necessarily the president will remein
the court Of last resort for everything
relating 10 the islands, but the gov
ernor and his council Will exercise the
broadcast authority and much that here
tofore has been submitted to Washing
ton for determination by the military
governor general and the Taft COM
mission is expected to be settled by the
governor, council ana the executive as
sembly. should one be thought neces-
sary- The general BELIEF expressed here
IS that the governor and council will
be about all the government necessary.