Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-05-27

matters as at present, so far as govern
ment control went. 1t developed at the
hearings that these people had simple
traditional modes Of judicial procedure
which impressed the commission as be-
ing so fair and simple that they saw no
apparent reason for interfering with
them. Each community has a man who
acts as judge, appointed for life by his
Datto, on account of his wisdom and
familiarity with Moro traditions, and
in cases of independence or where close
questions of fact are involved, several
of the old men of the community are
called in to assist in the decision. The
decisions stand unquestioned, but the
Datto must confirm a sentence of death.
The Questfon of Slavery
was scarcely touched upon in the confer
| ence except incidentally, but President
Taft afterward assured the Associated
Press correspondent that since the consti-
tuition prohibits slavery in any territory
| governed by the United States the ques-
ton would be dealt with. He was of the
opinion that the people of the United
States were willing that the government
in the Philippines deal with the question
deliberately and impartially without
arousing prejudice by excited discussion
or p~recipitate action that slavery can be
abolished, in some islands more slowly
than in others, perhaps, but still effect
lively. With the pelygamy question it is
difficult. No prohibition of polygamy is
likely to be enforced at present at least.
against the slaves of the southern Phil
| ippine Islands. The commission quilted
Cattabatto with ideas considerably en-
larged and clarified as to the situation in
that part of the country.
The party arrived at Davoa the morning
of April 4th. Davoa is SO remotely sit
uated that the news of the surrender of
| Aguinaldo had not previously reached the
garrison? The chiefs of all the tribes in
the vicinity came in turn before the COM
missioners and related the circumstances
conditions and customs of themselves and
their peoples and told about their rela-
lions with other tribes. Besides the
Mores there were representatives of sew
eral tribes indigenous to Mindanao and
found nowhere else. These included the
Bagabas, Altos, Manobos, ~Guinangas,
Bulanganos and the Samales. The Samales
are most distinct from the rest. Though
less bright mentally, they are more in
dustrious and steady, and
Keep No Slaves
The people were generally poor and some
of them actually starving, when the
Americans came in. The reason was that
the situation had been so generally unset
tied that with the struggles of the tribes
against the Spanish and against each
other, they had been SO driven about that
little had been done il. the day of food
supplies. They stated unanimously that
things had been very well with them I'M
der American rule and apparently they
had no desire for a civil government be-
yond that outlined to them by President
Taft, namely, a general departmental gov
eminent for the southern islands. AS to
slavery and p%olygamy, the conditions are
very similar to those in the Cattabatto
region. Moros, Mohammedans and the
christened savages seem to dwell near
together without special friction, and
there appears to be no likelihood Of dis
turbances of the present peace in
That Remote District.
0OifllnS ITOIn the extreme southeast TO
the farthest northeast point of Mindanao,
the commission once more arrived in a
land inhabited almost exclusively by Fill
pinos. No savages of any sort were
found at Surigao. knowledge tina the
commission was coming had been learned
only through a Manila Spanish newspaper.
The date of the arrival was unheralded,
so of the thirty towns of the province,
only four were represented at the public
conference. Five presidents happened at
the time to be in jail, having been ar
rested for holding too intimate relations
with the insurrectos. Otherwise the place
is entirely peaceful, with but one company
of troops in the whole province. Captain
Hendricks, the local commander, Joined
with the leading Visayans in
ing the establishment of a provincial gov
ernment This the commissioners prom
ised to do shortly.
Although yesterday was Sunday, it was
far from being a day of rest for the COM
missioners or the people of Cagayan, the
commercial metropolis of northern Minda-
mao. The commission was in session
there nearly all day. The first person to
grasp the hand of President Taft when he
Climbed from the snip s cutter to the
wharf was Gen. Capistrano, who, before
his surrender, less than a fortnight pre-
vious, was
The Chief Insurgent
Mindanao and whose surrender practic-
ally ended hostilities in the islands At
the business session Gen. Capistrano oc-
|scupied a front seat and by invitation of
President Taft spoke intelligently upon
the questions discussed. He thanked the
commission for inaugurating so liberal a
form of government for the province of
Misamis as the one outlined. and said its
provisions We're in fact beyond the aspira-
lions of the people. - for himself, Capis-
trano said that he gladly laid down his
arms and swore allegiance to the United
States when he came TO await American
intentions. The General spoke conserva-
lively of the difficulties of which the pro-
vincial government in Misamis would
meet with the first year or two. The
Nisayans. who comprise practically all
the north coast population, were all anx-
ious for an early Inauguration of civil
government and ready TO support it.
Written inquiries We're submitted concern
ing a variety of questions. such as wheth-
er Chinese immigration now prohibited
by military ORDER is likely to be permit
ted 10 resume friarS RETURN Dublic