Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1901-12-25


the educated people. under the infiu-
ence of Spanish teaching. have put
faint conception of real civil liberty
and the mutual self-restraints re-
ouired for its maintenance The COM
mission have already. however. es-
tablished municipal suffrage in the
pacified parts of the islands and nave
limited the suffrage 10 those who can
read and write English or Spanish. or
who own property of the value of $3.50.
pay an annual tax of SIS. or have been
municipal officers. Thus far oaly
523 electors have qualified under
these provisions out of a population OF
1856, SOL in $50 municipalities. showing
only 1887 electors per 1000 inhabitants.
This is only about 10 per cent OF the
number which would qualify with a
similar population under American
law The commission declares that In
fixing these qualifications they fol-
lowed the recommendations of ali the
Filipinos who were consulted. except
that there were many who advocated
higher qualification. Many of the
| common people, the commission. be-
| lieves, will be brought within these
qualifications In one generation by the
widespread system of education which
| is being inaugurated and the electo-
| rate will thus be gradually enlarged.
| Meantime il is proposed by practical
lessons to eliminate from the minds of
| the more intelligent part of the com
munity those ideas OF absolutism in
1 r-a1 s1F nd TN
impress upon them the division OF
powers prevailing under the Ameii-
can system.
Reference is made by the co.u.nlssioi
to the beneficial effects expected from
the new tariff which took eirect or
| Nov Is and reduced the duties of the
necessaries of life and on machinery
and railway equipment needed for the
development of the islands. 1t is then
| declared:
IF congress will reduce by 20 per
cent the United States duty on tobacco.
hemp and sugar and other me. cham
disc coming from these Islands. 1t is
certain that the trade between them
| and the United States under the new
tariff will increase by leaps and
bounds. Such generosity would much
| strengthen the bonds between; tine
| Filipino and American people and 1t
is earnestly recommended"
AS The Republicans readers know,
the house of representatives has al
ready passed tariff bill for the
Philippines, but the dispatches of the
last day or two indicate that the inn
| portance of the recommendation just
quoted is now having such weight in
the minds of many congressman that
they are willing to say that the house
acted too hastily. The bill is there
fore likely to be materially modified be-
fore it passes the senate and becomes
| law.
The other important recommended
| lions made by the commission for leg
islation by congress are as follows:
| That the commission he authorized
to issue bonds of the insular govern
ment with which to buy up the agri-
cultural holdings and other property
of the religious orders. to purchase the
same and to sell lands thus acquired
| preferably to the present tenants. on
easy payments, and be required to use
the proceeds of the sales as sinking
fund with which to meet the bond
issued.
That authority be given the commits
sion to pass a general public land Ia"
making provision for the acquisition
of homestead rights. the perfecting OF
titles to those who have in good faith
| settled upon public lands and improved
the same and public auction sales OF
the public lands at a fixed minimum
price per acre in tracts of compare
lively large extent, and upon such
other conditions as the commission
may impose; and that this authority
shall include the right of the commits
sion to grant to the pueblos commons
from the public lands.
| That the commission be authorized to
continue the present regulations of the
cutting of timber, with such modifica-
lions as experience may show to be
wise
That the commission be authorized
to pass a mining law having general
resemblance to the United States min
ing laws, with such notifications as
the local conditions require.
That the commission have power to
pass a general incorporation law for
the conducting of legitimate businesses
by corporations.
That special authority be given the
commission to issue charters TO com
mercial railroads. with power to make
donations of lands, or guarantee the
interest on the Investments, or both,
such grants to be subject to the
approval of the president of the United
States.
That congress enact general coin
4 o,a lau r,royidinp for the eSta bliSn-