Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-11-29
N THE PHILIPPINES
Secretary Root Treats of the Islands
Conditions.
PROGRESS IN CIVIL GOVERNMENT
People Are Eager in Their Desire
for Education.
HIS RECOMMEN DATION s

The government Of the Philippines Is the
subject Of the second and final installment
OF the annual report Of the Secretary OF
War made public today. After reviewing
briefly antecedent conditions in the Philip
pines during the military occupation and
power. the Secretary refers to the Spooner
amendment Of March 2. 1901. authorizing
the establishment of civil government and
says:
Conditions and Policy.
The conditions at that time did not per-
init, nor, great as has been the improve
ment. do they now permit, the abandon
ment Of military government throughout
the archipelago. In the more unsettled por-
tions Of the islands the restrictive and pu-
nitive force of purely civil administration
| would as yet be quite inadequate to the
maintenance OF order, even IL the creation
| of civil service personnel were already ac-
complished. The work of securing the great
number OF competent and faithful civil
agents necessary for the administration OF
government Is necessary now, even in thor
oughly pacified territory. 1t requires that
! the appointing power should become famil-
lar with great numbers of the natives and
should learn both who are competent and
VINO are to De truSted-a necessarily grad
| ual process.
| 1.-The policy contemplated in the Instructions
OF April Z, 1900, and followed by the War
Department, has been to steadily press for
ward, rapidly as it could be done safely
and thoroughly, the gradual substitution of
government through civil agents for gov
eminent through military agents, so that
| the administration of the military officer
| shall be continually narrowed, and that OF
the civil officer continually enlarged, until
the time comes when the army can with
out 1mperflling the peace and order of the
country, be relegated to the same relation
toward government which it occupies in the
United States. In this way We have avoid
| ed the premature abandonment of any DOW
er necessary to enforce the authority of the
United States, and at the same time have
held open to the people of every community
the opportunity to escape from the strin-
gency of military rule by uniting with us in
effective measures to bring about peaceful
conditions in the territory which they in
habit"
The report describes the steps taken for
the establishment of civil government, con-
Summated by the Inauguration of Judge
Taft as civil governor. July 4 last and
gives an account of it's operation since
He refers to the different branches of the
government under separate heads In part
as follows:
Civil Service.
'In providing the personnel of the govern
ment which is thus gradually superseding
military administration the department has
proceeded upon the assumption that the
honor and credit of the United States is so
critically involved in creating a good gov
eminent that the Importance Of securing
the best men available should outweigh and
practically exclude all other considerations
This principle of selection has been followed
without deviation.
The civil service law enacted by the
Philippine commission September 49, 1900
has been put into successful and satisfac-
tory operation.
Education.
Time and persistent energy and very
large amounts of money will be necessary
to put the educational system in working
order. No regular system of reports has
yet been possible, but from the reports re-
ceived 1t is estimated that not less than
10000 children are actually enrolled in
the Tree primary schools; that one-half of
these are being compelled to wait because
there are not adequate school rooms. and
that there are 1900 children in actual
daily attendance upon the schools already
established. There are between 5000 and
1000 native elementary teachers employed.
About 1900 Of these are receiving daily in
Struction in English.
Over 10000 adult natives are studying
English In evening schools under Ameri-
can teachers, and many more are applying
than can be cared for yet. The great
est eagerness is manifested to learn Eng
fish. There is a widespread desire to send
boys to the United States for education.
Many OF the towns are arranging to send
The educational situation is, briefly as fol-
lows: There is widespread and earnest
desire for education among the people of
the islands There are more people anX-
ious for education than there are teachers
to furnish II. There are more teachers
than there are school buildings or rooms
for them to teach in. think no one can
become familiar with the facts without
deep interest and a strong desire to press
forward provision for education. All the
good influences Of American civilization
may enter through this open door,
Reference Is made to the element of
wealth in the forests Of the islands and the
effort to enforce forestry regulations. Leg
islation is recommended that should per-
init the building of railroads from the towns
to the forests and the employment Of capt.
tal under proper limitations and super
vision, in cutting timber to supply the
wants of the people. He refers to the prm-
tive methods OF agriculture and indorses
the request of the Secretary of Agriculture
for authority to establish an experimental
station.
Greater banking facilities are needed
There are no American banks there and no
power to create any banking corporations.
1t is recommended that the national bank
ing act be extended to the Philippines with
such notifications as circumstances may
demand.
Business and Revenue.
notwithstanding the serious disadvan-
tages under which 1t has labored." says the
report "the business OF the islands has in
creased during the past year. The total
value Of merchandise Exclusive of army