The age-herald., 1901-12-19
BRIGHT OUTLOOK
 FOR PHILIPPINES
Commission Makes Report oh
 Needed Legislation
FEDERAL PARTY POPULAR
Under the Franchise Provision 4e,523 Electors Have Qualified Out of Population of 2,6e5,8o1.
 Patience Necessary.

Washington, December 1S.-Provisior for a permanent civil government ant for much important legislation regarding the industrial development of the Philip of the Philippine commission.
 It is declared that the Federal party spread like wildfire throughout the archi pelago and that there are few towns, | any, of the provinces which have moi their Federal committees. The mem bers of the party were most active and effect. i've in inducing insurgent leaders to sur render. It is declared by the commission that:
 Outside of Btangas Cebu, Bohol Sa. mar and Mindoro, there is peace in the remainder of the archipelago. All insur- rectos have surrendered and, in most of the provinces, it is entirely safe for trav- elers to go from town to town unac- companied. In other provinces recent war conditions and suffering and hard ships from cattle pests and locusts have developed ladronism. The people are friendly to the civil government and manifest no desire whatever for con tinuance for the war. but only desire for peace and protection"
 Political Future.
 Taking up the question of the political future of the Filipinos. 1t Is declared that the theory upon which the commission is proceeding is that the only possible meth cd of instructing the Filipino people in methods of free institutions and self-gov- ernment is to make government partly of Americans and partly of Filipinos, with ultimate control in American hands for all time to come
 Less than 10 per cent of the people speak Spanish, and the educated peo- ing, have but a faint conception of real government and the mutual self-restraint required for it's maintenance. The com mission has already, however, established municipal suffrage in the pacified parts of the islands and have limited the suffrage to those who can read and write English or Spanish or who own property of the value of $250, pay an annual tax ol @lO Or nave been Hun1Clpdl OnlcerS. Thus far only 49,523 electors have quail fled under these provisions out of pop ulation of 2,695.s01 in 300 municipalities, showing only 1s.37 electors per 1000 in- habitants. This is only about 10 per cent of the number of the population which would qualify under the American law. Many of the common people, the commission believe, will be brought with in these qualifications in one generation by the widespread system of education which Is now being inaugurated.
 To impress upon the Filipinos the American system of government the com- mission suggests the continuance for two years of the existing powers of the com mission. Then a representative govern ment is to be formed composed of civil governor, a legislative council and a popular assembly,th powers of the latter being closely limited so as to prevent it from choking the government in making the necessary reforms or through blun- ders of the inexperienced. The Filipinos should also have the right to be repre- scented before Congress and the execu- tive government at Washington by two delegates.
 Will Settle Land Titles.
 The commission propose to settle the vexed question of land titles by legisla- ton providing for the sale of public lands upon the homestead principle and the payment through bond issue of the price of the lands now held by the religious orders. A fifty per cent reduc- tion in the tariff on Philippine imports into the United States would, it is said increase our trade by leaps and bounds Other recommendations are, in sub- stance, that the present system of tim Der cutting under license be continued that mining and incorporation laws be passed; that the commission be permitted to confer charters upon railways, and to aid them by grants of lands or guar anteeing low interest upon the invest ments; (probably the total obligation would not exceed $1,650,000), that laws be passed providing for coinage, on the gold standard basis with local silver cur. rency and for a system of national banks and land mortgage banks.
 A full account is given by the com. mission of the organization of the sys tenn of education which has been going on so vigorously under Dr. F. w. At kinson, the general superintendent. Int English language is the basis of al public instruction and nearly 1000 train, ed teachers from the United States al ready have been put to work. The great. est eagerness IS shown among the na. tives to obtain a knowledge of English and general primary education. In Ma nila secondary schools have been estab- lished, normal school is engaged in the instruction of Filipino teachers and night schools are holding regular ses- sions with 1890 pupils. Manual training schools and agricultural colleges are a part of the project which is being carried out.