The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1902-02-08
GOVERNOR TAFTS ADDRESS
GOVERNMENT OF PHILIPPINES
Their Condition Reviewed Before
senate COmmIttee-APropo of the
EmoTt 60 secure Legislation for
Government of IsIaBds-CommIt-
tee Also Asked for Advice.

Washington. Feb. 3.-The invest
CATION into the conditions Of the Phil
lppine archipelago, apropos Of the ef
/ fort 10 secure legislation for the gov
eminent Of those islands. was begun BY
the senate committee on the Philip
pines. w. II. Taft. civil governor OF
the archipelago. was the first witness
called. There was full attendance Of
the members Of the committee. and
Senator Lodge. its chairman. explained
thht the committee desired not only the
fullest information concerning the Isl
ands, but any advice thar Gov. Taft
might offer concerning :he question al
Issue.
| Gov. Taft opened his remarks By
saying that he had gone TO the Philip
pines in the spring Of 1900. and had
visited almost all the provinces during
he past year. He said that IN all the
Filipino. or Christian. provinces. there
10 form OF civil government There
are thirty -four Of these provinces. The
Moros are friendly except a few. whe
have never been otherwise than hos
tile TO the Spaniards. Even these wer,
aow being brought over by the pros
peet Of trade, Of which they are yery
fond.
Describing the commissions tour o1
| he island. Gov. Taft gave in detail thu
proceedings OF the meetings at the va
/ ious places visited saying that som
seventeen capitals Of the province wer,
isitsd on the FIRST tour. Al each plac'
he delegates of the people were mel
he prescribed special act WAS passed
nd q governor appointed, who WAS az
horned TO organize municipalities
These provincial governments consist
ae explained. Of q governor. secretary
superintendent treasurer aud a Or
al. or prosecuting attorney.
Ia all cases where the selection
,ould be made without arouslns ieal
susies. natives had been chosen. Al
these appointments are temporary. IA,
lext month their successors will be So
cc;cd When the factions were To-
strong Americans were placed al Tn
ieAd u each provincial gorernmenL u
~ cases the treasurer and supefin
cndeni were Americans.
The commission had a-st given I'll
attcnuon TO the northern provinces
md In April started south on a trip o
a days. They had been received mos
cordially everywhere. This remark lei
he witness into a few discursive re
marks upon the subject Of Filipino hos
pitAiity.
\ Speaking Of the island Of Negros. h.
said Il was peculiar In It's topography
and previous 20 the coming Of the com
mission there was difficulty in the mat
,er Of government. There were s,
, many officers In the government tina
4 4 the SEQ. 600 tMexican) only abou
SIC. 600 was left for other expenses
3 han the payment Of salaries. Gov
taft said the commission had had si
interesting experience In trying TO re
IgAnize the province Of Antique. hu
that the people resisted vigorously. III
mentioned that at san Jose. the capital
they displayed a model Of liberty en-
tightening the world. which was twent
feet high. and had been dragged sevel
miles over a very rough road. On thi
monument there were statues Of Wash
inGton and Mckinley.
Gov. Taft said Il had been found i'm
possible TO put Filipinos over th'
Moros. They are subject 10 their dato
or chiefs. and refuse to recognize tn
authority Of Filipino. There was. h
; said. two sultans. one in Mindanao
and the other in the Jolo group. bu
the sultAns did not always contro
their datos. The sultan OF Mindanai
ia he said. very poor. but the sovereign
e ot the Jolos is a thrifty man. who ]
constantly trying 90 increase his In
! come and constantly getting into
+ ow about Il.