The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-28

Lie ISSUING Oh an Order Dy fTeslueHt
Roosevelt for taking census of the Phil
ippines marks a new stage in the estab-
lishment of American government in the
Islands. Under Spanish rule no attempt
numerical enumeration of the population of
the islands, and this was incomplete. The
generally accepted estimate of the popula-
ton Of all the islands is about 100000, but
this is largely conjecturaL The population
is roughly divided into three great groups
the Indians, or native Filipinos number
ing about 100000, who are nominally Ro-
man Catholics; the Moros, or Moors, in the
southern islands, numbering about 100000.
who are Mohammedans and very turbulent,
and the wild tribes In the interior, about
100000. There is supposed to be about 100000
Chinese in the islands, and they control
most of the principal industries. The Span
ish authorities only took a census Of the
population for the purposes of taxation or
extortion by the church. The civil gov
Congress provides that when it shall have
been certified to the President by the Phil
ippine commission that condition OF gen.
eral and complete peace exists in the
islands. the President shall order a census
to be taken, which shall inform the Pres
ident and Congress as to the numbers, age,
sex, race or tribe, whether native or for
eign-born, hteracy in Spanish. native dia-
lect or language, or in English; school at
tendance, ownership of homes and indus
trial and social statistics. The commission
having certified to the President that the
required state of peace exists, except in a
small part of the territory occupied by the
wild Moros, he has issued an order direct
ing the census to be taken. Such a census
as that above provided for will furnish
much fuller information regarding the in
habitants. of the islands than has existed
before, and besides being interesting
contribution to the worlds knowledge will
furnish basis for needed legislation. The
taking of the census is preliminary to the
establishment of local self-government in
the islands. The law provides that two
years after the completion Of the census. If
complete peace has meantime been MAIN
tanned throughout the islands, exclusive of
the territory inhabited by Moros or other
non-Christian tribes, the President is au-
thorized to direct the Philippine commits
sion to call a general election for the choice
Of delegates to popular assembly Of the
people in the islands, which is To be known
as the Philippine Assembly, and this body,
with the Philippine commission as an upper
house, is to be the legislative authority Of
the islands The Assembly is to consist of
not less than fifty nor more than 100 men,
bers, to be apportioned among the provinces
as nearly as possible according to popula-
ton Each province must at least have one
member, and each member is to serve for
two years The first meeting of the Legis-
lature is to take place on the call of the
Governor within ninety days after the elec-
ton. From this it will be seen that the
taking of the census is an important feature
in the American programme. The work will
be attended with many difficulties, but no
one need fear but American intelligence and
energy will be equal to it. 1t may be added
that the bill providing for the taking OF
the census and for other important steps in
| the American programme Of self-govern-
ment for the Filipinos was passed over the
strenuous opposition of persons in and out
| of Congress who professed to be opposed to
military rule in the islands.