The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-01-07
Authority Given to Grant Franchises
Dispose of Public Lands and Pur-
chase Church Property.
CHINESE EXCLUSION BILL
NEW MEASURE PERFECTED AMI
READY FOR INTRODUCTION.
Provides a Perpetual Bar Against Ad
mission of Certain OrientaIs to
the United states.

WASHINGTON, Jan. Ex-senator Lodge,
chairman of the committee on Philippines.
Tomorrow will introduce bill for tenn
porary government of the Philippines,
drafted after many consultations with War
Department officials directly interested IN
;nsuIar affairs and the government of the
Philippines The bill will not be made
a part of the Philippine revenue bill, which
has passed the House, but will be an in
dependent measure. The bill does not at
tempt to establish new form of govern
ment in the Philippines. but confirms the
action of President Mckinley in creating
a commission and ratifes the acts OF that
commission under the instructions Of the
President. dated April :. 1900. II also gives
the President authority while there is
armed resistance in any part OF the Islands
10 the United States TO regulate and con-
troll interisland commerce.
Section a. following the Porto Rican act
gives the government Of the Philippines
power 10 improve the harbors and other
instruments of commerce. and Section 5,
also following the Porto Rican act turns
over TO the government of the Philippines
all lands devoted now to public use. bridges.
highways, etc.
Under Section the government Of the
Philippines is empowered to make rules
and regulations for the disposition of pub
lie lands. other than timber and mineral
lands, such regulations to have the force
and effect OF law only after they have
been approved by the President and Con-
gress. Then follows a series of provisions
10 enable the commission to perfect the
title OF persons now occupying public lands
and to lease and sell lands to such persons
orft- rvif
pensation This is to provide for the small
native landholders who are occupying, and
for long time have occupied public lands.
but who have no titles to protect them in
their holdings.
Next comes provisions in relation to the
timber lands. which are not to be sold or
leased by the commission, who have power
only TO issue licenses to cut timber under
the forestry regulations now in force in
the islands. The provisions in relation to
the timber lands are followed by num-
Der OF sections as TO mineral lands. These
are very elaborate. and embOdy the mineral
commission and which have been prepared
by them with great care so that they
ish laws. The mineral land sections cover
also coal lands and saline lands.
One of the most important provisions in
the bill is that empowering the Philippine
commission 10 purchase the lands of the
religious orders and dispose of them on
proper terms 10 the actual occupants. An
appeal from the Supreme Court of the
islands TO the Supreme Court Of the United
States is provided in certain cases. Munic
ipalities and the city of Manila are author
lied 20 borrow money and 10 issue bonds
for municipal improvements
There are two sections which provide for
the granting of franchises. so that individ-
uals or corporations can go into the islands
and construct electric and steam railroads
and engage in industries and manufactures
The granting OF franchises is safeguarded
by provisions based on the corporation laws
OF Massachusetts.
Provisions embodied for establishing
a coinage system on the lines of Special
Agent Conants report. The final sections
OF the bill make provisions for a banking
system and authorize banks OF the United
States TO be established in the Philippines
on Philippines met informally in the room
OF Senator Lodge to-day and discussed the
Philippine revenue measure. The bill will
be taken up before the full committee next
Thursday. and IL is expected that an early
report will be made To the Senate. Some
minor amendments will be made, but none
OF a sweeping character. Members of the
committee do not think there is any pros
pect of a reduction of the duties on Phil
ippine products coming to this country to
the extent Of 80 per cent or 3 per cent
as has been suggested from different
sources.