The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1902-07-05
10 CIVIL GOVERNMENT NOW
PROCLAMATION TO rrI1PrEos.
WIN Ne Issued JuIy s-ThIs DeeIsIen
Was Arrived A. af Resent Meet
inE Of the cabInet-MIsIfary Prls-
onern WIN Not ne Freed-PrIar
Lands to Ne Purchased.

Washington. July l. - AT q re-
cent meeting Of the cabinet the terms
Of an amnesty proclamation to the
FiIipinos. which Il Is contemplated to
issue on the Fourth Of July, were
agreed upon. The war department for
some time past has had under consid-
Grafton the draft Of the proclamation
and has found Il necessary to make q
number Of changes in its text In it's
modified form II was agreed 70 b. the
cabinet and Secretary Root win cable
It to Acting Governor Wright for his
inspection II II meets with the lat
teris approval, nothing will remain but
for the president, II the Philippine
government bill is a law on that day,
as II is now expected it viii be, 70
issue on Independence day a formal
proclamation setting forth terms OF
amnesty for all political offenders in
the islands, including AgainaIdo and
those held at Guam.
The proclamation is based on the
general objects Of the Philippine gov
ernmeat bill, namely, to restore peace
in the archipelago where the Min
danao or pagan tribes are giving the
United States q great amount Of trou-
bic. and will declare In effect that with
the transfer Of the government Of the
archipelago from a military to a civil
status all those arrested and held for
political oifenses shall be restored to
liberty. granted fun amnesty and al
lowed TO participate In the civil gov
eminent that is TO be established in
the islands. While the proclamation
is subject to changes in text, the gen
eral language Of the document is
pretty well mapped out
There was a general discussion OF
the treatment that should be accorded
the present prisoners CT the islands.
There is no intention. il IL said. to re-
lease prisoners convicted Of other than
political offenses, the benefits Of the
amnesty eng limited to those in Gus
tody as a result Of breaches OF military
law. leaving criminal offenders to the
action Of the proper authorities under
the coming civil government The
purpose is to demonstrate that mo-
lives Of humanity and generosity die
tate our course toward the Philippines.
When the islands are turned over TO
the civil authorities they will not be
left without adequate military protec-
ton. as no more troops viii be order
ed home for the present and every
precaution wiz be taken for the mill
tary safeguarding Of the islands for
the new civil administration.
Another subject under consideration
al the cabinet meeting was the nego-
tiations for the purchase OF the friars'
lands in the Philippines. Secretary
Root took with him TO the meeting all
the correspondence which has passed
between himself and Governor Taft
while the latter has been carrying on
his negotiations at Rome. It is under
stood that Secretary Root feels every
confidence in a successful outcome
Of Governor Taft's efforts.
The cabinet had up the question Of
naming the naval vessels provided for
in the naval appropriation bill. and II
is stated 4 decision was reached on
that matter. but IL was decided not TO
make the names public until the YES
sells are actually authorized. The cab
met meeting was held in the presl-
dents temporary quarters on Lafay-
cite square. and was the first time in
So years that a regular session OF the
cabinet has been held outside OF the
White House.