The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-02-15
THE TRANQUIL PROVINCES.
GOV. TAFT EXPLAINS PHILIPPINE
JUDICIAL SYSTEM.

Has Fourteen Districts With SUI
irene Court of Seven Justices.
FiIipinos Not Intelligent Enough
for JurOrs-Native Troops Under
Native officers Could Not De Trust
ed, said Taft-FiIipinOs Not at
Liberty to Advocate an Independ-
ent Government.
washington, Feb. 14.-Gov. Tart of
me Philippines to-day continued his
statement before the Senate Commit
Tee on the Philippines, concerning the
conditions in that archipelago with
the intention of discussing the degree
of tranquility in the pacified prov
inces which, he said, included all the
provinces except Tayabas. Samar and
Batangas.
Senator Lodge asked as to the means
used for maintaining tranquility. The
reply involved a review OF the legal
system of the islands, at present, as
under the military government and I'M
der the Spanish rule. Gov. Taft said
that in June of last year the commits
sion had passed an act organizing a
system of judiciary for the entire arch
ipelago, creating a supreme court of
seven justices and creating fourteen
districts. There Is no provisions for a
Jury, nor would a jury system be feas-
ible. because, said the witness, 80 per
cent. of the people are too ignorant to
sit on q jury.
Senator Culberson asked whether
there is any part of the archipelago
the control of which could be trusted
to native troops and the witness re-
piled that he did not think it would
be advisable.
L should not like to have the respon-
sibilty of recommending such a
course he said.
Senator Burrows: do you mean to
say that the attachment of the natives
for America is so slender that it would
not be safe to entrust the conrol of
any section to native troops with ma
tive officers?"
Gov. Taft: "The presence of a ma
tive regiment under the control of ma
tive officers would, in my opinion, give
rise to opportunities to the commander
to lead the tribes into ladronism or in
surrection, and would, therefore, be I'M
wise"
How would it be with native troops
under American officers?"
Il have not the slightest doubt that
with American officers the native
troops would be entirely loyal"
Senator Culberson questioned the
witness as to the necessity of keeping as
many as so, 200 American troops in the
Islands and the latter replied that Capt.
Allen estimates that, with all the prov
inces pacified, $1,000 American troops
would be sufficient. For himself, he
thought it would be desirable to con-
tinue small detachments of troops at
convenient points all over the islands
for the purpose of preventing disorder
and violence and serving as a moral
restraint. Senator Lodge stated that
the Secretary of War had informed him
that when the present general orders
were carried into effect there would be
left in the islands LIPS officers and 26,-
2S4 enlisted men.
Speaking of the general condition of
the pacified provinces, Gov. Taft said
that in all these provinces the people
are going about their usual avocations.
In one province not a hostile shot had
been fired for two years.
Senator Culberson: rs it true that
under existing law they are not at
liberty to advocate an independent or
a separate form of government"
mo, they are not"
"Are the American troops in the ISL
ands being used" Senator Burrows in
quired, ito prevent the people from
rising for independence or to preserve
order?''
They are not used at ALL" replied
the witness, land as we regard the sit
uation, they are not necessary. Their
presence for the preservation of order
was originally required but such is
not the case now. and they are being
withdrawn and the civil constabulary
substituted"