The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-02-04
CONTINUES HIS NARRATIVE
Conditions on Island Explain
 ed to Committee.
Natives Who Come in Constant Con- tact With the Troops are Not Impressed With American
 Institutions.

- Washington, Feb. 3.--Governor Taft to- day continued his statement before the Senate Committee on the Philippines re- garding the conditions existing in those islands.
 He described the condition of the island of samar. where the people are still in insurrection and said he was not pre- pared to state that this island was never wholly subjected to Spanish rule. The qualifications requisite for an clector Tn the district towns where the commission had establish governments. he said, were that such person shall speak and write English or speak and write Spanish. or shall have filled a municipal office under spanish rule, or that he shall pay sl5 gold taxes year.
 Governor Taft then began a, general of the commisison's work when the commission arrived at Manila they found the people divided into three classes, those in favor of the exclusion of American sovereignty although the Spanish party in favor of this govern ment, and large body of ignorant people who were entirely indifferent.
 Governor Taft said that instructions to the committee which gradually placed more power in the civil government. had had a marvellous effect on the people. The insurrection. he said, had been most active in September preceding the elec- tons in this country, with the view oi influencing the natives. for, this reason 1t had been difficult to bring the Filipinos to a discussion of legislator, which the commission were enacting. There was doubt as to what the policy of the United States would be. s.ts t, -ta
 ''The subordinate military officers he continued, were Ia little bit contemptuous of wiIst we were. doing, bccauseH seemed to play so. unimportant "a part In the situation, but when the power over the purse strings began to tighten in the matter of appropriations, these gentle men who were spending the island funds began to appreciate that there was some power behind the commission
 Governor Taft said 1t will be found, on investigation, that the surrenders by the insurgents of arms and men were far in excess of the actual captures by the military. The municipal scheme was not put into operation. he said, until after the Presidential election in the United States because of the, unsettled ,condi- ton of affairs. but as soon as 1t became known to the people that the commis- sion had thought it wise to provide Tor the election of governors, which occur next month. the Filipinos fiocked to them with expressions of qualification. He said that the theory of the commission in their formation of ciTil government IS the extenson of education, but that the effect of this could not be felt for generation, until the children had grown to manhood. There was. he said. 10000 adults engaged in the study of English.
 In exclamation of the obstacles to the complete tranquility of the islands, with the exception of Samar. Batangas and Laguna, he said that the lack of quarters for the troops, which was the cause Of their being brought into close contact with the people, was the principal one and he urged that such quarters be pro- vided.
 Governor Taft declared that the chief aim of the commission was the good or the Filipino people and that they had con stantly endeavored to gain their con- fidence Tn this they had been success ful, the people believing they would he given the best government possible and be secured enjoyment of their rights. He sought to prove the susceptibility of the Filipino to kindness by the results achiev- cd by the commission. It was not hard, he said, to explain the attitude of the Fihplnos toward the army, because they could not he expected to love the instru- ment by which punishment is inflicted on thcm. Governor Taft said the federal party was the one which represented peace and influence.