New-York tribune., 1902-01-08
PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT.
MR.. COOPER'S BILL ESTABLISHES CIVIL
RULE AFTER JANUARY 1, 1904

Washington, Jan. T-Represert tive Cooper, OF
Wisconsin. chairman OF the House Committee on
lnsular Affairs to-day introduced a bill providing
complete form OF civil for the Philip
pines to begin January |. 1904. with a governor
appointed by the President. a legislature of two
houses and two commissioners to represent the
Filipino people at Washington. In other respects
the Cooper bill follows that OF Senator Lodge,
heretofore summarized but in the important feat
ures of establishing civil government after jan
uary l. 1904. Mr.. Cooper's measure enlarges on the
bill drawn at the War Department and introduced
by Mr.. Lodge
In framing form OF civil government for the
Philippines Mr.. Cooper follows the recommenda-
tions Of the Philippine Commission. Section con-
tinues the authority of the Commission until jan
uary l. 1904. at which time the new civil govern
ment is TO come into existence. The upper branch
OF the legislature Is called council and Is to
consist of five native Fnipinos. appointed by the
President The lower house is called the House OF
Delegates, and consists of thirty members elected
every two years by vote of the people. The quail
hcations OF voters that they shall be over twen
ty-one years old, shall be able to read and write
Spanish or English shall possess taxable property
and shall have lived one year in the islands
The bill makes complete provision for executive
legislative and judicial branches of administrator
in the Philippines. The executive branch OF the
government is to be conducted by a governor
assisted by a cabinet body of executive ofscers
consisting OF a secretary of administration attor-
ney general treasurer auditor commissioner OF
interior and commissioner OF education The gov
ernor Is to be appointed by the President for a
term of four years. and Manila is made the head
quarters of the central administration. The mem
bers OF the governors cabinet also are to be an
pointed by the President for terms of four wears
No person holding military or civil office under
the United States is eligible for membership in the
legisla ture.
As TO the powers OF the Philippine legislature
Section 25 provides that the legislative power shall
extend 10 all risntful subjects of legislation
consistent with this or with the laws of the
United States, locally applicable"
DEFINING CITIZENSHIP
Owing 70 the mixed character Of the inhabitants
OF the island-natives, Spanish and Amertcan-the
following section is important as defining citizen
ship:
All inhabitants continuing to reside In the Phil
1889 and then resided theren ana their chiidre1n en-
porn issn sgeseqnsn thereto shan be held to be cit
TO preserve their allegiance IN accordance with the
the citizens OF the United States who reside in the
tfhippineSs IN S shall after January L. 1904 const
herein conferred.
The two commissioners who are 10 be sent to
Washington are to be selected at the first session
Of the legislature by joint OF the two houses
When ia Washington the Philippine commissioners
shall be entitled to official recognition at all de-
partments upon presenting their credentials TO the
Department of State
The foregoing civil government features of the
Cooper bill distinguish it from the measure framed
by the War Department and introduced by MIR
Lodge. Mr.. Cooper incorporates in his bill sub
and land regulations, homesteads, etc, in the
Senator Mitchell to-day introduced several amend
ments to the proposed Philippine Tariff bill The
amendments suggest a substitute for Section /
the PROVISIONS of the tariff bill by the Phil
lpplne Commission 1t is also provided that Fill
plno exports or imports from or 10 the limited
states shall pay only 50 per cent of the rate charged
on arCcies coming from exported to foreign
countries Another provision places American
woods and articles manufactured from wood meat
Ish frult (dried grains. vegetables and seeds and
forage on the free list Another amendment strikes
our the provision In the pending bill requiring the
payment OF tonnage tax on vessels COMING ~ ~
United States from the Philippines - ~