New-York tribune., 1902-01-07
PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT,
SENATOR LODGE TO INTRODUCE A BILL.
CARRYING OUT THE TAFT COM
MISSIONS RECOMMENDATIONS

MISSIONS RECOMMENDATIONS
Washington. Jan 6.-Mr. Lodge chairman OF
the Senate Committee on the Philippines, to-
morrow will introduce bill for temporary gov
ernment Of the Philippines drafted after many
consultations with War Department officials d.
rectly interested in insular affairs and the
government Of the Philippines The bill viii not
be made part of the Philippine Revenue bill,
which has passed the House, but will be an in
dependent measure. 1t does not attempt 10
tablish new form of government IN the Philip
pines, but confirms the action Of President Nc
Kinley in creating commission and ratifes the
acts Of that commission under the instructions
Of the President dated April l. 1900. 1t also
gives the President authority. while there is
armed resistance IN any part Of the islands 20
the United States, to regulate and control inter
island commerce. Section 4, following the Porto
Rican act, gives the government Of the Philip
pines power to 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 Philip
pines is empowered TO make rules and regula-
tons for the disposition of public lands. other
than timber and mineral lands such regulations
10 have the force and effect OF law only after
they have been approved by the President and
Congress. Then follows a series of provisions to
enable the commission TO perfect the title of
persons now occupying public lands and to
lease and sell lands to such persons give
them 10 occupants without compensation. 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 come provisions IN regard TO timber
lands. which are not TO be sold or leased by the
licenses 10 cut timber under the forestry regula-
tions now in force in the islands. The provisions
in regard to timber lands are followed by a num-
ber OF sections to mineral lands These
elaborate and embody the mineral laws in the
report OF the commission, and which were pre-
pared with great care so that they shall be in
harmony with the existing Spanish laws. The
mineral land sections cover also coal lands and
saline lands.
TO PURCHASE THE FRIARS' LANDS.
one OF the most important provisions in the
bill is that empowering the Philippine Commits
sion TO purchase the lands Of the religious or
ders and dispose OF them proper terms TO 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
Municipalities and the city Of Manila are au-
thoTized 20 borrow money and 10 issue bonds for
municipal improvements. There are two
tions which provide FOR the granting OF fran
chises, that individuals or corporations can
go into the Islands and construct electric and
manufactures The granting OF franchises is
guarded by provisions based the corporation
laws Of Massachusetts
Provisions are embodied for establishing a
coinage system the lines OF Special Agent
Conant's report. The final sections OF the bill
make provisions FOR banking system, and au-
thorize national banks OF the United States 20
be established in the Philippines.
Representative Cooper, OF Wisconsin CHAIR
man Of the Insular Committee or the House or
Representatives, VIII introduce, probably to-
morrow, a bill providing Fystem Of civil gov
ernment for the Philippines The bill Is also
the result Of extended conferences. which nave
been held between the War Department officials
and Senators and Representatives Interested IN
insular legislation. and Il follows 10 a large ex-
tent the recommendations Of the Philippine
Commission There are provisions regulating
corpora - franchises. establishing regulations
for mining. timber and land operations, and
establishing the preliminary steps by which self
government shall be undertaken by the people
of the islands
Several members OF the Senate Committee on
the Philippines met informally In the room OF
Senator Lodge to-day and discussed the Philip
pine revenue measure. The bill viii be taken
UP by the fun committee next Thursday. and II
TO the Senate. Some minor amendments VIII
Members Of the committee do not think there
Is any prospect Of q reduction OS the duties on
Philippine products coming 70 this country 10
the extent Of 30 per cent or - per cent as has
been suggested from different sources