The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-02-15
CANNOT BE TRUSTED
INHABITANTS OF THE PHILIPPINE
ISLANDS DO NOT LIKE AMER
ICA OVERMUCH
TAFT REVIEWS LEGAL SYSTEM
No Provision Made for Trial by Jury,
as the Natives Are Too Ig-
nOrant for That
Duty.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14-Gov. Taft, of
the Philippines, today continued his
statement before the senate committee
concerning the conditions in that archi-
pelago with the intention of discussing
the degree of tranquility in the pacif1ed
provinces, which, he said, included all
the provinces except Tabayas, Samar
and >Batangas.
Senator Lodge asked as to the means
Tor maintaining tranquility. The reply in
Volved a review of the legal system of
the islands at present as under the mil
ltary government and also under the
Spanish rule.
Gov Taft said that in January of last
year the commission had passed an act
organizing a system of judiciary for the
entire archipelago, creating supreme
court of seven justices and fourteen dis
tricts. On the supreme court bench there
are, he said, three natives and four
Americans, and he believed that any
state would be satisfied with such a
bench. OF the courts of first instance in
the districts six are presided over by ma
tive Filipinos, and the others by Ameri-
cans.
Gov. Taft said that Judge Ide, of the
commission, had prepared the code of
laws of the islands, and that the labor
had been so severe it materially damaged
his health. This code includes the trea-
SUI dC( 1ASI0 IS no pION1SlOn TOT IL
jury, as 80 per cent of the people are
too ignorant to sit on jury.
Senator Culberson asked whether there
is any part of the archipelago the con-
troll of which could be trusted to native
troops, and the witness replied that he
did not think it would be advisable. Il
should not like to have the responsibility
of recommending such d course he said.
1.-THE experiment never has been tried,
hIIf in tv.xyc L., ~, i've,
ton I should say that to put 1000 rifles
in the hands Of LOCO natives would not
be WISE
Senator Burrows-De you mean to
say that the attachment of the natives
for America is so slender that it would
not be safe to entrust the control of
any section to native troops with native
officers?
Gov. Taft-The presence of native
regiment under the control of native
officers, in my opinion, would give rise
to opportunities to the commander to
lead the tribes into ladronism or insur-
rection, and would, therefore, as L have
said, be unwise.
How would it be with native troops
under American officers?"
I have not the slightest doubt that
with American officers the native troops
would be entirely loyal"
Troops Still Necessary.
Senator Culberson questioned the wit
ness as to the necessity of keeping as
many as $4,000 American troops in the
Islands, and the latter replied that
Capt. Allen estimates that with all the
provinces pacified 5000 American troops
would be sufficient For himself, he
thought it would be desirable to con-
t1nue small detachments of troops at
convenient points all over the isands
Tor the purpose of preventing disorder
ana violence and serving as a moral
restraint. Speaking of the general con
oltlon OF the pacific provinces Gov.
TART said that in all these provinces the
people are going about their avocations.
senator Culberson-Is is true that
under existing law they are not at Iih-
erty to advocate an independent or a
separate form of government?
No; they are not
Senator Patterson asked how tho neo-
pie had been made peaceable in the fire+
place-whether this result had not hnan
accomplished by first batterine them
with the military and then demonstrate
Ing to them by the acts of the commits
SION the benefits of American methods
Inc reply was that not only the civil
government but the military forces had
sought to impress the ADVANTAGE of
american rule. Peace had been secured
py crushing out the guerrilla warfa re
Whlch had had the effect of esta b1ish-
ing system of terrorism with which the
people IN general did not symnatl,ize
mat however, the people generally. a.
igast IN some provinces, did not svnnpa-
thlze with the Instruction he voI,Gd
not attempt to say.