The Washington times., 1902-02-01

There was a full attendance of the SEN
ate Philippine Committee yesterday.
when general investigation of the af-
fairs of the Islands was inaugurated
Hon. W. H. Taft, the Civil Governor of
the islands. entered the committee room
at 1O:l5 o'clock and was Immediately
called as the first witness of the proposed
investigation.
The Members Present.
Mr.. Lodge was in the chair. The other
members present were Mr.. Allison of
Iowa, Mr.. Hale of Maine. Mr.. Proctor of
Vermont, Mr.. Burrows OF Michigan, and
Mr.. McComas of Maryland.
After Governor TAFT had been present
ed to the members OF the committee he
took a seat beside the chairman. Mr..
Lodge told him that the committee de-
sired advice. suggestions and information
as to the condition of the islands, both
civil and military.
Visits to the Provinces.
Governor Taft began his remarks by
stating that he had gone to the Philip
pines in April, 1899, and had remained
until December "a, 1901 During that
period he had visited all the provinces
except a few islands. Continuing he said:
There are in the archipelago provinces
called Filipino provinces. occupied almost
entirely by those understood to be Fill
pinos, who are Christians. Then there
are the Moro provinces with the non
Christian tribes.
The most important provinces in
which civil government has been estab-
hshed, with a measure of self govern
ment. are all Filipino provinces with the
exception of Mindanao"
Collection of Information.
Governor Taft then related how he and
the other members of the Philippine Com
mission had gone through the provinces
gathering information with a view to the
organization of municipal and provincial
governments, and the formation and es-
Enlistment of officers and bureaus of
central government.
He said the work had been prosecuted
BY gathering all available Information
from army officers, Filipinos and all who
had any suggestions to offer
He then pointed out on a large map of
the archipelago, which he had brought
with him, the various points visited on
the trip, and stated generally what had
been done toward the organization of
provincial governments.
Mr.. Allison enquired how the hounda-
ries of the provinces had been fixed.
We were aided replied Governor
Taft, ''by the old Spanish geographical
limits. which were adopted with but few
ohanges.''
He then described the provincial gov
ernments, which he said consisted of five
officers-governor, secretary, supervisor.
treasurer, and peace officer.
THE policy of appointing Filipino
as governor" he continued, was pur-
sued when it could be done without favor
of local factions. When this could not
be done an American was generally ap-
pointed"
In reply to question by Senator Bur-
rows, Governor Taft stated that the gov
ernors of all the provinces were TO be
chosen by election rext month.
On the Island of Ncgros.
Governor Taft then took up the island |
of Negros, in which the provincial gov
ernment had been abolished on account |
of the expense incurred
The island is a peculiar one" con-
tinued Governor Taft, lin that it consists
of a mountain range and a forest range, I
which cuts the island in two. 1t has al
ways. at least in the Spanish times, been
infested by ladrones, who made forays
into the rich sugar haciendas.'
He stated that in one of the provinces
visited by the Commission there was a
replica set up in front of the mayoralty
of the statue OF Liberty Enlightening
the World and statues of Washington
and Mckinley.
Governor TAFT then told how, at an
other place which he pointed out on the
map, the Commissioners had met the rem