Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1902-06-19

! the Flliplnos are the bearing OF
arms and trisl by jury. The
former is withheld because TO
grant it under present conditions
would encourage brigandsge. The
latter is withheld because the
tllipinos confess that they are
united for it. They have never
known anything like our jury
system, and all their leading men
say it would not work we'll with
them.
! The Senate bill vests the e1ecu.
tive and legislative authority for
the islands in the present COM
missioners and their successors
It vests the judicial authority in
the insular Supreme court. Both
the commissioners and the Su-
preme Justices are to be appointed
by the President and confirmed by
/ the Senate.
The Philippine Legislature, or
commission, IS given authority to
construct public works, to grant
franchises for adequate compensa-
tions to pubhc-service corporations
and to make rules tor the quieting
Of land titles. TO permit muDici-
palIties to issue bonds for public
improvements. anl to establish
a mint and issue a silver dollar
and minor coins.
Timber lands. except for mill
sites, are not to be sold or leased.
but the commission may issue
licenses to cut timber The wise
policy has been adopted of keep
ing for the people the ownership
Of the Philippine forests. Nor are
mineral lands to be sold except to
those who actually discover and
work mines. 1t will not be pos
sible for speculators to buy up in
the Philippines vas. tracts of
either forest or mineral lands.
The commission is also author
lied to acquire by purchase or
condemnation what are known aa
the friars estates, and to divide
and sell them to the natives, Civ
ing preference 10 actual occupants.
The tenants of the frisr5 will thus
be converted into proprietors. 1t
is believed that the breaking up
Of their estates will 20 far to
settle the vexed "friar question
Governor Taft, in his compre-
hensive article 10 The Outlook for
May Il, expresses the opinion that
certain PROVISIONS of the Cooper
bill now pending in the House.
are better than some parts OF the
Senate bill He believes il would
be better to reform the Philippine
currency on the gold basis in
stead ot Oh the silver basis. He
also believes that 1t would be bet
ter to give the FilIpinos at once
sn elective lower house, and
pleads for a further reduction Of
our tariff on Philippine products.
Further tariff concessions are
probably not to be expected from
this congress 1t would also seem
adyisabls u per,n., the Filipinos
qualified for suffrage to elect one
house Of their insular Legislature
They would then feel that they
had greater share in their gov
erUment The upper house, CON-
posed ot the appointed commits
sion. would --em sufficient check
upon basty OF radical legislation.
The senate bill. however. holds
out to the Filipinos the hope Of a
speedy enlargement Of their poli,i-
cal privilege 1t directs the CON-
mission 70 take a census Of the
islanis. .u orl-- T. ascertain to
What extent the pe'ri" are fitted
for locsl seif-soverHment. 1t
specially declares that the yesting
OF Legislative authority in the CON-
mission alone i merely temporary.
From American rule the Fill
pinos have obtained complete per
sonal and civil liberty. Their
products have been given a pref
ererce Of - per cent IN orr mark
ets. TIE hllI now passed by the