Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-02-06
GOVERNUR TAFT
Says Friction Between Civil and Mill
tary Authorities Is All Over.

Washington, Feb. Sin his statement
before the Senate committee on the
Philippines, today, Gov. Taft dealt es-
pecially with the question of the rela-
tionship OF the civil and military au-
thorities in the Philippines.
Gov. Taft said that originally the
civil and military control of the islands
had been in the hands of the military
and that naturally there had been some
difference of opinion between the mill
tary authorities and the commission as
to the method of proceeding. This diff
ference had arisen with Gen. MacAr-
thur and there had been more or less
correspondence on the subject. The
general cOntended that authority over
the islands was vested in the military
as the representative of the Chief Exc
cutive, because the islands were in a
state of war. In this view the commits
sion did not concur. This difference
did not, however, extend to the control
of the municipalities.
In this connection, Gov. Taft explain
ed at some length the contention be-
tween the commission and Gen Chaffee,
which had, he said, arisen over the
habeas corpus provision on the COM
been inserted he said to protect native
officers vho surrendered and who are
subject to arrest on charge of crimes
committed while in the insurrection
service, believed to be contrary to the
rules of civilized warfare. Such
charges against the men were common
and often they were unfounded.
The provision had however, been in
;,,%4 af n,,1i tod
man serving in Cebu, who was seeking
to secure his release from the military
service in an indirect way. Thus
conflict had arisen and the question
had been referred to Washington with
the result that instructions had come
back that the differences must be COM
promised. Gen. Chaffee and l are on
the friendliest and most cordial terms"
he said. land we had no difficulty in
reaching an understanding after a pro-
longed conference. Our compromise
was reached on the understanding that
q writ of habeas corpus would not lie
against military officers, a civilian en-
ployee of the military branch or a pris-
oner of war;
Gov. Taft also said there had been
some difficulties Of opinion as to other
matters in the method of administra-
ton and that nearly all the natives
were more favorably inclined toward
the civil government, because they
were represented by men of their own
nationality in that branch of the SER
vice. while on the other hand the army
was principally concerned in bringing
the war to an end. He thought, how
coming to look with more favor on the
civil institutions.
In reply to d question Gov. Taft said
there are "a organized and Is morgan
lied provinces. In answer to a ques-
ton by Senator Patterson. Gov. Taft
said it was not true that a ajority
of the people can read and write. AS
to the position of women in the islands,
he said that the women of the Philip
pines hold a superior position. They
are the active managers in general af-
fairs and the Spanish archbishop had
said to him that if it was intended to
confer any political authority upon the
Filipinos it should be conferred upon
the female sex.
rs it not true" interrupted Senator
Dietrich, who has visited the Philippines,
while the women are engaged in con-
Quoting the affairs of the family the men
are generally engaged in attending cock
fights or going about the country with
ROSTERS under their arms?'
Mr.. Patterson in answer, read from the
war department report to the effect that
the Tagalogs are Industrious, courteous,
artistic quiet and orderly. Gov. Taft
said that he had never met a Filipino
who was not a musician. and he added:
"All Filipino crowds are well behaved
and polite and the people are courteous.
The Filipino also shows capacity for skill
cd labor, but he is negligent of machn-
is as Industrious as is claimed. but ne
is not. Indeed, there are many of them
who might secure work who do not seek
1t. This condition leads to a demand
for the bringing in of Chinese"
This statement led Senator Hale to
make inquiries concerning the presence Of