The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1902-10-02
ionera 10 "a united state.

lands are hereafter to be appointed
in the same way as the members OF
our own supreme court.
Provision is made for the improve
ment of the harbors OF the islands
and for the construction OF bonded
warehouses, warves, piers, light
houses, and signal and life saving sta
tions.
All the property acquired by the
United States under the treaty Of
peace is turned over to the govern
ment of the islands to be administered
for the benefit of the people thereof
All the public lands are to be classi
fed according to their agriculture
character and productiyeness and
rules and regulations made at once
for their lease and sale, which mus
receive the approval of the President
and of congress. At the same time
the Philippine commission is directed
to see that all natives who held land
prior to he transfer of sovereignty
from Spain to the United States, but
who were unable to perfect their
titles, be allowed to complete their
titles without compensation. This
provision will be of the greatest bene
fit to the natives, as will the section
of the act which provides that any ma
tive who now occupies a part of the
public domain, except timber and min.
eral lands, may be given without
price, or allowed to purchase sixteen
hectares of land. Ample provision is
made for the preservation of the for,
ests, and all money received for the
sale or lease of any part of the public
domain goes into the treasury of the
islands, as do all other revenues.
Mineral lands are open to discovery
under provisions of the act which are
a combination of the British-American
and Spanish mining laws.
One of the most beneficial pro-
visions of the laws is that part which
relates to the purchase by the Philip
pine government of the lands Of the
religious orders.
There is no one thing more desired
by the natives than the acquisition OF
these lands belonging to the friars
but occupied by the natives. These
lands are to be bought and bonds is
sued to pay for them, and the lands SC
acquired are to be sold to the natives
on suitable terms.
municipalities, subject to the ap
prevail of congress are to be allowed
to issue bonds for public improve
ments, such as the construction OF
sewers, and water supplies, not to eZ
coed five per cent of the assessed val
uation of the property of each munich
paIity. The city of Manila, however
is granted the right, on account Of ex
traordinary needs, to borrow $4,000
900 for its public improvements.
. Franchises may be granted in The
islands, but the provisions of the Bill
were drawn with the utmost care ant
are based upon the corporation laws
of Massachusetts. Ample opportunity
is given to capital, but demonstrations
are very rigid.
The construction of mint is au
thorized at Manila, and suitable sub
sidiary and minor coins are provided
-four. under the coinage laws Of thu
United States which so far as aUpli
cable, are extended to the islands.
There are many other minor pro
visions of the act which will be- Of
benefit to the islands, but space will
not permit me to go into them hers il
detail. l have touched, however, OF
most OF the larger features of the law
The passage of the bill proves, think
that the purpose of the American peo
pie in these islands is the best and ON
motives the highest.
No Asiatic people has ever had 81
large a degree of popular representa-
tive government either given or prom
Used to them. 1t is a great experiment
one new to the world, but the Republi
can party, at least, believes that witt
time and patience, both in large meas
ure, we can solve the problem of tn,
government of Eastern tropical pos
sessions in accordance with American
principles. If We abandon the Phil
Iippines now we not only shir& a grea
responsibility but we turn the island
Eover to bloodshea and anarchy, whicl
can result only In their absorption b,
some strong European power or b!
Japan.