The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-06-28
AN AMNESTY PROCLAMATION
TO BEISSUED TO THE FILIPINOS
 ON JULY f.
Agutnaido and All Political Offenders to Benefit by It--Crim ina al Prisoner to Authorities Under the Coming Civil rnment-Peace to he Declared.

Authorities Under the Coming Civil Government-Pence to he Declared. Washington, June 27-At the meeting
 of the cabinet to-day the terms of an amnesty proclamation to the Filipinos,
 which it is contemplated to issue on the
 Fourth of July, were agreed upon. The war department for some time past has
 had under consideration the draft of a
 proclamation and has found it necessa-
 ry to make a number of changes In it's
 agreed to by the cabinet to-day and
 Secretary Root will cable it to Acting
 Governor Wright for his inspection. If
 it meets the latter's approval, nothing
 will remain but for the president, If the
 philinpine civil government bill is a law
 on that date as is now expected it will
 be. to issue on Independence day for
 mai proclamation setting forth terms of
 amnesty for all political offenders in
 the islands, including Aguinaldo and
 those held at Guam.
 The proclamation is based on the gen
 eral objects of the Philippine govern
 ment bill namely, to restore peace in the archipelago and substitute civil for a military administration That bill
 is now in conference and the proclama- ton will not be published until the Philippine government measure has been agreed upon by both houses and the president has affixed his signature to it. The proclamation will declare that a state of peace now exists In the | Philippine islands, save in the parts of | the archipelago where the Mindanao | or Pagan tribes are giving the United | Stffates great amount of trouble and | will declare in effect that with the | transfer of the government of the arch ipelago from military to a civil status all those arrested and held for political l offences shall be restored to liberty, granted fuli amnesty and allowed to participate in the civil government that Is to be inaugurated on the islands While the proclamation is subject to IihlIS III lthl Lllt StlItIdl ioillS utSt LII 1 the document is pretty well mapped out. There was a general discussion to-day of the treatment that should be accord ed the political prisoners of the islands. There is no intention, it is stated, to release those prisoners convicted of other than political offenses, the bene- fits of the amnesty being limited to those in custody as result of breaches of military law, leaving criminal of- lenders to the action of the proper au- thorities under the coming civil govern ment. The purpose is to demonstrate | that motive of humanity and generosi- ty distate our course toward the F'ilipi- nos. When the islands are turned over to the civil authorities they will not be eft without adequate military protec- ton as no more troops will be ordered home for the present and every precau- ion will be taken for the military safe- guarding of the islands under the new 'ivil administration.
 Another subject under discussion at , the cabinet meeting to-day was the ne- ,otiations for the purchase of the friars' , ands in the Philippines Secretary Root ., ooll with him to the meeting all the 7 which had passed be- ween himself and Governor Taft while he latter has been carrying on his ne- ,otiations at Rome, I is understood hat Secretary Root feels great conf- I Ience in a successful outcome of Cover ( Tor Taft's efforts.
 The cabinet also took up the question U If naming the naval vessels provided or in the naval appropriation bill and | t is stated, a decision was reached in ach case, but it is desired not to make he names public until the vessels are ctually authorized. !g