The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-01-31
TAFT TESTIFIES.
Governor of Philippines Tells
Com mittee About Islands.

Washington. Jan. 31-The investiga-
ton into the conditions in the Philip
pine archipelago, apropos of the effort
to secure legislation for the govern
ment of those islands was begun by the
senate committee on the Philippines to-
day. w. H. Taft, civil governor of the
archipelago, was the first witness call
. ed. There was a full attendance of
members of the committee and Senator
Lodge, chairman of the committee, ex-
planned that the company desired not
only the fullest information concerning
the islands but any advice that Cover
nor Taft might offer concerning the
questions at issue. Governor Taft be-
gan by saying that he had gone to the
Philippines in the spring of 1900 and had
visited almost all the provinces during
the past year. He said that in all the
Philippine Christian provinces there
is a form of civil government. There
are "a of these provinces. The Moros
are all friendly except a few who had
never been otherwise than hostile to
the Spaniards. Even these were now
being brought over by the prospect of
trade of which they are very fond. Go
ing back to the beginning of the COM
missions tour of the island, Governor
Taft said that it had only been under
taken after the reelection of President
Mckinley when the time seemed ripe
for the esta tablishment of local govern
ment in the islands. Describing this
tour he said the course was to present
to the dignitaries of the various places
visited an explanation OF the provin-
cial and municipal acts. I'VE had some
oratory," he said. land from the rear
platform of the train, but generally
from the windows of the car" He then
gave in detail the proceedings of the
meetings at the various places visited,
saying that some II capitals of the
provinces were visited on the first
tour.
At each place the delegates of the
people were met, the prescribed special
act was passed and a governor ap-
pointed, who was authorized to organ
ize municipalities. These provincial
governments consist he explained of a
governor, secretary, superintendent,
treasurer, and a fiscal or prosecuting
attorney. In all cases where the selec-
ton could be made without arOuSinS
jealousieS, natives had been chosen.
All these appointments are temporary,
and next month their successors will
be elected. When the factions were too
strong, Americans were placed at the
head of each provincial government
In all cases the treasurer and superin-
tendent were Americans. The commits
sion had first given its attention. to the
northern provinces, and in April start
ed south on trip of "a days. They
had been received N ost cordially every
where. This remark led the witness
into a few diScurSiVe remarks upon the
subject of Filipino hospitality. The
Spaniard, he said, will always tell you
that his house is yours, but he does not
always mean that you should fAl<e him
at his word but the Filipino will tell
you the same thing, and h4 always
means what he says. He will turn his
family out and install you in his habi-
tation.
Speaking of the island of Negros, he
said it was peculiar in it's topography
and that previous to the coming of the
commission there was difficulty in the
matter of government. There were so
many officers in the government, that of
the 5000 900 CA1exican) only about $4,000
was left for other expenses than the
payment of salaries. Governor Taft
said the commission had had an in
teresting experience in trying to re-
organize the province of Antigua but
that the people resisted vigorously. He
mentioned that at San Jose. the cap
ital, they displayed a. model of liberty
enlightening the world which was 20
feet high and had been dragged seven
miles over very rough road. On this
monument there were statues of Wash
ington and Mckinley.
Governor Taft said it had been found
impossible to put Fflipinos over the
Moros. They are subject to their
datos, or chiefs. and refuse to recog-
niZe the authority of a Filipino. There
were, he said, two sultans, one in Min
danao and the other in Jolo group but
the sultans do not always control their
datos. The sultan of Mindanao is he
said. very poor, but the sovereign of the
Jolos is a thrifty man, who is constant
ly trying to increase his income and
constantly getting into a row about it.