Arizona republican., 1902-01-10

been reached in the Philippines the many questions pre-
 FILIPINO scented for solution by
 VIEWS. reason of American oc- cupancy will be among the most interesting before the Amer ioan people. For the purpose of pre-
 seDting the views of the educated Filipino class. the North American Review for January gives the com
 ments Of three native members of the
 Philippine commission, Dr. T. Fl. Pardo
 de Tavera. and Benito Lega-da and
 Jose Ruiz de Luzuriaga, upon the situ-
 statements were brought out by in-
 quiries from the Manila representative
 of the Review.
 Dr. Pardo de Tavera replies that the
 greatest benefit conferred thus far is
 the liberation Of the Filipinos from
 the sad and hated political domina-
 ton of 1he friars.'' It isn't the only
 benefit, though. The laws are TOW en-
 acted at Manila. and not at NIa6rid.
 The municipalities enjoy a home-rule
 not dreamed of in the old days. Gov
 ernor Taft is at once a revelation and
 puzzle to people accustomed to the ar
 bitrary rule of Spain's governor gon-
 eral. Compulsory military service and
 other age-lOng opprsssiors have been
 done away. Personal liberty has ar
 rived with the arrival Of the Ameri-
 nd
 an impartial enforcement of law. 'The
 FiIipinos are convinced that the era of
 justice has begun says the doctor.
 There is no longer government ot privileged persons, nor is the law nov
 obeyed by the poor alone The foGn-
 datiors of prosperity are ping laid. at Manila and elsewhere. Iarbor and river improvements are in progress; the making of roads also. and the building of new bridges. But the pres ent economic condition Of the islands is lamentable. Agriculture is pros trate, a great deal of property has been destroyed. an epidemic has ragged among the carab2cE. The poorer pco- pie couldn't stand any large increase O. direct taxation yet a while. The ex- tsting taxes produce twice what they did in the Spanish tine-thanks to the American system of strict account ing Trust companies and mortgage loan companies are urgently needed Free admfttance to the American mar ket would be a great boon. The Filipinos who belong to the federal party hope that, some day. the islands will become q state-"like those which form the union" Meanwhile they hope for more and more of self government as they show themselves ready for it. For the present. the doctor thinks con ;ress had better keep hands off. Two 1r three years from now the conditions may be ripe for a territorial govern nent and an elective popular legisla- 1 .ure-a thing the Filipinos greatly desire The doctor wishes congress ! would authorize the Filipinos to send 10 Washington as their accredited 1 spokesmen two delegates chosen by l ,elected commissioners of the prov nces. He thinks this would satisfy heir just desires. but this is his per 5onal opinion. Tt is certain that my ! opinion will not today receive the ap- . proval of the majority" he says. add {. ing that he was right three years ago {. when the ma ajority thought him foolish. . Now the policy he advocated is ap- 1. proved as just. rational and patriotic. 1.
 The doctors two native colleagues on . the commission travel over a good deal . 1f the same ground in their replies to l he North AInerican's. questions. Mir. l. Legarda thinks if will be wise to let . the provisional government alone for ! ! couple of years. The first thing is to | the work of pacihcation. | After that, c representative chamber | ,hosen by qualified electors, and Filipino delega tion-of "an informative | ,haracter'-in congress. With the gold | standard. the building Of railways. the l opening of mines, the establishing of i agricultural experiment stations, the | clearing of land titles. etc, MT. Le- | garda hopes to sec new times in the | islands. MT Luzuriaga thinks it may ! be well, after hostilities have wholly | ceased. to give the islands a form of i government "similar to that of Hawaii | 1r Porto Rico" What lies much nearer | to his heart at present, though, is the | of mortgagc-loan banks ! for the relief of the struggling Filipino | farmers.
 The statistican of the Chicago Chron- ! cle has compiled figures from the cen |