Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1902-02-06
GOV. TAFT TESTIFlES
Senate Committee Investigates Con.
dition In the Philippines.
What he SAYS ABOUT The SULTlJS
No Effort Msds TO Extend the Civil Gov
eminent Of the United States to the
Moro Provinoss-A Petition from
the Federal Party

Washington, Feb. 1.-Gov. Taft was
the first witness before the Philip
pines committee Of the senate at the
hearing which is to be continued for
an indefinite period under senate res
olution. Particular attention will be
given to answering the criticism OF
tho democratic speakers now engaged
on the debate over the Philippine rev.
enue bill, in which they allege that
the Filipinos are being treated with
remorseless cruelty and undue sever
ity in the attempt to effect q com
plete subjugation. After Gov. Taft
shall have completed his testimony
number Of army officers who have
seen service in the Philippines will be
placed on the stand to relate their
experiences, and following that fea-
ture a list OF witnesses submitted by
the anti-imperialists through Senator
Hoar, Of Massachusetts,, will be exam
ined. The investigation will run
abreast Of the senate debate, and the
fullest publicity will be afforded the
testimony Of the witnesses on either
side.
Gov Taft began his testimony say
ing that he had gone to the Philip
pines in the spring Of 1900 and had
visited almost all Of the provinces
during the past year. He said that in
all the Filipino or Christian provinces
there il a form Of civil government.
There are 81 Of these provinces. The
Moros are all friendly except few
who have never been otherwise than
hostile to the Spaniards. Gov. Taft
said it had been found impossible to
put Flilipinos over the Moros They
are subject to their datos, or chiefs,
md refuse to recognize the authority
Of Filipino. There were, he said,
two sultsns, one in Mindanao and the
other in Jolo group, but the sultans
do not always control their datos.
The sultan Of Mandanao is, he said,
very poor, but the sovereign of the
Jolos is thrifty man who is con-
stantly trying to increase his income
and constantly getting into a row
about ii. The Jolo sultan had, he
sald, refused to recognize Spain's
claim to any property on the islands
except the custom houses, and there
Is considerable question as to the
ownership in many instances. This
complication existed not only be-
tween the sultan and the United
States, but between the sultan and
his subjects.
In reply to Senator Hale, Gov Taft
said that no effort had been made to
extend the civil government of the
United States to the Moro provinces
beyond making a few suggestions
bearing upon the revenue laws.
Nothing has been done in that di-
rectlon," he said. Everything is
going on just as IT was, and the is
lands are under the control of the
war department so far as the United
States is concerned"
Asked il the Moros were generally
peaceful, the witness replied that
they were so except in individual in
stances. "There is" he said. ''no war.
nor even insurrection in the Moro
provinces, but there are occasional
reports OF the murder of American
soldiers lie had no knowledge of
the reported fights in Mindanao. On
It's tour the commission had been at
tended only by corporals guard on
the steamer, but there was a garri-
son of United States troops at every
capital visited.
Gov, Taft referred to the federal
party in the islands and said that he
had been given a petition from this
party to be presented to the Ameri-
can congress, but had not yet decided