The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-02-01
COY TArTON THE PHILIPPINES
DESCRIBES Hrs TOUR or THE
I.4RIOUs PROVINCES. ~

Cryf Rule Established. win . Measure Of
eelf.C Government, In the Filipino Prov
tinces-Nativc Governors Appointed
tphercver II Was Deemed Expedient.
WARRINGTON. Jan. H.-The Senate Com
mittee ON the Philippines entered this
motnine on it's investigation into the gen
eratafalrs OF the islands. Some two weeks
ago Senator Hoar offered q resolution for
the appointment Of a special committee
on the conduct Of the war there; and that
resolution having been referred to the
Committee on the Philippines. the COM
mittee resolved on carrying on tho inquiry
itself This was the first Of It's meetings.
There wa a very full attendance Of mem-
bera, as W. II. Taft, Civil Governor Of the
Philippine Islands. was TO be the witness.
Mr.. Lodge Rep, Mass) was In the chair.
Al ito3o o'clock Gov. Taft came into the
committee room and was presented by Mr..
Lodge to each OF the other Senators per
sonAly. He took his seat beslde the chair
man, who informed Gov. Taft that the
committee desired his advice and informa-
ton as TO the condition Of tho islands. both
civil and military.
The Governor said that ho had gone TO
the Islands in April. 1890. and had left there
on Dec. "a last. He had visited all the
provinces except n few islands (which he
meptioned) between last February and
September. There were In the archi-
pelsgp. no said. provinces called Filipino
provinces, which were occupied almost
entirely by those who were understood to
be the ~Filipinos. They wcro the Christians.
Then there were the Moro provinces. with
thsuon-C Christian tribes. OF course the most
important provinces, In which civil gov
nme had been established with o meas
ure OF self government, were all Filipino
provinces. with one exception, Mindanao.
Gov. Taft related how he and the other
nefnbers OF tho civil government had gone
through the provinces gathering infor-
nation with a view to the organization
Of municipal and provisional governments
and the formation OF the Offices and bureaus
Of b oentral government They had been
directed. by, their instructions. TO find out
an mach "a they could, and they. did so,
from army officers. Filipinos. and every
body who could give them information.
Imitation had been extended during this
trip 20 Filipino delegates to make any
suggestions or comments they might. desire
to make. and they had done so. and in that
war there had been frequently active
discussions. He pointed out, on a map OF
tho archipelago hanging. on the wall OF the
committee room. the various points visited
on this trip, and stated generally what
thy had done. In that way they had
Mr. Allison inquired how the boundaries
OF She provinces had been fixed
w were aided Gov Taft replied,
.by the geographical limits as fixed in
oept where we changed them
He went or to describe the provincial
eovernments, which consisted. he said.
OF FIVE o~ficers-the Governor, Secretary,
Supervisor Treasurer and Peace Officer.
ing AZ provisional Governor a native Fill
pino where that could be done without
local factions. Where II could
be DON IN American was generally
IN reply TO a question by Mr.. Burrows,
Gov. Taft said that the Governors OF all
the provinces mentioned by him were TO DO |
chosen y election next month. He added that
In April last the Commissioners had started
their southern trip, which had lasted
hospitality from the Filipinos. who
were exceedingly hospitable. Lunoheons
and banauets were given them and they
were expected TO attend the bales. or balls.
given In their honor. The ladies OF the
party bad attended the bales: a. y a
much appreciate the compliment. which
Gov, Taft told what had beer done in
regard 20 the island OF Nsgros, In which the
provincial government had been abolished
account 81 lie expense. That, he said.
was q peculiar island. consisting OF a noun.
tain range and q forest range, cutting the
island IN two. II a always. at least
In spanish times. been infested by lAdronss.
who made forHys into the rich sugar haci-
n the places y hich the commission had
Visited there wss a replica set up IN front
AZ the ~mayoraity 81 the statue OF Liberty
Enlighienlng the World and statues OF
Washington and Mckinley.
Az aDother place, which Gov. Taft pointed
out on the map, the commission had met
she representatives Of the hill tnbes-
non-C Christians. neither honos nor fii-
pinos the islands having different names
az the various MAPS, 20 that u n very DIM
them.
Coy. Taft ~sxplAlnsd. In answer 10 Mr.
Frys. all about tls sultan Of Jol0 of Min
daaso There ~as such a sultan he said.
siI but q feS follosers The Datos.
% chiefs, paid 40 attsnuon 20 hun
Mr. Culhsrson tDem Tea inquired
Whistler thar had not heen war reosntly
bei sasn the Sultan and bic paios and
'yas,s saId GOV Tar. .thsrs la. bsos .
Sar Two 81 thros nlen were sounded
AID va killa1 and ! think the saf y over
Iss rHuinisslon, Gov TAFT addad, lad
Vku-i tho oalatal ~ every prOyinos. sAd
Ia rFsy oapltal thsre Nas q gafrlson
Al thls stage Tho commiiien too Gov
Tsh rlid ~ would lao tho advios ~
tlr o. on one pant A priltion
r. faf lad ts-n Wsiafed ~ tho
TrtrrHl laTty ~ che fhlips,ns Islands
srd rfoh H. him g. pfsssanf hs 40 not
knnr Vtsshm w. rhsuld SOD q ~ uhs hsus-
as ~ Naf ~ 40 tls ~ sfidrnt n tAs hsnats
sDd ltn alsska "a Nhp Hsusr
~ ~. d. eAbtiaiF sioui n HAS
W. stsIifniiiss sdlssffsd 81 ltssl tA
frsfHfaf.ta sna ftin6
slI aHIIs az gIDIHaI ~ Iasgs