Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1902-07-04
70 CIVIL GOVERNMENT NOW
PROCLAMATION TO F1IIP1Nos
VIII Be Issued July 4-This Decision
ing of the Cabinet-MiIitary Pris-
oners VIII Not BE Freed-Friar
Lands to BE Purchased.

Washington, July 1. At a re-
cent meeting of the cabinet 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 consid-
GRAFTON the draft of the proclamation
and has found it necessary to make a
number of changes in it's text. In its
modified form it was agreed to by the
cabinet and Secretary Root will cable
it to Acting Governor Wright for his
inspection. If it meets with the lat
ter's approval, nothing will remain but
for the president, if the Philippine
government bill is a law on that day,
as it is now expected it will be, to
issue on Independence day formal
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
general objects of the Philippine gov
eminent BILL namely, to restore peace
in the archipelago where the Min
danao or pagan tribes are giving the
United States a great amount of trou-
BILE, and will declare in effect that with
the transfer of the government of the
archipelago from a military to a civil
status all those arrested and held for
political offenses shall be restored to
liberty, granted full amnesty and al
lowed to participate in the civil gov
eminent that is to be established in
the islands. While the proclamation
is subject to changes in text, the gem
eral language of the document is
pretty we'll mapped out.
There was a general discussion of
the treatment that should be accorded
the present prisoners of the islands.
There is no intention, it is said, to re-
lease prisoners convicted of other than
political offenses, the benefits of the
amnesty eing limited to those in Gus
tody as result of breaches of military
law, leaving criminal offenders to the
action of the proper authorities under
the coming civil government. The
pun pODC Ia W OCluOu6JldLC JlGRI AllO-
tives of humanity and generosity die
tate our course toward the Philippines.
When the islands are turned over to
the civil authorities they will not be
left without adequate military protec-
ton. as no more troops will be order
ed home for the present and every
precaution will be taken for the mill
tary safeguarding of the islands for
the new civil administration.
Another subject under consideration
at the cabinet meeting was the nego-
tiations for the purchase of the friars'
lands in the Philippines. Secretary
Root took with him to the meeting all
the correspondence which has passed
between himself and Governor Taft
while. the latter has been carrying on
his negotiations at Rome. 1t is under
stood that Secretary Root feels every
confidence in a successful outcome
of Governor Taft's efforts.
The cabinet had UP the question Of
naming the naval vessels provided for
in the naval appropriation bill, and it
is stated decision was reached on
that matter, but it was decided not to
make the names public until the YES
sells are actually authorized. The cab
met meeting was held in the presi-
dents temporary quarters on Lafay-
cite square, and was the first time in
IS years that regular session of the
cabinet has been held outside of the
White House,