Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-01-31
.|AFI TALKS / OVER
Senate Committee on Philip.
pines Hears TAFT on Condi.
tion OF the Islands.
Work OF the Commission Among
the Filipinos is Fully
Explained.
Conditions Shown to Be Greatly
Improved Under Civil
Government.

| Washington, Jan. 31-Investigation
| into the conditions in the Philippine
archipelago, apropos of the effort to
secure legislation for the government
o. those islands, was begun by the SEN
ate committee on the Philippines to-
day. w. II. Taft, civil governor of the
archipelago, was the first witness
called. There was full attendance of
the members of the committee and
mittee, explained that the committee
desired not only the fullest information
concerning the islands, but any advice
that Taft might offer concerning the
questions at issue. Taft began by say
ing he had gone to the Philippines in
the spring of 1900 and had visited al
most all the provinces during the past
year. He said in all the Filipino or
Christian provinces there is form of
civil government. There are thirty
four of these provinces. The Moros are
all friendly, except few who had new
er been otherwise than hostile to the
Spaniards. Even these are now being
brought over by the prospect of trade,
of which they are very fond. Going
back to the beginning of the commits
sion's tour of the island, Governor
Taft said it had only been undertaken
after the reelection of President Nc
Kinley and when the time seemed ripe
for the establishment of local govern
;.,lo, he, carili lit,ey 4 hi
tour he said the course was to present
to the dignitaries of the various places
visited an explanation of the provincial
and municipal acts. I'VE had some
ORG " he said, "and from the rear
pl; orm 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 some seventeen capitals of the
provinces were visited on the first tour.
At each place the delegates met the
people where prescribed special act
was passed and a governor appointed
who was authorized toorgantze rriunici-
palities. These provincial governments
consisted. he explained, of governor,
secretary. superintendent, treasurer
and fiscal or prosecuting attorney. In
all cases where the selection could be
made without arousing jealousies the
natives had been chosen. All
these appointments We're tempo
rary and the next month their
successors would be elected. When the
factions were too strong Americans
were placed at the head of each provin-
cial government. In all cases the treas
nriy, fol
cans. The commission had first given
its attention to the northern provinces
and In April started south on a trip of
fifty-four days length. They had been
received most cordially everywhere.
This remark led the witness into few
discursive remarks upon the subject of
Filipino hospitality. THE Spaniard,"
he said will always tell you his house
is yours, but he does not always mean
that you should take him at his word
but the Filipino will tell you the same
thing and he always means what he
says. He will turn his family out and
inestall you in his habitation." Speak
ing of the island of Negroes he said it
was peculiar in its topography, and
previous to the coming of the commits
sion there was difficulty in the matter
of government. There are so many Of
ficers in the government that of $780,
900 (Mexican) only about $4,000 We're
left for other expenses than payment of
Taft said the commission had
had an interesting experience in trying
to reorganize the province of Antique,
but the people resisted vigorously. He
that at San Jose. the capital.
they displayed model of Liberty en-
the world. which was twenty
feet high and had been dragged seven
miles over very rough road. On the
there were statues of Wash
ington and Mckinley Taft said it had
been found impossible to put the Fill
pinos over the Moros. They are sub
iect to their datos or chiefs and refuse
to recognize the authority of Filipino
There We're. he said, two sultans, one
In Mindinano and the other in the Jolo
group, but the sultans do not always
control the datos. The sultan of Min
dinano is. he said, very poor, but the
sovereign of the Jolos is thrifty man. |
who is constantly trying to increase his |
income and constantly getting into |
row about 1t.