The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-02-03
CONGRESS MUST PROVIDE MINING
AND HOMESTEAD LAWS FOR
PHILIPPINES
ENCOURAGE STURDY PIONEERS
Islands $1,000 soldiers Would
BE Sufficient 10 GAR
risOn Them
CHAFFEEs ORDER IS APPROVED

MANILA, Feb. manila is intensely
interested as to what action congress
will take concerning the Philippine
islands. Ordinary local politics have been
forgotten and two parties have been
formed, the optimists and the pessimists
Some think that life and property are
unsafe outside of the towns of the
islands, while others ridicule such ideas
and consider life and property to be as
sured.
Criticisms of the statements Of Civil
Governor Taft that he believed 1900 men
would be sufficient to garrison the islands
In a year are plentiful. Yet the majority
Of the business men say that Gov. Gen.
Taft is right on one condition only, that
being that congress acts for the benefit
of the Philippines. Capt. Frank Green,
president of the American chamber of
commerce here, says he fully believes
that Civil Governor Tafts forecast can
be realized il congress will arrange to
open the country to mining and home
stead laws, and to open and enlarge the
forestry reserves. Should this legiSla
ton be effected, an act by the Philippine
commission granting franchises would
naturally follow and American capital
in large quantities, as well as many
American miners and Observation-Disclosures
would come to the islands.
Results VIII ne Good.
eff this were accomplished continued
the president of the chamber of COM
merce, I'VE would Immediately have a
large body of resourceful and self-re-
liant men scattered throughout the archi
pelago who would become a source Of
information for the government con-
corning the natives surrounding them
and who would constitute reserve force
in case of necessity. The consequent de-
Velopment of the islands would give en-
ployment to an increasing number of Fill
pinos who, while busy making money,
would have less time to plot. The good
wages in sigh would make even those
Fflipinos in the field desert the insurrec-
ton in order to enjoy their share of the
prosperity.
Everyone admits the excellent work
done by the native constabulary, which
will be increased. Many municipalities
also now possess a fairly efficient police
force. The concentration Of the Ameri-
can troops into substantial barracks
would reduce the sick rate among them,
and 1900 men under such circumstances
would equal $1,000 men now. Given these
conditions, 1t can readily be seen that
in case of a local outbreak with which
the police would be unable to cope, the
constabulary would be handy. Should it
be necessary, the military can come in
ana InG0, as q last resort, Ln6f6 WOuIU
be this ever increasing body of American
citizens willing to render assistance"
ChafTee's Order Commended.
A prominent member of the government
says that the order Of Gen. Chaffee to
military commanders to harmonic with
tho civil author ties will have a
good effect. The member of the
government in question thinks
whatever friction there has been
in the provinces is probably due to
the continuation in Inese provinces in a
military capacity of the same officers who
previously welded civil power there.
Gen. Chaffee recognizes that both these
branches of the government are working
by different means to the same end-the
desire of the American people that a
clean and good government be established
in every place possible.
Gen. J. Franklin Bell, commanding the
American troops in the provinces of Ba-
tangas and Laguna Southern Luzon, has
arrived here to confer with Gems. Chat
fee and Wheaton. He considered there is
every prospect for the final termination of
the insurrection in these provinces
Surrenders of men and rifles there oc-
cur daily