Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1902-06-07
WHAT TT PROVIDES.
Synopsis of the Philippine Bill
Passed by the Senate.
The Right to Jury Trial Withheld Land
Placed Under Control OF the Philip
pine Commission-TO Es-
tabIish a Mint


Washington, June 4-The Philip
pine government bill, as passed by
the senate yesterday, approves the
action of the president in creating
the Philippine commission and the
offices of civil governor and vice gov
ernor of the islands and authorizes
the governor and vice governor to
exercise the powers of government
as directed by executive orders. Flu
ture appointments of the governor
or vice governor shall be made by
the president, with the advice and
consent of the senate.
The ''bin of rights of the United
States constitution is applied to
the Philippine islands, with the ex-
ception of the right to bear arms and
the right to a trial by jury.
The supreme court and other
courts of the islands shall exercise
jurisdiction as heretofore provided
by the Philippine commission and
the justices of the supreme court
shall be appointed by the president
and the senate; the others by the
civil governor and the commission.
The action of the president of the
United States in levying and collect
ing taxes is approved.
All the inhabitants of the Philip
pine islands are deemed to be citi-
zens of the Philippine islands and en-
titled to the protection of the United
States.
When the instruction in the is
lands shall have been subdued a care
full census of the islands shall be
taken, and after such census the gov
ernor of the islands shall make a
full report to the president and make
recommendations as to future gov
eminent.
Meantime the Philippine commits
sion is authorized to establish mu-
nicipal and provincial governments
with popular representative govern
ment, so far and as fast as the COM
munities are capable and fit for the
same, the Philippine commission be-
ing authorized to determine the quail
ifieatiOns of the electors. The Dresi-
dent is authorized to regulate the
commercial intercourse with the
archipelago in the interest of the
general welfare.
The government of the Philippines
is authorized to provide for the needs
of commerce by improving harbors
and navigable waters, providing
warehouses, lighthouses, signal sta
tions, etc.
All land in the Philippines is placed
under the control of the Philippine
commission for the benefit of the in
habitants of the islands, except such
as may be needed for the Use of the
United States,
The Philippine commission is au-
thorfzed to acquire the friar lands
and is empowered to issue bonds to
pay for them. These lands, once
acquired, shall be part of the do
main of the United States and may
be disposed of as such.
Upon the supreme court of the
United States is conferred the right
to review the decisions of the SUI
preme court of the Philippines,
Municipalities are authorized to is
sue. bonds for municipal improve
ments with the consent of the presi-
dent and congress, the entire indebt-
edness of any municipality not to
exceed five per cent. of the assessed
valuation Of property.
The government of the Philippines
is authorized to grant franchises and
concessions, including the right of
eminent domain, for the construc-
ton of works of public utility, pro-
vided that no private property shall
be taken without just compensation;
that no franchise shall be granted to
any corporation that shall not be
subject to review by congress, and
that all laRds granted shall revert,
at the expiration of the concession,
to the governments by which they
were made.
A mint is to be established in Ma
Mia and coins authorized may be
coined at the mint, the coinage laws
of the United States being extended
to the islands.
The bill also continues the division
of insular affairs of the war depart
ment, the chief of which shall have
the rank of a colonel of the United
States army.