Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1902-02-08
TAFT BEFORE THE
SENATE COMMITTEE
Philippine Investigators Hear
the Civil Governor Of
the Archipelago.
WORK OF COMMISSION
Nearly All the Provinces Visited, and
Governments Established In 34-
Always Well Received by
tho Natives.

Washington. Feb. S.-Investlgatiou
Into the conditions in the Philippines
archipelago apropos of the effort to Sc
cure legislation for the government of
these islands was begun by the senate
committee on Philippines today. A. w.
tart, civil governor OF the archipelago,
was the first witness called.
There was a fun attendance of men,
bers of the committee and Senator
Lodge, chairman of the committee, ex-
planned that the committee desired not
only the fullest information concerning
the islands, but n advice that Taft
might offer concerning the questions at
issue. Taf began by saying he had
gone to the Philippines in the spring
or 1900, and had visited almost all the
provinces during the past year. He
said I'm all the Filipino or Christian
provinces there is a form of civil gov
eminent. There are thirty-four of
these provinces. The Moros are all
friendly, except a few who nae never
been otherwise than hostile to the
Spaniards. Even these are now being
brought over by the prospect of trade,
or which they are very fond.
Tour OF the Island.
Going back to the beginning of the
comnlssion's tour of the island, Gov
ernor Taft said it had only been after
the reelection of President Mckinley
when the time seemed ripe for the es-
adjustment Of local government in the
islands. Describing this tour he said
the course was to present to the digni-
taries OF the various places visited an
explanation OF the provincial and mu-
nicipal acts.
We had some oratory," he said,
from the rear platform Of the train,
but generally from the windows OF a
car"
He then ave in detail the proceed
lngs or the meetings at the various
places visited, saying some seventeen
capitals of the provinces were visited
on the first tour. At each place dele
gates Of the people were met. the pre-
scribed special act was passed and a
governor appointed who was author
lied to organize municipalities. These
provincial governments consist, he eX-
planned, of a governor, secretary, sup
erintendent and treasurer, and fiscal
or prosecuting attorney.
In all cases where the selection could
be made without arousing j%ealousies,
natives had been chosen. All these
appointments We're temporary, and
next month their successors will be
elected. When factions were strong
Americans were placed at the head OF
each provincial government. In all
cases the treasurer and superintendent
were Americans. The commission had
first Civ IN it's attention to the northern
provinces, n in April started south
on a trip OF hfty-four days. They had
been received most cordially every
where.
Filipino Hospitality.
This remark led the witness into a
fed discursive remarks upon the sub
Ject OF Filipino hospitality. "A Span
lard 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 Filipinos will tell
you the same thing, and he always
means what he says. He will turn
his family out and install you in his
h~abitation."
Speaking OF the island OF Negros he
said 1t was peculiar in It's topography
and previous TO the coming OF the com
mission there was difficulty I'm the mat
ter of government. There were so
many officers In the government that
Of 5000, 900 CMeXican) only about $40. 600
was left for other expenses than the
payment Of salaries. Taft said the
commission had an interesting expert
ence In trying to ~reorganize the prov
ince or Antique, but the people resist
ed vigorously. He mentioned that at
San Jose, the capital, they displayed n
model Of Liberty Enlightening the
World, which was twenty feet high,
and had been dragged seven miles over
very rough roads. ON this monument
there were statues of Washington inc
Mckinley. Taft said it had been found
impossible to put the Filipinos over the
Moros. They are subject to their
datos or chiefs. and refuse to recognize
the authority Of the Filipinos. There
were, he said, two sultans, one in
MindinaO and the other I'm the Jolo
group, but the sultans do not always
control the datos. The sultan OF Min
dinao is, he said, very poor, but the
sovereign Of Jolos is a thrifty man,
who is constantly trying to increase his
income, and constantly getting into u
row about II.