Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-28
AMNESTY FOR FILIPINOS
Cabinet Decides to Issue General Proclama-
tiOn of Pardon on July 4.
AeUlNALDo AND OTHERS BENEFITED
Desire is TO Restore Peace In Archi-
peIaEo and Substitute n Civil for
n Military Administra-
ton.

WASHINGTON, June 27.-At the meet
ing Of the cabinet today the terms OF an
amnesty proclamation to the Filipinos,
which II is contemplated to issue on the
Fourth Of July, were agreed upon. The
Va, department for some time past has
y IN ser consideration the draft of a
l.. M and has found 1t necessary
to number of changes In its text
In its dihed state II was agreed to by
the cabinet today and Secretary Root will
cable 1t to Acting Governor Wright for his
inspection. II 1t meets the latter's approval
nothing will remain but for the president, if
the Philippine civil government bill is a
law on that day, as is now expected It
will be, to issue on independence day a
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 upon the gem
eral objects OF the Philippine government
bill, namely to restore peace in the archi-
pelago and substitute a civil for a military
administration. That is now in conference
and the proclamation will not be issued
until the Philippine government measure
has been agreed upon by both houses and
the president has affixed his signature TO IL.
Text of the Proclamation.
The proclamation will declare that state
of peace now exists in the Philippine islands
save in the parts Of the Archipelago where
the Mindanao or pagan tribes are giving the
United States great amount of trouble and
will declare in effect that with the trans
fer 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 allowed to participate in the
civil government that is to be inaugurated
in the islands. While the proclamation is
subject to changes in text, the general
language Of the document is pretty we'll
mapped out.
There was a general discussion today OF
the treatment that should be accorded the
political prisoners of the islands. There
is no intention, II is stated, to release those
convicted Of other than political offenses,
the benefits Of the amnesty being limited to
those in custody as a result Of breaches Of
military law, leaving criminal offenders to
the action Of the proper authorities under
the coming civil government. The purpose
is to demonstrate that motives Of humanity
and generosity dictate our course toward
the Philippines. When the islands are
turned over to the civil authorities they
will not be left without adequate military
protection. as no more troops will be or
dered home for the present, and every pre-
caution will be taken for the military safe
guarding Of the islands under the new civil
administration.
Purchase of Friars' Lands.
Another subject under consideration at
the cabinet meeting today was the nego-
tiations for the purchase of the friars lands
in the Philippines. Secretary Root took
with him to the meeting all the correspond
ence which has passed between himself and
Governor Taft while the latter has been
carrying on his negotiations at Rome. II
is understood that Secretary Root feels
great confidence in a successful outcome OF
Governor Tafts efforts.
The cabinet also took up the question OF
naming the naval vessels provided for in
the naval appropriation bill and, it is as
serted, decision was reached In that case
but 1t is desired not to make the names
public until the vessels are actually author
lied.
The cabinet meeting was held in the
presidents temporary quarters on Lafayette
square and was the first time in eighty
eight years that a regular session of the
cabinet had been held outside the White