Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1902-02-07
RULE OF PHILIPPINES.
TAT Explains Differences Between
Civil and Military officials.
CONTENTION WITH CHAFFEE.
1t Arose Over the Habeas Corpus
Provision In the Com MISSIONS
Code and Was Finally Set
tied by a Compromise.

washington, Feb. Elm his state
ment before the senate committee Oh
the Philippines during the day Gov
ernor Taft dealt especially with the
question of the relationship of the civil
and military authorities in the Philip
pines, and his explanation was received
with much interest by the members of
the committee.
Governor Taft said that originally
the civil and military control of the
islands had been in the hands of the
military and that there had been some
difference of opinion between the mil
itary authorities and the commission
as to the method of proceeding. This
difference had arisen with General
Macarthur, and there had been more
Or less correspondence on the subject.
The general had contended that au-
thOrity over the islands was vested in
the military as the representative Of
the chief executive, because the islands
were in a state of war. In this view
the commission did not concur. This
difference did not, however, extend to
the control of the municipalities.
The Hnbeas Corpus Contention.
In this connection Governor Taft eX-
planned at some length the contention
between the commission and General
Chaffee, which had, he said, arisen
over the habeas corpus provision in
the commissions code. That provision
had been inserted, he said, to protect
native officers who surrender and who
crimes committed while in the insur-
rectiOn service believed to be contrary
to the rules of civilized warfare Such
charges against the men were common,
and often they were unfounded.
The provision had, however been in
man serving in Cebu. who was seeking
to secure his release from the military
service in an indirect way. Thus a
conflict had arisen, and the question
had been referred to Washington with
the result that instructions had come
back that the difference must be COM
promised.
General Chaffee and l are on the
friendliest and most cordial TERMS" he
said. land we had no difficulty in
reaching an agreement after prolong-
ed conference.
"Our compromise was cached on the
understanding that a writ of habeas
corpus would not lie against military
officers. a civilian employee of the mil
itary branch or a prisoner of war"
Natives Favored Civil Authorities.
Governor Taft also said that there
had been some differences of opinion
as to other matters in the method Of
administration and that naturally the
natives We're more favorably inclined
toward the civil government because
they were represented by men of their
own nationality in that branch of the
service, while. on the other hand. the
army was principally concerned in
bringing the war to an end. He
thought. however. the military author
tiles were coming to look with more
favor on the civil institutions.
In reply to a question Governor Taft
said there are thirty-four organized
and fifteen unorganized provinces. In
answer to question by Senator Pat
tersOn Governor Taft said it was not
true that Il majority Of the people can
read and write
AS to the position Of women in the
islands he said that the women of the
Philippines hold superior position.
They are the active managers in gener-
al affairs, and the Spanish archbishop
had said to him that if it was intended
to confer any political authority upon
the Filipinos it should be conferred
upon the female SEX