Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1902-01-20
PHILIPPINE PROGRESS
IS HELD BACK BY
SPOONER AMENDMENT
Root Goes Into Affairs Of the Islands
in Interesting Investors
are Slow to MOve---M Many
People Idle,

Washington. Jan. 9.-SeCretary Root
gave an interesting exposition of the
condition Of affairs in the Philippines.
together with the outlook for terminal
ing military by civil rule, in the course
of a hearing today before the House
Committee on Military Affairs in con-
nection with the Army appropriation
bill. The meeting was behind closed
doors. and no exact statement of Root S
remarks was given out, although the
following is understood to embody the
more essential features:
The discussion of the Philippine con-
ditions was brought out by question
by Hay of Virginia as to whether civil
government could be maintained in
the islands without the presence of the
army. In reply Root stated that the
army was necessary as moral force
to maintain the civil administration
now established.
One Of the main causes, he said. why
there had not E.en more progress in
the Philippines was that the Spooner
amendment, passed by Congress last
year and restricting the grant Of fran
chises, had the effect Of preventing
the investment of capital and the con-
sequent employment of labor. Many
people were idle, and many of these be-
came conspirators simply because they
were idle. The Secretary lnstanced the
fact that. although rice was one Of the
main products of the Philippines, yet
about $j.OOO.O00 worth of rice had to be
imported last year. In this and many
other branches of industries the
wheels Of industry were not moving
the people out of employment were en-
couraged in viciousness, and. as a re.
suit, 1t was necessary to keep some
10000 troops in the islands.
In some provinces a very satisfac.
tory administration. had been set up
But Root pointed out that even in
provinces where civil government had
been success there were men con.
spring to assist in the agitation and
warfare carried on in neighboring
provinces. On the whole. however. the
Secretary expressed the belief that II
Congress enacted the bill proposed by
Senator Lodge. or that of Representa-
tive Cooper of Wisconsin, providing
systems of laws for the Philippines
II would be possible soon thereafter
gradually to reduce the military estab,
lishment in the Philippines. He did
not believe itawould be rapid Or COM
plete termination of military rule al
| the conditions among the natives were
| firmly fixed and IL would take much
time to bring about the new order OF
affairs.
Root said that better progress hat
been made in the last year than had
been expected, and he expressed tn,
| opinion that civilization ultimately
would be extended TO the people of the
islands. To Illustrate this point. he
said the Philippine people had been in
effect living under a sixteenth century
government and the United States
wanted to give them twentieth
tury government.
The situation in Cuba was discussed
only briefly, as Root remarked thai
we were simply trustees there. where.
as our interest in the Philippines was
much more definite and extended, par.
ticularly over the large sweep of pub
lie lands. Root also stated during the
hearing that II was the expectation Of
the War Department to do away with
the army transport service. so that
the transportation of troops thereafter
would be carried on by private con,
Germs. Some question had been raised
by members of the committee as e
the propriety of an item In the bill =
$l,OOO,OO0 for emergency expenses oil
the War Department. The Secretary
said the amount was unnecessary and
had been estimated through oversight
so that the committee doubtless will
omit this emergency fund from the bill
|