Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-06-28

To Be Given Fi|ipinos, Probably
on July Fourth.
Another indication of Our Good Inten-
tions Toward Philippines.
Proclamation Nearly Ready and Eek.
pected on independence Day.

Washington, June 27.-At the meet
| ing of the cabinet, today, the terms of
an amnesty proclamation to the
, Filipinos which it is contemplated Ia
issue on the Fourth of July, were
agreed upon.
The war department for some time
past has had under consideration the
draft of a proclamation and has found
it necessary to make a number of
changes in it's test. In its modified
state it was agreed to by the cabinet,
today, and Sec. Root will cable it to
Acting Governor Wright for his in
spection. If it meets the latter's ap-
prevail. nothing will remain for the
President, if the Philippine civil gov
eminent is a law on that day, as is
now expected it will be, to issue on
Independence day formal proclama-
ton setting forth terms of amnesty for
I'll prisoners i'll the island, including
Aguinaldo and those held at Guam.
The proclamation is based on the
general object of the government bill,
namely to restore peace in the archi-
pelago and substitute a civil for a
military government. That bill is now
in conference and he proclamation
will not be pushed until the Philip
pine government measure has been
agreed on by both Houses and the
President has affixed his signature to
it.
The proclamation will declare that
state of peace now exists in the
Philippine islands, save in parts of the
archipelago where the Mindanao or
Pagan tribes are giving the United
States a great amount of trouble, and
will declare in effect that with the
transfer 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 all
lowed to participate in the civil gov
eminent that is to be inaugurated on
the islands. While the. proclamation
is subject to changes in text the gen
eral language of the document is pref
ty well mapped out.
There was a general discussion, to-
day, of the treatment that should be ac
corded the political prisoners. There is
no intention, it is stated to release these
prisoners convicted of other Of
fences, the benefits of the amnesty be-
ing limited to those in custody as a re-
suit of breaches of military law, leav-
ing criminal offenders to the action of
the proper authorities under the COM
ing civil government. The purpose is to
demonstrate that motives of humanity
and generosity indicate our course to-
ward the Philippines. When the is
lands are turned over to the civil au-
thorities they will not be left without
adequate military protection, as no
more troops will be ordered home for
the present, and every precaution will
be taken for the military safeguarding
of the islands under the new civil adj
mniStration.
Another subject under discussion at
the cabinet meeting, today. was the
negotiation for the purchase of the
friars' lands in the Philippines. Sec.
Root took with him to the meeting all
the correspondence which has passed
between him and Gov. Taft while the
latter mas been carrying on his nego-
tiations al Rome. 1t is understood that
Sec. Root feels great confidence in a
successful outcome of Gov. Tafts eff
forts.
The cabinet also took up the question
of naming the naval vessels provided
for in the naval appropriation bill, and,
it is stated, decision was reached in
each case, but it is decided not to make
the names public until the vessels are
actually authorized.
The cabinet meeting was held in the
Presidents temporary quarters on La
fayette square and was the first time
in So years that a regular session of the
cabinet has been held outside of the
White House.