Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-04-10
THE MAJORITY REPORT
Chairman Cooper on the
Philippine Bill.
A CIVIL GOVERNMENT
PROVISIONS FOR IT'S ESTABLISH
MENT IN THE ISLANDS.
Three Important Provisions, the Legis-
1ative Branch, the Friar Lands
and a Coinage System.
A CIVIL GOVERNMENT

Chairman Cooper of tie House committee
on insular affairs today filed the report
of the majority of the committee on the
bill establishing civil government In the
Philippines. In discussing this report and
bill Mr.. Cooper took occasion today to criti-
else the bill prepared by the minority of the
committee, the details of which were print
ed In The Star yesterday. Mr.. Cooper de-
clares that the democrats have reversed
themselves since their first declaration of
principles regarding the Philippines At
that time, he said. they held that the Con-
stitution applied to the Philippines. Now
they bring in bill which provides for the
Independence of the Philippine Islands. Mr..
Cooper said that a means of separating a
part of the Union peaceably from under the
provisions of the Constitution had to his
knowledge never been discovered. That is
to say, that the Philippine Islands having
once come under the provisions Of our
Constitution, we had no authority to grant
them independence.
Their proposition is entirely Inconsistent
with the democratic position for the past
two or three years." declared Mr.. Cooper.
. Three Important Subjects.
In discussing the bill Mr.. Cooper said
that it contained three important subjects
First, the provision for civil government
which included a legislative body composed
Of two houses. the membership of the up
per house TO Include simply the Philippine
commission with its American and native
MEMBERS as now composed. The lower
house was to be elected by the people. This
form of government was to go into effect
when ths Philippine commissioners shall
certify ta4 the, president of the United States
that peace has been established. The Presi
dent shall then notify the commissioners to
eminent in;the Philippines. The first step
in this direction is to be the taking of a
census WhichfShaH be begun within thirty
days from ths. pronunciation of peace by
the President The qualifications for voters
is limited to. male citizens, twenty-three
years old; which is the present law in the
Philippines. They must be residents of the
Philippines and residents in the district In
which. they vote for six months; able to
read andS&risea the Spanish or English
languag es1 Dh1Fl possessed of property to
the amoaht III 500 pesos rspay taxes to
the amounttof,rse opasos, or have held some
ofaace under the former Spanish govern
mentses Persons will have to be twenty
five years old to, be- eigible. to election for
the lower house. % F''7T5s.
Acquisition OF Friar Lands
The acquisition of the friar lands by this
government and their disposition to actual
settlers for agriculture purposes is one OF
the important features of the bill. This &C
QUESTION is provided for by leaving it en-
tirely in the hands Of the commissioners.
No definite price iS mentioned, but the eS-
Inmates given have varied from 100000 to
ST. 900, COO as the price which this govern
ment will have to pay for the lands. There
are several hundred thousand acres Of most
valuable land now owned by the friars. Ac-
cording to the testimony Of Governor Taft,
these lands formed the only one issue on
which the Philippine people are united.
They are very much opposed to the friars
holding these lands After the United
States acquires the lands they are to be re-
sold to actual settlers in homestead tracts IS
made that these homesteads will have
to be occupied and cultivated for five years
continuously before title is conveyed.
The Coinage Scheme.
The coinage system of the islands is an
other important feature in the bill. Mr..
Cooper stating that it has been the en-
deavor of the committee to provide the
new coins as near as possible to the pres
ent form of money in the islands. The new
silver coin is to correspond to the Mexican
dollar and Is to weigh just twice as much
as two of our silver half dollars. while its
value is the same one of our silver half
dollars 1t is made exchangeable in gold
at that ratio. This is regarded as a token
coin, and the ratio fixed so to prevent
It's being bought to bullion value and taken
from the islands.