Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1902-02-08

Washington. Feb. G.-ln his statement
before tn" senate committee on the l'hil-
ippncs yesterday Governor TAFT Il, alt
especially with the question of the re-
laionShip OF the civil and military au-
thoriticS in the Philippines. Go"rinor
Taft said that originally the ri, il and
military control of the islands had been
naturally there had been some differ
cncr of opinion between he military all-
,horitirS ana the commission IS Ia The
method of proceeding.
This difference had arisen with Gen
eral Macarthur and there had been
more or less correspondence ol, the sub
jrct The general had contrn,lrl that
authority over the iSklndS WAS vested
in the military rs the representative of
the chief executive. because the Islands
We're in Il Stateof war. In this view The
commission did not concur. This diff
ference did not. however. extend to the
control of the municipalities.
In this connection Governor Taft eX-
plainrd at some length the contention
between the commission and General
Chattre. which had. he said. arisen over
the habcaS corpus provision in the com
missions code. That provision had
been inserted he said. to protect native
officers who surrenderand who are sub
jcct to arrest on charge of crimes Gem
mittcd while in the inSurrrctiOn SER
vice believed to be- contrary to the rules
of civilized warfare. such charges
they We're unfOundul.
The provision had, however. been in
vOkrd in the interest of an enlisted man
serving in Crbu. who was seek ing to
secure his release from the military ser
vice in an indirect way.
Thus Il conflict had arisen and the
question had been referred to Washing
ton. with the result that Instructions
had come back that the differences must
be compromised. General Chaif"r and
] are on the fricndliest and most cor
dial terms" he said. "and we had no
difficulty in reaching an understanding
after Il prolonged conference
Governor Taft said that he had n"vrr
met Il Filipino who was not musician
and henddrd: "All Filipino crowds are
well behaved aud polite. and the people
are courteous. The Filipino also shows
capacity for skilled labor but he is neg
ligent of machinery. wish it were
true that the Filipino is rs Industrious
as is claimed. but he is not. Indeed
there are many of them who might Sc
cure work who do not seek IT, This con-
dition leads To II demand for the bring.
ing in of Chinese"
This statement led Senator Hale 10
make inquiries concerning the presence
of 'hinpS" Til" witness replied that
the contractors and business men gen
orally contend for the necessity of
bringing in Chinese labor. This inlpur-
ialion was. however. generally re-
srnted by the natives. not so much be-
cause of the competition Of the chi
nr>c as lahorrrS. as because OF their
competition as merchants.
The Chnaman generally saved his
wages and in few months would .s-
tahliSh a mercantile establishment. the
result being that the next doc" neigh
hor. Who is II native, will he driven out.
He said further that under he present
regulations Ia Chinese ar" admitted.
Replying to other questions Governor
Taft stated that in the islands there are
about 5.WN.OOO acres of land held by
private persons. and that of this 4nItNO
acres are owned by the Catholic friars
OF these 4n:i.WU acres 25O,NO nrr the
best lands in the islands
AT to the honesty of the native Fill