The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1902-01-31
SENATOR LODGE ANNOUNCED
THAT THE FULLEST INFoRMA-
TIoN WAS DESIRED.
HE VISITED THE PROVINCES
Governor Taft Gives an Account Of the
Establishment Of Civil Government
and Incidentally Draws Some Com
parsons Between the Filipinos and
the Spaniards.
(By Associated Press.)

Washington, Jan 31.-The investiga-
tion into the conditions of the Philippine
archipelago apropos Of the effort to Sc
cure legislation for the government OF
those islands was begun by the senate
committee on Philippines today.
w. H. Taft, civil governor of the archi-
pelago, was the first witness called.
There was full attendance Of the MEM
bers OF the committee and Senator
Lodge, Its chairman. explained that the
committee desired not only the fullest
information concerning the Islands. but
any advice that Governor Taft might
offer concerning the questions at issue.
Governor Taft opened his remarks by
saying that he had gone to the Philip
pines in the spring of 1900 and had vis-
ited almost all the provinces during tho
past year.
Moros Are Friendly.
He said that, In all the Filipino or
Christian provinces, there Is a form Of
civil government. There are "a of these
provinces.
The Moros are all friendly. except q
few who had never been otherwise than
hostile to the Spaniards. Even these
were not being brought over by the pros
pect of trade of which they are very
fond.
Describing the commissions tour OF the
island, Governor Taft gave In detail the
proceedings at the various places VS.
tied. saying that some II capitals Of the
provinces were visited on the first tour.
At each place the delegates of the peo-
pie were met, the prescribed special act
was passed and a governor appointed.
who was authorized to organize munich
palities.
Native Officers Chosen.
The provincial governments consisted.
he explained, of a governor, secretary.
superintendent. treasurer and fiscal or
prosecuting attorney.
In all cases where the selection could
be made without arousins jcalousies. ma
tIves had been chosen. All these ap-
pointments are temporary and next
month their successors will be elected.
When the factions were too strong.
Americans were placed at the head Of
each provincial government.
In all cases the treasurer and superin-
tendent were Americans.
The commission had paid special atten-
tion to the Northern provinces and in
April started South on a trip Of 81 days
They had been received most cordially
everywhere.
This remark led the witness into a few
discursiye remarks upon the subject Of
Filipino hospitality.
1.-THE Spaniards," he said, will al
ways tell you that their house Is yours
but they do not always mean that you
should take them at their word, but the
Filipinos will tell you the same thing,
and they always mean what they say.
They will turn their family out and In
stall you In their habit atoms"
Officers Took the Money.
Speaking Of the Island OF Negroes, he
said 1t was peculiar In its topography
and that previous to the coming of the
commission there was difficulty in the
matter of government.
There was so many officers in the gov
ernment that of the 100000 (Mexican)
only about $4,000 was left for other ex-
penses than the payment of salaries.
Governor Taft said the commission
had had an interesting experience in try
Ing to recognize the province of Antikue.
but that the people resisted vigorously.
He mentioned that at San Jose the
capital, they displayed model of lib
erty enlightening the world. which was
20 feet high and had been dragged seven
miles over very rough road. On this
monument there We're statutes of Wash
ington and Mckinley.
The Two Sultans.
Governor Taft said it had been found
impossible to put Filipnos over the
Moros.
They are subject to their chiefs and
refuse to recognize the way OF a Filipino.
There We're, he said, two sultans one
In Mindanao and the other In the Jolo
group, but the sultans Iid not always
control their datos, or chiefs
The sultan of Mindinao. he said was
very poor, but the sovereign of the Jolos
is thrifty man, who Is constantly try
ing to increase his income and con-
stantly getting into row about It.