The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-01-08
new GOVERNMENT FOR PHILIPPINES
Temporary Measure to be Intro
duced Giving President Control.

!
Washington, Jan. 6.-Senator Lodge,
chairman of the committee on the
PHILIPPINES, tomorrow will intro
duce a bill for temporary government
of the Philippines. This bill has been
drawn after the many consultations
with the war department. officials who
have been directly interested in insul-
ar affairs and the government Of the
Philippines. The bill will not be
made part of the Philippine revenue
bill which has passed the house, but
will be an Independent measure. The
bill is entitled as one to temporarily
provide for the administration of affairs
of civil government in the Philippine
islands and for other purposes. -
It does not attempt to establish a
new form of government in the Phil
ippines, but simply begins by confirm
ing the action of President Mckinley
in creating commission and ratify-
ing the acts of that commission under
the instructions of the president dated
April 7, 1900.
The bill also gives the president au-
thority, while there is armed resist
ance in any part of the islands to the
United States, to regulate and control
inter-island commerce.
Section 4, following the Puerto Rican
act gives the government of the Phil
ippines power to improve the harbors
and other instruments Of commerce,
and section 5, also following the
Puerto Rican act, turns over to the
government of the Philippines all
lands devoted now to pnblic use,
bridges, highways, etc.
Under section the government OF
the Philippines is empowered to make
rules and regulations for the disposi-
tion of public lands other than timber
and mineral lands, such reuglations to
have the force and effect of law only
after they have been approved by the
president and congress. Then follows
series of provisions to enable the
commission to perfect the title OF per
sons now occupying public lands and
to lease and sell lands to such persons
or gives to the occupants without com
pensation. This is to provide for the
small native landholders who have
occupied public lands for a long time
but who have no title to protect them
in their holdings.
Then comes provisions in regard to
timber lands, which are not to be sold
or leased by the commission, who have
power only to issue licenses to cut tim
Der under the forestry regulations
now in force in the islands. The pro-
visions in regard to timber lands are
followed by number of sections as to
mineral lands. These are very elabo-
rate and embody the mineral laws con-
tained in the report Of the commits
sion and which have been prepared by
them with great care, so that they
shall be in harmony with the existing
Spanish laws. The mineral land sec
tions cover also coal and saline lands.
One of the most important provisions
in the bill is that empowering the
Philippine commission to purchase
the lands of Ethe religious orders and
dispose of them on a proper system
to occupants.
Then come series of sections au-
thorizing municipalities and the city
OF Manila to borrow money and issue
bonds for municipal Improvements
There are two sections which provide
for the granting of franchises, 50 that
individuals or corporations can go into
the islands and construct electric and
steam railroads and engage in indus
tries and manufactures. Provisions for
granting the franchises are guarded,
being based on the corporation laws
of Massachusetts,.
There are provisions for establish
ing coinage system which already
have been presented in Special Agent
Conant's report and the final sections
of the bill make provisions for bank
ing system and enable national banks
of the United States to be established
in the Philippines.
"tieIl and Who will be There