Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-06-06
BUENCAMINO'S VIEWS
WHAT HE DEEMS ESSENTIAL FOR
PHILIPPINES.
Suggests an Exposition at Manila in
Which Ex-Insurgent Leaders
Could Be Employed.

Mr.. Felipe Buencamino, now civil service
commissioner at Manila, formerly secretary
of state under the so-called Aguinaldo gov
erament has written letter to the Secre-
tary of War in exposition of his views on
the Philippine situation. He says that he
has concluded his statements before the
committee insular affairs of the House
of Representatives, and that he has at
tempted to show to the honorable members
thereof that the following are the most
urgent requirements of the Philippines
"A civil government with full powers for
the reconstruction of the ruined govern
mental organisms of the Philippine people.
"A legislature composed of a high and
low chamber in accordance with the pro-
visions embodied in the bill reported by the
committee to the House,
1.-The appropriation of $4,000 per annum
from the Philippine revenues for the pur
poes of sending Philippine students to the
United States, giving preference to those
VINO wish to study industry, commerce and
agriculture
Full amnesty after declaration of
peace. Increase of the number of teachers
to 5000, with increase of their salaries
to double what they are now receiving.
In answering the objections of the dem
ocratic members, l incidentally brought to
the attention of the committee the humane
conduct of the army and the enormous and
excellent work performed by the Philippine
civil commission in organizing a provisional
government under the wise instructions re-
ceived from you and the intelligent direc-
ton of Gov. Taft.
This government now established in the
islands, which is to the FilipinoS of the
middle and lowest classes highly satisfac-
tory, will be REINFORCED by the provisional
measure pending before the House, to the
satisfaction of the higher and int elligeut
classes.
II thus believe that 1 have complied with
the principal Of my duties toward my peo-
pie and the government in the Philippines,
which is under your worthy direction, and
/ therefore would like to devote the rest
of the time of my leave of absence to visit
ing the public buildings. especially the De-
partment of Agriculture for which pur-
pose 1 request permission. If you wish to
utilize my services to prepare a statement
of the events of Importance which have
taken place in the Philippines since Amer
tcan occupation. purging it of the lamenta-
BILE mistaken ideas which some Americans
entertain and rectifying the opinion of
America with regard to said events and
the intervention which the government of
the never-to- be-forgotten President McKin-
ley had therein, with the data which 1
possess with regard to said events and
with those which may be file in the
War Department. consisting of Philippine
documents. we may be able to throw much
light upon the subject for the purpose Of
correcting the errors above indicated
Wishes to Make a Tour.
"If you do not consider this work neces-
sary or useful, then permit me to return to
the Philippines after visiting the cities of
Canton, New York, Charleston. ST. Louis,
Boston Philadelphia, Chicago and Detroit,
well the widow Of Cen Lawton. At
the last named place 1 desire to visit the
Filipinos who are students at the Univer-
sity of Michigan. in order to give them cor
rect data with regard to the Philippines
and prevent them from falling into the
same errors as the democrats, which 1 have
had occasion to learn recently. Afterward
1 wish to return to San Francisco, in order
to be with my sons for thirty days and
know that city and establish there Philip
pine commerce, because l expect that the
port of San francisco will be in the future
the basis Of Philippine trade with America,
and vice versa.
Suggests an Exposition.
'I wish to prepare a small exposition in
Manila in honor of DR.. Rizal, similar to
that held in Charleston, with an appropria-
tion of 100000. The receipts would prob
ably be a similar amount l would employ
in the direction and management of this
exhibition Malvar, Trias, Mascardo, Ale
jandrina and other prominent eX-inSur-
gents, under American control. They would
be very useful and active on account of the
numerous data which they have with re-
gard to our secret wealth, and they would,
furthermore, be distracted from the theo
retical political ideas they entertain and
can practically know all the Dement'S OF
American civilization.
Such is the resume of my private inten-
tiOns upon this long trip, with the purpose
of creating better relations of a commercial
character between the Philippines and
America. If these purposes have your ap-
proval 1 would thank you to furnish me
such facilities as you can to carry them out
Il conclude with the statement that there
is a real complaint in the Philippines from
the owners of houses and other buildings
occupied by the American forces, because In
some cases these owners receive no pay and
in other cases an unduly low rental is paid.
There was a military tribunal of claims,
but the decisions OF the same were very
arbitrary in the opinion Of the public. /
respectfully request Mr.. Secretary, that
you see to it that Justice is soon done the
owners who complain. among whom are
persons very loyal to the government,
although this distinction of loyalty and dis
loyalty has disappeared forever, because
they are all now loyal.
Very respectfully,
s.LrE,I IpL, A