The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1902-02-07
GORERHOR IAFI'S ADDRESS
GOVERNMENT OF PHILIPPINES.


Effort to Secure Legislation for
Government of IsIands-COmmit-
tee Also Asked for Advice.
Washington, Feb 3.-The investi-
cation into the conditions of the Phil
ippne archipelago, apropos Of the eff
fort to secure legislation for the gov
eminent Of those islands. was begun by
the senate committee on the Philip
pines. W. H. Taft, civil governor of
the archipelago, was the first witness
called. There was full attendance of
the members of the committee, and
Senator Lodge, its chairman explained
that the committee desired not only the
fullest information concerning the isl
ands but any advice that Gov. Taft
might offer concerning the question at
issue.
Gov. Taft opened his remarks by
saying that he had gone to the Philip
pines in the spring of 1900, and had
visited almost all the provinces during
the past year. He said that in all the
Filipino, or Christian, provinces, there
is a form of civil government. There
are thirty-four of these provinces. The
Moros are friendly except a few, who
have never been otherwise than hos
tile to the Spaniards. Even these were
now being brought over by the pros
pect of trade, Of which they are very
fond
Describing the commisssions tour of
the island. GOV. Taft gave in detail the
proceedings Of the meetings at the va
rious places visited saying that some
seventeen capitals Of the province were
visited on the first tour. At each place
the delegates of the people were met.
the prescribed special act was passed,
and a governor appointed, who was au-
thorized to organize municipalities.
These provincial governments consist.
he explained of a governor, secretary.
superintendent. treasurer and a ifs
cal, or prosecuting, attorney.
In all cases where the selection
could be made without arousing jeal-
ousies, natives had been chosen. All
these appointments are temporary, and
next month their successors will be Sc
lected. 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 first given it's
attention to the northern provinces.
and in April started south on trip of
81 days. They had been received most
cordially everywhere. This remark led
the witness into a few discursive re-
marks upon the subject of Filipino hos
pitality.
Speaking of the island of Negros. he
said it was peculiar in it's topography,
and previous to the coming of the COM
mission there was difficulty in the mat
ter of government. There were so
many officers in the government that
Of the 100000 (Mexican) only about
$4,000 was left for other expenses
than the payment of salaries Gov.
Taft said the commission had had an
interesting experience in trying to re-
organize the province of Antique, but
that the people resisted vigorously. He
mentioned that at San Jose, the capital.
they displayed model of liberty en-
tightening the world, which was twenty
feet high, and had been dragged seven
miles over a very rough road. On this
monument there were statues Of Wash
ington and Mckinley
Gov Taft said it had been found i'm
possible to put Filipinos over the
Moros. They are subject to their datos
or chiefs. and refuse to recognize the
authority of Filipino. There was, he
said, two sultans, one in Mindanao.
and the other in the Jolo group, but
the sultans did not always control
their datos. The sultan of Mindanao
is he said, very poor. but the sovereign
of the JolOs is a thrifty man, who is
constantly trying to increase his in
come, and constantly getting into a
row about it.
nj ~