Omaha daily bee., 1903-04-24
DR.. Paul $. Reinsch OF the University
of Michigan Calls Attention TO
Former and Present sys-
TEN in Manila.

j. James. Chicago; secretary, Clin-
ton Rogers Woodruff, PHILADELPHIA; treas
urer, George Burnhalt. jr.. Philadelphia.
Among the members Of the executive com
mittee are H. q. Deming, New York, chair
man, and James L. Blair, st. Louis.
After the election a paper on The Mu-
nlcipal Situation in the Philippines" was
read by DR.. Pau S. Reinsch Of the Uni
versity of Michigan. This paper was based
on an article prepared by Captain Edwards,
chief OF the insulsr bureau OF the War de-
psrtment.
Government in Philippines.
Dr.. Reinsch said in part:
The conditions in the Philippine islands
are such that the establishment OF munich
o pa TIM Mst IyUito6 closely modelsd upon those
vlsable. Nevertheless, It lie in the munich
pallues that the natives will have TO re-
ceive their first training in self-govern-
Under the Spanish regime the fiscal au-
tonomy OF the rural and urban municipal-
ties was exceedingly limited; a concentrated
control prevented all spontaneous activity.
Consequently although by reforms intro
duced during the fkst decade the Spanish
tation resting on a high suffrage duali1ca-
ton, the real power remained centralized,
and the local authorities were looked upon
as useful chiefly In the collection Of taxes.
The military rule of our army In the
Philippines was remarkable for the manner
In which the military organization was
adapted to civil government, as we'll as for
the fact that the system of local govern
ment provided everywhere for popular
property or educational qualification.
Basis of Present Form.
The simple institutions established by the
military. together with the better parts of
the Spanish system, have been made the
basis of the present organization of local
municipal Code" act No. So, of the Philip
pine commission.
The most remarkable feature Of this code
Is that IL does not distinguish between
urban and rural municipalities, 1t com
prises all under one system of local gov
ernmentt which comes nearest to our county
system, but rests Upon the Spanish division
of the country into pueblos or towns.
The city of Manila occupies an excep-
tional position. being governed under a spe-
modelled on that of Washington. d. c.; for
the officers are appointive. not elective. and
the insular government pays Sne-thi1G Of
ment is due to the fact that Manila, as a
great commercial center and the seat Of
eeS Ssfaemrht 1 and could Th6ne not %eIi be
classed with the ordinary urban or rural
municipality of the islands.
municipal board of three members, ap-
pointed by the governor general. A popu-
iarly elected ouncil which, however, has
phlCly dNNioOAy AuiStASASt ia oNSo bOSh
Instituted.
The situation is a hopeful one, and the
natives in many parts of the Islands show
enterprise and intelligence In managing
their own affairs.
DR.. John F. Fairlie Of the University Of
Michigan delivered an address on '1nstruc-
tion in Municipal Government"
System of Manhood.
Mr.. Fairlie said in part:
n1r vntanfrIUaI cnyarprnanfd ara ha qHd m
q system of manhood suffrage, and good
government depends primarily
on an Intelligent exercise OF hat suffrage;
the fundamental principles Of American
government is very generally acknowl-
do this work are most deficient. 1t needs,
to be more clearly recognized
than is now the case in many quarters,
that the training of the future voters In
our cities is by no means complete with
a study of the federal constitution, or even
of the national and state governments, but
must also include a knowledge OF that gov
eminent which - neare5 IT at hand and most
largely Affects the daily lives OF the clt-
zens-the government or the city.
Two fundamental rules may be laid down
for this elementary instruction In municipal
both I'm schools and In colleges.
First. II the main object OF reaching the
tained, municipal government should not be
given the place of a special course or a
special subject in the curriculum, but must
be Included as a part OF a general course
in government or politics, which every stu
dent hould be at. least expected to take.
must be laid, not so much on the
form OF government as on the functions
of the officials and on the rights, respon-
sibilities and duties of the citizens.
Systematic Instruction.
In the high schools and academies It is
clearly both possible and advisable TO give
systematic instruction In civil government,
including definite work in municipal gov
eminent! There Is an obvious need for
many cities the importance OF this subject
part of the training OF the coming voters
as to their duties and responsipinties; IN
should be instruction in municipal govern
ment, given as part OF a general lntro-
fs oF 9ss s9gcfs IL SO work. OF the he't aGVsnced
students. hut for the main body OF under
graduates.
scheme of instruction in municipal govern:
ment which may be roughly summarized
i. Simple lessons in the duties of public
agents ri the elementary schools.
B The systematic study OF one city In
high schools and academies
government as part OF a general
course in government In all our coLeBes
"a COMPREHENSIVE study Of municipal
government for advanced students In uni
leading TO
b. line Lecnnlcdi COURSES III 1AO
professional departments OF the UNIVERSE
ties.
Secretary Stevens of the Municipal asso-
citation Of Cleveland read a paper prepared
By Wilson L. Gill, who was supervisor OF
in Cuba during the American oeeu-
patton, on 1.-THE School City"
Schools Are n Remedy.
Mr.. ellis said In part:
II our nation is TO be one OF citizens and
not OF subjects It must train It's children as
citizens and stop training them as subjects,
So far as the individual who is governed
IA concerned, all governments belong 70
one or other of two kinds-democratic, In
which he helps TO determine its policy and
laws n tC carry them into execution,
and monarchical, OF which he IL a subject
without such participation.
primaries and municipal elections, thus abb
dicating the powers OF sovereign American
citizenship. The field so free, the neck Of
monarchy has grown so large and strong
that the sway of its head Is as absolute
that Of any tyrant OF the old world. We
call hin boss" or leader" but he, good
or bad, Is no less our kind Of ezar. We
nave the form Of a democratic republic, but
from some cities and states the spirit Of
ever Or shall we do the several things
which are absolutely necessary for IT'S
THAT Competent men stick too close 10
their private business and party politics
enter into purely business ofnces and trans
actions are only symptoms. All government
in contact with which educated people