The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-11-26
Filipino Ruler Will Be a Figure in History Before Many
 More Years
UNITED STATES CAVALRY
 HORSES DIE IN NUMBERS
Major General Davis, Commanding the Department of the Philippines, Makes Interesting Report on
 Conditions in the Islands.

Washington, Nov. 25.-The annual re- port of Major-Gen. George w. Davis, commanding the division of the Philip pines, recites that the losses among the cavalry horses in the islands have been very great and there have not been found any means of preventing the trophcal animal diseases. It is recommended that mounted troops serving in the islands after their terms expire be largely re- placed by infantrymen, recruited for four or five years. Referring to the juramen- ados. the report says:
 "The Moros are accustomed to suffer all the eaprices of their despotic authrity
 The laws of centuries permit men to be recruited for any purpose whatever. The debtor who cannot pay becomes with his family the slave of the creditor The debtor thus loses all his rights and his children can be sold throughout the archipelago. He can, however buy them with the largest number of Christians he can slay. If the debtor accepts that proposition he becomes that moment a juramenado, knowing perfectly well that if he manages to get in the midst of a Spanish settlement all hope for escape is gone
 Death Is Certain. Death is therefore certain for all jur- amendos. When they arrive at a suffi- cient state of exaltation but never be- l fore, they are sent into a Christian com- munity."
 l In dealing with affairs in the Moro coun- | try, the report says that the Bates agree ment with the sultan of Sulu, which 1t aencass was adviHed bss the Sehurman l cotnmiaion, is an obstacle 10 tne eHtab- 1 Ilshment of good government and the con- 1 tinued practice of slavery is instaneed as | q Justification for declaring the agreement null and void.
 ssfrhe fact fs fha rat,ort cave there never has been a time for three years when force of 800 soldiers In Jolo and two or three small gunboats could not preserve the peace or suppress any up- rising, but this was not known or not fully understood when this agreement was entered into With the Bates agree. ment out of the way the government would have to deal only with the chiefs or the village head men, called Dattos."
 SuItan's Power Wanes.
 As to the sultan of Suu. the report says. it is apparent that everybody that has power has departed and that very soon he will only be a character in history. and that no one, not even his own people. will regret his exit
 The report says that in all the cities and big towns throughout the archipelago and throughout every large part of the rural districts inhabited by Christian Fllipinos. life and property have been secured and the inhabitants have pursued their ordi- nary avoeations without annoyance by law-breakers It seems certain, the report says, that there must be a native con- tngent in the regular army. but no ne- cessity exists for corfceding a demand for
 more food more pay and clothing al- lowance than received by white troops. General Davis says the native Filipinos under American officers will be as true and as faithful as any troops could be, provided they are well treated and paid promptly