Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-19
companies and lived by levying contribu-
tons on or robbing the peaceful inhabit-

companies and lived by levying contribu-
tons on or robbing the peaceful inhabit-
ants.
These bands could have been broken up or
captured by the forces Of the United States.
but 1t was the policy Of the administration
to reduce the strength OF the army IN the
Philippines as rapidly as possible after or
ganized resistance had ceased, ana IL was
decided to control these bands Of rowing
ladrones by means of native troops or po-
lice, and constabulary force was organ
lied, composed of natives and COMMANDED
by officers of the United States army. Whle
this task was for the benefit of the islands,
it required no little work and expense, and
the bill provided that the five regular OFF,
GERS detailed for this important work should
have a rank and pay in excess of their
grade in the regular establishment, and
that the difference In pay between their
army rank and their rank in the constabu-
larry should be paid by the insular govern
ment. In view of the fact that 1t was pre-
dicted that it would take 100000 men to
hold the islands in subsection, and that the
army in the Philippines has been reduced
to about $4,000 men, the plan outlined in the
aforementioned act has given excellent
results. The plan is but tentative, and its
application would furnish the basis as to
what is the best native contingent to main
tain in the Philippines to produce the re-
suits in aid of the government should 1t be
necessary.
Another act passed by Congress and ap-
proved by the President February ., 1893,
made provision for the removal of persons
accused of crimes to and from the Philip
pines for trial. Without specific legisla-
ton. extradition to and from the Philip
pines would have been impossible, and
criminals escaping from the islands to the
United States could not have been returned,
nor could fugitives from justice who reach
ed Manila have been returned to the !uris-
diction of the court within whose territory
their crimes may have been committed 1t
was not the purpose of the government to
make the Philippines penal colony for UNI
tried criminals. and therefore the bill above
mentioned was enacted and Is now opera
tive. Prisoners are now serving sentences
in Bilibid. who were returned tried and con-
victed by due process of law.
March 3. 1903. the day before Congress
adjourned an act was approved which pro-
vided for the repayment of duties assessed
on merchandise brought into the United
States from the Philippine Islands between
April IL. 1899. the date of operation of the
treaty ceding the islands to the United
States. and March 8. 1902. the date Of the
passage of the Philippine tariff act
Legislation That Failed.
1.-The only important Philippine legislation
that failed in the second session of the Fiji
ty-seventh Congress was the bill which pro-
vided for an additional reduction on the
rate Of duty to be assessed upon articles the
growth or product Of the Philippine Islands
of March 8. 1902. a reduction of % per cent
on the existing or Dingley rates was du-
thorized. and the House passed a bill MAX
ing further reduction. so that but % per
cent Of the Dingley rates were to be as
sesSed The bill then went to the Senate,
but no action was taken thereon and the
act of March 8, 1902. stands unamended.
THE Philippines were of course deeply in
terested in this measure. which had been
urged by Governor Taft and others In the
Philippines. as measure that would aid in
the rehabilitation Of Philippine agriculture,
but the long contest over the statehood bill,
together with opposition excited by the
needless apprehension of the United States
sugar growers. sidetracked the matter and
no action was secured. On the whole the
islands have Jared well at the hands of
Congress- and the legislators have shown a
disposition to aid the islands in all laudable
efforts to establish good government ard
further their industrial DEVELOPMENT
we anticipate that the coming extra ses-
sion will pass the necessary legislation to
give the Fflipinos the market in the United
States enjoyed by the Porto Ricans, and
essential to the prosperity of the islands
and which will promote the trade with the
orient and harm no United States indus