Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-14
TAFT TO STAY IN ISLANDS
President Decides bot to Change Present
Philippine Governor.
GENERAL WOOD GOES TO MANILA SOON
Many Changes ExPested I'm Army ON
GERS I'm Paeiac, Including Bates
Elevation to Supreme Com
mand to Succeed Davis.

WASHINGTON, Jan. tS.--After mature
consideration Il has been decided by
the president that Judge Taft shall re-
main in the Philippines a. civil gov
ernor. The decision was reached only after
the president had discussed the question
thoroughly with Secretary Root and the
other member Of his cabinet and with
Vice Governor Luke n. Wright.
For several weeks It had been practically
settled that Governor Taft would return
to this country to become a Justice of the
United States supreme court.
AS soon as 1t was learned that Governor
Taft was likely to leave, cabled protests
began to pour in on the president from
prominent Filipinos. Every day he was
urged to retain Governor Taft as civil gov
ernor, 1t being pointed out that Governor
Taft was ideally equipped for the position
Of governor and that any change would be
disastrous to the best interests Of the arch
ipelago. It was maintained that Governor
Taft's REIMBURSEMENT of his post would re-
tard the development OF the islands fully
FIVE years.
Today, in response to the presidents let-
ter Offering him the supreme justiceship, a
cable was received from Governor Taft sug-
costing, with a sincere appreciation Of the
offer, that It might be better for him to
remain where he was. After this 1t was
announced unoficially, but entirely author
itatively, that he would remain indefinitely
as civil governor Of the Philippines. Dur
ing the afternoon Secretary Root had a
long conference with the. president, at
which the question was canvassed in all
its phases. Many serious problems are
yet to be solved with respect to the islands,
and the administration is looking to Gov
ernor Taft to reach such a solution as will
be satisfactory.
Wood Wants Philippine Service.
Brigadier General Wood has applied for
service in the Philippines and his request
has been granted. 1t is expected he will
be assigned in Mindanao, He will become
a major general in August and it is quite
likely that he will soon thereafter be as
signed to command the Division of the
Philippines. 1t is expected he will sail
in April.
A number of important army changes will
occur soon in the Philippines, the chief
Of which will be the assignment Of General
Wade, now commanding a department in
the Philippines, to the supreme command
in the islands, to succeed Major General
Davis, who will retire for age July 26 next.
General Wade, who is now q brigadier,
will be made a major general on the re-
tirement Of Major General Robert p.
Hughes April IL next
Generals Davis, Sumner and Baldwin will
be relieved from duty during the summer
and General Wood. either General Carter
or General Bliss Of the war college board,
possibly both, and Colonel Francis Moore
Of the Eleventh cavalry, will be assigned to
the command of departments there. Colonel
Moore, who is now in that country, will be
made a brigadier general shortly.
The purpose of the War department is to
have a major general and six brigadier
generals on duty ftfdthe Philippines for
som time to come.so Other changes will
be made in the relief Of officers who have
served there a long time.
FiIipinOs viii Not Work.
The secretary Of war today sent to the
house an additional estimate Of $3.50. 900 for
barracks and quarters In the Philippines.
General Davis, commanding the troops in
the archipelago, in explaining the need of
an Increased appropriation, says:
The natives, nave discovered that there
is no authority that can compel them to
work unless they wish to, while during
afterward they knew that the authorities
could, and did, compel them to labor at
wages fixed by them. In some localities II
is impossible at any price to obtain native
labor, not because OF it's lack, but because
they prefer to remain idle.
Barracks Which .iSd could have been con,
landed will now cost from $1,000 to $500.
The material used for shingles has adj
Vanceda from 81 and 81 to IS and 81, and
when It comes to a question of eonstruc-
| tion with stronger materials II lies between
Filipino lumber, at from $50 to SO per LOO
course the native lumber Is out of the
question.
Cannot Pay In Gold.
The State department has been in
formed by Mr.. Conger thai the Chinese
government has protested it's utter inabil.
ity to pay the indemnity on a gold basis
and has suggested that II the powers In
sist China should be allowed to collect
the import duties in gold. This would
practically amount to doubling the custom
receipts, gold standing in the ratio Of
about one to two to silver. Secretary Hay
has replied that the United States, having
agreed to accept payment on a silver
basis, could not agree TO consider the last
proposition.
Wants to. stop Dollars.
The senate committee on finance today
nearQ an hrBumen Dy inc uhcClOI VI lhe
mint in support Of the house bill authoriz-
ing the coinage of the silver in the treas
cry into subsidiary coins and repeating the
law for the coinage Of silver dollars. Mr.
Roberts said there was great demand fol
more mall coin. The bill was not acted
upon, because OF objections made by some
members of the committee to the provi-
sion prohibiting the further coinage Of
silver dollars.
senate Delay EndanEers Army.
The War department is seriously con-
cerned about the failure of the senate &c
act. on a large number Of names Of younl
oficers submitted at the beginning OF the
session. Promotions are blocked and the
department has been obliged to call atten'
tion to the fact that II these nomination.
are not confirmed at this session every
one on the list will be leeislated out Of
the army.
Canteen' QuestiOn HaIts.
No action will be taken by the house
committee on military AFFAIRS or by con.
gress on the eanteen question at this see.
sion and no consideration is being given By
the committee to the measures proposing
the restoration Of the canteen to the arm!
post exchanges. This statement was mad
today by Chairman Hull.
Would Extend Trust Law.
} Senator Morgan today introduced a bill