New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-17
HAVE SPECIAL MISSION.
FiimnOs Isk President for Election
for LO1cer House.

That the members OF the Honorary Philippine
Commission of Visitation to the United States were
intrusted with a special mission from tho prom
inent men of the islands came yesterday I'm the
course Of their rounds OF the city guests Of the
Chamber of Commerce, They have asked President
Roosevelt to order special election found the
lower house in system of government in the
Philippines. the United States Philippine Commits
sion to form the upper house
According 10 the act Of July l. 1902 when peace
conditions the islands warrant. and have existed
two years after the publication of the census re-
port the President is authorized TO declare an
election for members OF Legislature. to be COM
posed entirely Of FiIipinos. This to form
the lower house In the government OF the ISL
ands and 10 be the first step toward self gov
eminent This legislature IS 10 elect two COM
missioners TO represent the islands in Wash
nEto0. The has been taken. and the
first bulletin giving figures regarding the popula-
zion has recently been made public. The full
port. TWO years from which the general election
TO be ordered. cannot be prepared and pub
lished sooner than the first OF the year. T II
Pardo de- Travera. OF the members OF the
Philippine Commission. said TO a Tribune reporter
yesterday:
Peace on the islands has been firmly estab-
shed that we feel warranted in asking that the
for waiting until the census reports have been
figured out and published. We are ready for
Islands urged us 70 press the matter with the gov
ernment When in Washington we did not bring
hut did speak Of It earnestly to Secretary Taft
We cpnslaeT nm our repTesentanve In dsanhss
will present our case 20 the utmost advantage
such general Election on the ground that fhe
Congressman elected will be nationalistic and OPP
not think that the Nationalists If one may call
them Will be in majority. Even the Nationalist
viii not make a studied opposition. but Will work
IN harmony. and LOYALTY with the upper house-the
first Philippine Congress; OF that you may be sure
The day for the Filipino Commissioners began
with an automobile ride through the residential dis
trict They taken TO the roof OF the American
Surety Building whicH commands a fine view OF
the city. for which the visitors have great admira-
ton. From there they walked to the Chamber Of
Commerce Building They were formally welcomed
by J. Edward Simmons vice president OF the Cham
Der. Arthur W. Ferguson, executive secretary OF
the Philippine Islands. in charge OF the party,
piled in behalf of the Philippine government; lie
Spanish for the visiting commissio r1 1900,
ton which the commission had received, the doc
tor said that there was 10 real commerce in the
There mad been some commerce between Manila
and Mexico under the Spanish rule but It held out
no inducement TO F1lipnos as IT consisted largely
OF silks and other goods brought in from China and
England formed a treaty with Spain which prom
Used to open up extensive commercial dealings
said that the FiIpinos depended on American push
and initiative 10 open up the natural OF
fists present that they would find the people very
responsive to all commercial unuertiklhBS
The commissioners were entertained at luncheon,
and then returned to the Murray Hill Hotel. where
swarm OF visitors. with all sorts of propositions.
from electric boot backing appliances to the latest
thing in air ships. awaited them.
The ilipinos will spend to-day visiting the Met
roDOlitan Museum OF a and the Museum OF Natu-
raj History They will also visit Grants Tomb.
In the evening the Chamber OF Commerce VIII give
them a formal dinner at DelmonicOs. ON the way
downtown Yesterday morning the Ftlpinos encoun-
tered a crowd of children near Broadway and Four
feminist The children took them for japanese
and cheered loudly Not knowing the reason Tor
this the F1lipinos we're much pleased and returned
the greeting by tipping their hats.