Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-23
Needed Reform in the Service.

In order 10 improve the personnel and
make Tie service permanent Congress must
allow the corStl Buiary officers better pay.
arrange a retirement and pension system
IKE that of the T. guar army. and insure
permanent employment and regular pro-
motion. Now commissions cover two years
only. so that as soon an officer reaches
a state of efficiency his term expires and
there is little inducement for him 10 con-
tinuc In TIE service.
The privates must have longer terms of
enlistment also. and a pension system to
keep them in. There has been "a good deal
or disappointment concerning the small
number of re-enlistments The constabu-
larry was organized only two years ago.
and the terms of the original enlistments
are beginning to expire. Thus far only "A
few more than half the force have re-en-
listed. but the officers say that most OF
them will eventually come back. After
they have been out a little while and
have tried other jobs they will begin to ap-
preclate the advantages of government en-
pioyment. regular pay. good rations, COM
Portable barracks and the allurements of
wearing uniforms and exercising authority
The humbest of F'ilipinos has "A craving for
power. 1t seems to be inbqrn, like his in
dolence and love OF music. end il Is a great
privilege for him to strut about in uni
form as a representative of the sovereignty
of the islands. Hence Gen. Allen and his
officers are confident that most of the old
men will come back in a short time and re-
main permanently in the corps.
The constabulary costs Sl1G3.Jco a year.
or average of about $3.50 per man annu-
ally. and during the last year the average
strength was 555 officers and 600 enlisted
men.
Other Armed Natives
In addition to the constabuary, there is
corps of 5000 native scouts. under the
direct command of the military and the
ordinary municipal police force. which
throughout the islands aggregates 10 cap
tains. LII lieutenants, 6Ss sergeants, 1.ls1
corporals and 1913 privates. a grand total
of 9a25 men. Thus altogethere there are
In the neighborhood of 10000 natives under
arms for the purpose of preserving peace
and order, and about the same number of
regular American troops
Gov. Taft in his final report alludes in
directly to the apprehensions that have
been frequently uttered concerning the peril
of drilling and arming many natives, for
they alone would make very formida BILE
force in case of another revolution.
without taking into consideration the
strategic Importance of the Philippines as
a military supply depot, where troops and
war material may be kept for oriental
emergencies" said Gov. Taft, Il believe
American troops to be kept here should be
in direct proportion to the number of guns
put into the hands of the natives After
extensive warfare, however humanely con-
Quoted several years must elapse before
there is mental paciiication, and during
that period of adjustment to new condi-
tions 1t is unwise to ignore the great moral
effect of strong armed force above sus-
picion.
The British government. after the awful
lesson taught by the Sepoy mutiny in 1861,
came to a similar conclusion and since
that date, although there has never been
revolution. two white English soldiers have
been garrisoned In that empire for every
native under arms.