New-York tribune., 1905-01-16

that as soon the people came TO understand
that the government had both the ability and
the VIII protect them they began to CO.
operate cordially with the consta bulary and
other peace officers by giving information
against the lawless. so that it became possible
TO Kill or capture them. AS a result, the report
says. not a single organized band OF ladrones
is to be found in the Island OF Luzon; that
nearly all the leaders. save five or six, have
been killed or captured. and that the same may
be said Of the Visayan Islands. with the ex-
ception OF Samar. Inc commission adds that
there is reason to suppose that orderly con-
ditions Will be otherwise than permanent. The
relations between Americans and F1ipinos are
said TO be generally cordial. with a steady
growth of confidence and good feeling between
them. "AI those>who are justly entitled to be
called leaders of public opinion among the Fill
pinos.' the report continues, have definitely
cast their lot with the Americans"
REGARDING THE MoRos.
Regarding the Moros. the report says the
great area of the Moro province. which includes
practically all of the Island Of Mndanao and
the Sulu Archipelago. except for $4,000 Fill
pinos. spoken of as descendants of convicts
sent from the north by SpaniaIds, is inhabited
by Moros processing Mohametanism and by
other non-Christian tribes. The authority OF
the Sultan of Sulu vas found on investigation
who possessed as much authority as he. al
though he was the titular head of the Moros.
The report says:
From time immemorial the Moros have practised
polyga1ny, and have been accustomed to make raids
sock of saVes as veal as to engage in piracy
while the Arabs taught them the use Of firearms.
they understood the Americans would protect
o g @ Wng to reeornfIe fig Knerean te aGthorty
and receive me Denents OF its protection IN 9uil-
lish themselves in villages and 10 till the adjacent
soil. They are said not TO be lacking in intelli-
gence.
In speaking of the abrogation of the treaty
with the Sultan of Sulu, the report says:
Whilst it had never been recognized as valid and
b 6a 2nf 1 e re1u5ae S sG e ta
still II has been lived up TO by the Americans IN
every particular including the payment OF annual
had been sysemat ticaIly and persistenty violated
by them
The report says that a pacific policy toward
the Moros seemed TO give them the impression
the Americans were afraid of them, but a short.
decisive campaign gave them TO understand that
the Americans had not only the purpose but the
power TO support their authority and enforce or
der.
There is no reason" It is added, Ito expect
any further trouble with the Suu Moros"
Referring TO the conference with the Sultan
Of Sulu al Manila, the report says that on his
explanation that the annulment of the treaty
left him without means of subsistence. he being
deprived Of the revenues received as Sultan. the
commission thought il would be inequitabl to
permit this, and agreed TO give him and the
members of his household 1900 pesos annually,
with the understanding that he and they give
every aid 10 the government.
It was found upon investigation that the Sulu
Moros have no general system OF laws, each
tribe having an unwrltten code Of its own, but
all so incongruous as to make them worthless as
a basis upon which TO build AS an illustration
II is stated that In some Of the codes murder is
punishable by small nne ana in cases or adul-
terry the man is fined and the woman buried
alive.
THE LANDS OF THE .FRIARs.
With reference to the friar lands. the commits
sion. after repeating the statements heretofore
made to the opposition on the part OF a ma
jority Of the Filipinos to the friars. says:
The Holy See. recognizing that the Filpinos
the wisdom OF Supplying them With priests who
would be acceptable TO them, has appointed an
the places fornery Occupied BY spanish church
policy Of declining TO force objectionable priests
reluctant parlshioners, and has brought Its
b 20 of the Il large landed properties
under the control Of the friar orders
The report says there still continues to be
much controversy and i'll feeling between the
independent Filipino Church-or Agnpayans, as
they are commonly called-and the Roman Cath
olic Apostolic Church. in regard TO the owner
many localities. The report says 1t has been
charged that the movement inaugurated by
Aglipay was political, rather than religious. and
had for its motives another insurrectlon, ana
that il is unquestiOna bly, true that he has at
tracted a large following Of the irreconcilable,
restless clement among the F1lipinos, but 1t is
also true that he has a large following among
those who cannot thus be classified, and there is
no evidence which even lends color 10 the belief
that his purposes are other than TO build UP
church OF his own which he seeks TO make
purely Filipino
POWER TO REDUCE DUTIES.
The report urges that authority be given the
commission 10 make reductions in the tariff
schedules the commission saying in this con-
nection that it always has felt there should ex-
list the most intimate trade relations between
the United States and the islands. unobstructed
as far possible by tariff barriers Having
that in view. internal revenue system has
been put in force which the commission hopes
ultimately may permit of material reductions in
existing tariff rates. at least on goods coming
from the United States.
The Dingley tariff rates on sugar and tobacco
Imported into the United States, the report says,
are prohibitive- The admission of these prod
ucts free OF duty into the United States, it is
asserted, would not seriously injure American
interests but would be a boon TO the Philippine
sugar planters and tobacco growers. A recon-
mendation is made for the repeal Of the law
authorizing the refunding OF duties. the state
ment being that since its enactment 81 ,060, ,460
has been collected in refundable duties. princi-
pally on hemp expectations TO the United States
mendations:
Reduction Of tariff on sugar and tobacco TO not
more than 25 per cent Of the Dingley rate.
IsI M 81 The President and Secretary Of War 10
issue bonds time time. for future improve
rnents not TO exceed s. 10000 in the aggregate
TegfsIafiOn eXemptinE all bonds issued by the