The Saint Paul globe., 1905-01-16
PRESIDENT RECEIVES
PHILIPPINE REPORT
Commission Tells of Progress
in Islands During
Year


WASHINGTON, Jan. 15.-Secretary
Taft has submitted to the president the
annual report of the Philippine commits
sion, together with the separate reports
to the commission of the civil governor, of
the islands, and of the heads of the four
departments.
The secretary says in his letter of trans
initial to the president that the reports
show the great benefit which has been
conferred upon the islands by continued
state of tranquility. Except in the wild,
mountainous regions of the unexplored
island of Samar, and in the Moro region
OF the Rio Grande and Lake Lanao in
the sparsely settled island of Mindanao
and in the island of Jolo, conditions as to
tranquility and ladronism, he says, con-
tinue to improve, and except in the places
peace are not at all interfered with by
laWless bands or depredations.
Luzon Ladrones Wiped Out
people came to understand that the gov
ernment had both the ability and the will
to protect them they began to cooperate
CORDIALLY cordial With the constabulary and other
against the lawless so that it became pos
slble to Kill OF capture them. AS a result
me report says. not single organized
band of ladrones is now to be found in the
island of Luzon; that nearly all the lead
erss save five or six have been killed or
captured and that the same may be said
of Samar
With reference to the friar lands the
commission. after repeating the state
ments heretofore made as TO opposition
on the part of a majority of the Filipinos
to the friarS says.
aThe holy see, recognizing that the
FIilpinos FL were, generally speaking, Roman
Catholics and the wisdom of supplying
them with priests who would be accepta-
bic to them, has appointed an American
ar asIrehblshop and bishops who have taken
oflurchmen and has pursued the wise and
eonciliatory. policy of declining to force
objectionable. priests upon reluctant par
isnloners and has brought it's great in
chase by the government of the large
landed properties under the control of
the friar orders. 49,
Much Controversy
The report says there still continues to
be much controversy and ill-feeling be-
tween the Independent Filipino chureh---or
Agnpayans as they are commonly called
and the Roman Catholic apostolic church
IN regard to the ownership OF churches,
converts and cemeteries i'll many localities
The report says it has been charged that
the movement inaugurated by Aglipay was
poiltlcai pol rather than religious and had for
It's motives another inSurrection, and that
It IS unquestienably true that he has at
tracted large following OF the lrreconcil-
apie; restless element among the Filipinos,
but 1t is also true that he has large fol-
lowing of those who cannot thus be classi-
ned. and there Is no evidence which even
lends color 10 the belief. that his pur-
poses are other than to build up a church
of his own, which he seeks to make purely
Filipinos. -
The commission makes the following
recommendations:
Reduction of tariff on sugar and to-
Dingley rate.
:. That authority be given the commits
sion, with the approval of the president
and secretary of war. TO issue bonds from
Ime 10 Tune for future improy ements, not
to exceed s5.oOoo0o IN the aggregate
Legislation exempting all bonds issued
by the Philippine government or any OF
the provincial or municipal governments
not only from federal or Philippine taxa
taxation in the United States.
That control Of the shipping trade be-
tween the islands be left wholly in the
discretion OF the Philippine commission,
and secretary of war.
Congres5ional action authorizing the
Plhlllpplne conimission,A with the approval
encourage railroad construction in the
islands by the grants or franchises
Ifat the amount of land which may lie
acquired by any individual or CORPORATION
be extended to %. 900 acres, ard that the
law which forhi2s the fling of more than
one mining claim by the same individual
upon g. 10 lode OF. deposit be epealed.
Legislation authorizing the commission
20 make reductions on present and future
tariff schedules when IN its opinion to do
so VIII be in the public interests; also to
provide proper machinery for the extradi-
ton OF fugitives TO ard from the Islands.
Opium Smoking
Tie report Of Mr. Worcester. as secre-
tary OF the interior. says. There are over
zoe establishments in Manila where opium
Is smoized He adds: 'sTfey are filthy
and unsanitary and are at present not
recognized by law or required to take out
license"
In his report as ciyi! governor Of Moro
province Cen Wood says slave trading
has been brought practically TO an end
throughout the seacoast Moro districts,
although he says It undoubtedly continues
70 some cxteEt between the inIanG Aioros