New-York tribune., 1907-11-24
THE FILIPINO COMMISSIONERS.

The election by the Philippine Legislature Of
two commissioners to represent the archipelago
at washington and TO sit in the lower house
Of Congress completes the political organiza-
tion planned for our Far Eastern dependency
by the civil government act Of July |, 1902
The Philippines have now acquired politically
much the same status as Porto Rico possesses.
Each dependency has legislature with lower
elective branch and an upper body composed Of
1 appointees of the Washington government.
Each has partial representation in the federal
Congress Porto Ricos Resident Commissioner
IS chosen by a popular vote. The two Philip
pine commissioners are elected by the insular
Legislature each body voting separately, and
as there is no provision for the cOnvocatcn of
q Joint assembly the successful candidates
must receive majorities in both branches. Com.
ity will probably be invoked therefore, to es-
tablish the rule that each body shall ratify
the choice of the coordinate branch. The
FilIpinos will not be slow in domesticatinG the
useful institution of Senatorial courtesy"
This is what happened. indeed, at Manila
last Friday when Benito Legarda and Pablo
Ocampo were selected as the first Resident Com
missioners. Mr.. Legarda has been for several
years member of the Philippine Commission
and is consequently Il member, er ofici0, Of the
upper legislative branch. He has upheld the
American administration in its plan of gradual
political education and SLOWLY broadening au-
tOnomy. He represents consequently the con-
Servatiye native sentiment which sympathiZes
with the insular commission and its policies. Mr.
OcampO former Agunaldist and was sec
retary of the Aguinaldist Congress. He was
eXiled 10 Guam aftlr the failure of the inSur
rection, and subsequently swore allegiance to
the United States under the terms of the am
neStv act. He was elected TO the Assembly
as Independent Nationalist. and represents
the strong Nationalist sentiment which governs
in the lower legislative branch The Assembly
named him and the commission named Mr.. Le-
garda and then each branch indorsed the others
| action. Congress and the American people
will. therefore have the opinions of both po-
| litical elements in the Philippines adequately
interpreted by Filipino spokesmen Mt Washing
| ton.
1t IS 10 be hoped that the appearance of the
new delegates at the capital will stimulate "A
more generous and enlightened treatment of
the FilipinOs by Congress. The House of Rep
reSentativeS has shown a willingness to remove
the unnecessary and Cramping burden of taxa
tion on Philippine products and to give the peO
pie of the archipelago as free an entry into orr
markets have already given the people
Of Porto Rico and Hawaii But the Senate
has Obstinately and illogicaly held out for
continuance of determinations for which there
! is no good political or economic reason. So
long as we retain the islands we should treat
them with fairness and equity and give them
| the benefits of the political relation whose
| counter burdens and obligations rest upon
| them. If we can help them by taking their
| products n preference to the similar products
! Of foreign countries IL is both Justice and good
| policy for 10 do Their industry threat
ems industry here. and their progress should
| be source of qualification 10 u.s. not cause
| for groundless fear and jealous repression.