Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-01-02
Insulsr Commission Tells Of Progrsu Of
Government on Islands
MISTAKE CAUSED PULAHANE TfOUBLE
Hill Men Angry when They see Ira
ditionaI Enemies Present at Meet
ing whore Arms Were to
he Surrendered.


War department. In part. 1t says
Peace and order.
It is stated that the remnant Of the bands
OF ladrones which have infested the prov
lnces Of Cavite and Batangas In the neigh
borhood OF Manila since the Spanish regime
have been finally broken up, one OF the
most desperate leaders killed and the
others to the number OF twelve so bounded
by the constabulary that they came in and
tlon, promise, or inducement on the part of
the government other than that they would
be protected IN coming to Manila and re-
Later advices from the Philippines give
the Information that these men have been
tried tried before a Filipino Judge and have been
the most fiendsh and cruel murders and
shocking mutilations, and all but one were
thirty years imprisonment II is siEnis.
cant that all OF these leaders of outlaws
took high-soundlng titles In an imaginary
calculated to impress the ignorant natives
and gain following. Aguinaldo states that
he believes there will be very little further
as a further proof Of his sincerity 'O IN this this
belief It Is cited that since these surrenders
he has leased from the bureau OF lands
nearly l,500 acres of land In an outlying
district, close to the mountains, hitherto
infested by outlaws.
Northern Luzon.
The only disturbance In northern L,usou
posed as a prophet, wears long hair for
erect, and has selected a religious fanati-
cism as guise under which TO work his
OF the Holy Church." and the followers
OF TINS movement are drawn from the most
ignorant and superstitious people, who are
oeYout and prayerful in their religious OBJ
servances, but In many Of the rites OF this
organization indecency and RIGHTEOUSNESS
p %sS1har h by securing forecasts from the
able to predict the approach of storms,
foods, etc. he has created among his
divine and prophetic power.
=. Northern Central Luson.
In the mountainous regions of northern
cehtral Luzon, inhabited mainly by Igorots
and other non. Christian or unoivilized
tribes. there has been peace and good order
except for the inclination for occasional
reprlIsals on the part OF the people OF one
municipality on another mother
AT the time OF the last report Il was
thought that the worst was over in Samar,
as many Of the Pulahanes Chill tribes) had
suLrendered and come In with their guns,
and that just and humane policy would
bring its proper results.
AZ the result Of the governors work
among them, the Pulahanes who still held
out had agreed to surrender their arms in
March last, with which the pacihcation of
the island would have been completely ef-
fected and condition of tranquility Sc
cured there which has never before ex-
lsted, but unfortunately the ill-advised
presence of some people from the coast
render and who had always been regarded
as the bitter enemies OF the Pulahanes,
rendered. the Pulahan leaders suspicious
ana evidently caused a change of heart
for instead Of surrenderinR they opened FIRE,
ana were only repulsed after considerable
Leyte and Mindanao.
Until June 9, 1906, the island of Leyte
remained in peaceful condition. The people
mad elected a Filipino to succeed Major
.soFssthsss q the oSSstS6uiary, Eho had
terms. The campaign was a spirited. one
and so bitter that much Ill feeling was en-
gendered and the new governor made the
tration Of harshly dealing with those who
had opposed his election. This, together
with religious fanaticism and other con-
tributory causes, famed the embers into
a flame and several minor outbreaks or
local disturbances occurred which were
put down. In all thN remaining. visayan
Industry and uniform peace prevail.
Since the killing Of Dato Ali, the most
desperate outlaw on the island of Min
danao, the situation Is veIy much i'm
proved, and the problem now is one of
maintenance, rather than establishment
OF order.
In December. 1906, the biennial elections
were held for the selection Of municipal
ofhcers, and In February last elections
were held for the election of provincial
eight provinces These elections are q
vital part OF the scheme which has been
Art author BY the government Of the
Ftlipinos In self-government by allowing
them to choose their own officers for local
COMMUNICATION. These elections although
and without disturbance OF the public
peace. were attended with much excite
eiectlons were protested. and d. many an an
nulled by the provincial boards because
OF frauds, intimidatlons or bribery, and
new elections ordered. In some provinces,
though little or no interest is taken in
general, political subjects, great interest Is
excited by local elections. In the city OF
view OF the approach OF the elections for
the popular assembly, has been marked by
increased intensity and bitterness and
the several candidates and their friends
upon the electors.
Industrial Conditions.
The reports OF the various governors
taken as a whole indicate that the crops
are In a more prosperous condition, ex-
| cept as TO tobacco, sugar and hemp, plants
of the latter having been damaged by q
S4.O 900 in value OF the crop, The reduc-
tion in the production OF tobacco is due
largely TO lack OF a suitable market, that
absolutely prOhlbitory duties imposed by
the Dingley tariff and to the consequent
low price realized for the leaf.
IN the ulattcN VI OApOiNo NhS iOSo wa
made up by the increase in the production
/ and expectation OF cocoanuts. The imports
were reduced below the preceding year by
some N,oO0,Ooo, a large portion of which
consisted in the reduced importations OF
l rice, which 10 a good sign. as II indicates
| that the Philippines are raising their own
rlce and extending their agriculture. which
/ for q number OF years has been retarded
| by death Of cattle and draft animals from
FindeFpest. locust plaques, etc. The bal
| anoe OF trade In favor Of the islands was
i about 5000, 900. Enormous numbers of new
plants of Manila hemp, maguey "a mosi
been set out, and there has been a large
increase In the area planted to rice.
Another good sign OF returning prosperity
Is the increased purchases OF improved
/ agricultural implements and machinery
which not merely denotes Improvement II
| purchasing power on the part of the
people but also furnishes the materia
for constantly enlarged production.
Postal Savings Bank.
During the year an act has been passeC
| by the Philippine commission establishing
| a postal savings bank. TO be administered
| under the bureau OF posts, with author,
/ 70 establish branches in every postOfficl
/ throughout the archipelago. Many OF tn,
people OF the islands are thrifty but In
ability to properly invest OF secure the
an Income discouraees thrift and prac
ticaily the only means OF saving heretofor'
In the provinces has been by burytng monel
In the ground, which practice made
| serious loss to the community, as the as.
| OF the money IL urgently needed In cir
culation for the prosperity OF the islands
In the new postal savings banks deposit