Los Angeles herald., 1909-08-14

Despite the fact that the assembly was
overwhelmingly dominated by members
elected on platforms pledging them TO
work for immediate Independence
there was no deadlockinE or nillpuster-
ing. The government was enabled TO
have almost every important measure
passed by the assembly. and in almost
every instance by a unanimous vote.
There was not single case In Whlch
the party in power in the assembly
for party purposes blocked Legislation
demanded by the government. m
anime the history of the United states
congress in years when the mousse ana
senate have been dominated by diner
ent political parties and see II the
Filipino assembly's record does not
shine by contrast.
At the last session, 1T is true, the
more important measures and the APP
preparation bills were postponed unul
the very last minute. There was an
effort to force the governor to call an
extra session. When it found that
the governor was firm in his declara-
tion to prolong the life of the legisla-
| ture the bills were passed. There was
a disagreement between the assembly
and the commission concerning the
bankrupt act, something long demand
| ed by the business interests OF the ISL
ands. A joint committee met to dis
cuss il. The Filipinos from the as
sembly declared that they were not op-
posed to the act, but that they would
insist upon some amendments. Ihe
commission committee was soon con-
vinced that the amendments would I'M,
prove the act and accepted them, ana
the next day the bill was passed.
According to Acting Governor Forbes
the assembly at all times showed dis
position to aid the government In every
possible way in the administration of
affairs Yet throughout all the session
| It insisted upon reiterating the shibbo-
| leth of independence. AS q matter of
| fact the immediate independence talk
| is not taken seriously by the assembly
men who engage In it. A resolution
demanding immediate release from the
rule of the United States probably VIII
be an annual feature of the assembly
proceedings. 1t is the safety valve
through which the extra steam Will
escape The passage of the resolution
will be deemed each year a blow Tor
freedom, and therefore it will be un-
necessary to strike other blows.
The assembly itself is intensely in
| teresting. It is made up of eighty
members representing those parts of
the islands inhabited by civilized Chris
| tian people. The Mohammedan Moros
and the wild nom Christian tribes are
not within the province of the assembly
| in any fashion. The assembly is divied
| into two important political groups
Nacionalistas and frogresistas. There
are only sixteen Progresistas, members
Of the conservative party which is IA
vorable to continued American occupa-
| ton and hopes for independence only
as an ultimate and faraway goal. The
| Nacionalstas, having so large ma
iority, are divided into smaller groups.
and some members acting with the
| M rtv prefer TO styla themselves inde-
pendents.
Party organizations are very nuld,
and the next election may see every
thing entirely changed, even the names
| of the parties. But the independence
cry will again be potent at the polls,
and the party espousing the "imme-
diatista" cause probably will have the
majority of the next assembly. The
speaker OF the present assembly, Is the
Hon. Sergio Osmena, a man only 80
wears old, but a born leader. He or
dained rules based on those OF the house
of representatives at Washington, but
the actual working OF the assembly Is
conducted quite differently from that of
| the American model.
The assembly, as a committee of the
whole goes into secret session at the
| beginning Of each days sitting. In
that secret session 1t is decided what
will be done that day what measures
will be considered and what votes
| taken, who will speak on the floor, what
he shall say and how long he shall be
in saying It, Everything is cut and
| dried in a style which would excite the
admiration of the most capable of old
time party convention bosses.
Then the doors are thrown open ana
the curious Filipinos peep in from the
gallery doors to see their Legislators at
work. The caucus program is observed
to the letter, and when the perfunctory
performance is finished the assembly
adtourns. The curious thing about 1t
all is that members of both parties and
the independents daily reach Agree
ments on procedure. The Philippines
assembly is a model of dignity. There
| is never q lack Of order, never any
trough housing" never any frivolity.
The supreme court OF the United States
is not more proper in department.
Despite little political buncombe,
and despite a disposition to proscras-
tinate, the first Filipino assembly has
made a remarkably good record for IT.
! self, And whatever its critics may say
it probably is the strongest link be-
tween the American and the Filipino
peoples The assembly, as an expert
mept, is thus far success.
Toniorrow-America in tho Philippines:
| XV--The Question of Independence.
| quaint little silhouette? And TO the