Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-23

that the United states O"Hs duu
exercises jurisdiction over more
than 1900 of the islands OF the
sea- whose aggregate population
is upward of 1O,OtO,OOO. and the confplheo
area of which is more than IU,vp square
miles
The Philippine Islands and Porto RICO
are largely autonomous, frawins the.l
own laws under the liberal provisions OF
their respective organic acts passed by
Congress. subject to review by Congress.
The affairs of these islands are admins
tered by the bureau of insular affairs OF
the War Department. through which IN
formation respecting either Is dissent
mated.
The islands of the Philippine group
number Bill and have u total iand area
of nearly 1000 square miles, approx
mately that of the six New ENGLAND
states New York and New Jersey. There
are some SUoa,HO people in the PhlII-
pines, about 7.5Gn.W0 of whom are civil
liZed, Christian people, the FflipinoS be-
ing the only Christian people in the
Orient. The remainder of the inhabitants
of the islands are Mohammedans and pa
gans, who have maintained autocfa.lc
forms of tribal government until recentiS.
The whole of the archipelago is now un-
der civil government. but In some OF the
islands the civil offices are occupied by
military officers. The central govern
ment is composed of the governor general,
and eight commissioners, four of whom
are Americans and four Filipinos. This
commission is the upper house of the
Philippine legislature, the lower house
being the Philippine assembly. elected by
the people and composed at present en-
tirely of Filipnos. This legislature has
general legislative authority in the Is
lands except over that part inhabited DS
the Moros or other non-Chrlstlan tribes.
over which the Philippine commission mas
sole legislative authority. me iesisiatu,e
elects two resident commissioners to the
United States, who have seats IN Con-
gress The United States has gradually
extended to the people OF the phihppine
Islands such participation In the govern
ment of the islands as they. have SHOWN
themselves a BILE inteligently to exercise
At the beginning of each session OF the
Philippine legislature the governor general
sends message to that BODY. Wnich cor
responds to the message of the PRESIDENT
Of the United States to Congress. con-
corning finances. pending matters and de-
sired legislation. summer capitaI Is
being built at Baguio. such as that at
Simia, India. All progressive tropical
countries maintain a resor. at an altitude
which insures a cool and recuperative
climate to which the offices of the gov,
eminent may be temporarily removed
during the heated season. which is bene-
fetal not only to those suffering from dis
ease but also to those enjoying goou
health. Construction on the government
buildings was started in 1909 and has
continued as rapidly as the finances OF
the Philippines would permit, The other
improvements included a large number
of cottages and two large dormitorfes.
With the extension of the railroad into
Baguio, now contracted for. the value OF
Baguio will be greatly enhanced to the
Filipinos 1t is one Of the possibilities OF
the future that a university may be built
there.
The annual report of the Philippine
commission makes a number OF recon-
mendations of Congress respecting ena-
bling legislation which 1t deems necessary
for the islands, and the governor general
i'm his annual message to the legislature
calls attention to the fact that Manila
is one of the few large cities of the
world of great importance which has no
gas plant and recommends that the legis-
lature grant a properly guarded franchise
to parties who he understands are ready
to construct such a plant.
The governor general has oversight or
the administration of all public affairs in
the islands He has under his executive
control and supervision the executive bu-
reau, the bureau of audits, the bureau of
civil service as we'll as the provincial
and municipal governments, including the
city Of Manila He has the power or
parole and pardon. may change the
boundary of any province, municipality
or other political subdivision, and may
close or open certain ports of entry