Omaha daily bee., 1912-01-28

to the courts Of any state OF our union
This is in ability and honesty, | doubI
whether the same could be said Of tn,
provincial courts. II Is difficult to gel
good judges. The old Spanish judiciary
was corrupt and the American judges did
not understand the languages or dialects
They were not familiar with the Local
laws. on the other hand. the Filipino
judges were not familiar with our ideas
OF equity. There was q distrust on the
part OF the people and the government.
am told that this has passed away,
and that the Fllipinos are attaining high
rank as Judges. Out OF twenty-nine Judge
ships fifteen are held by Americans and
fourteen by Filipinos.
The laws are enforced by the police,
and the papers of the justices and the
courts are served by them. There is now
police force in every town and this Is
so even OF the. colony Of lepers which has
/ its own government. For some years after
We took hold OF the islands the policing
was done by our army. There were brig
ands everywhere. and almost every ban-
boo clump hid bandit The towns had
70 be protected from Invasion. and every
public road was guarded by soldiers. As
Il is now. the provinces and municlpali-
ties protect themselves with their own
police and the aid OF the eonstabulary.
Uncle sans Police Force.
But 7 want to tell YOU something about
this constabulary, as the government
police force f. called. II is the develop
ment and Improvement Of the old guardia
civile Of the spanish. 1t now consists Of
about 5,00o men, who are scattered all
over the islands, acting as advisers and
aids TO the local police. as the protectors
OF the roads and as the guards OF the
wild men. There Is a detachment OF this
police in or near every tribe, and Its
officer is part OF the community where
II is stationed. He guards II from thieves.
He is ever on tho lookout for disease,
ard he hunts up the stolen animals and
guarantees the sick ones.
The eonstabulaTy has completely wiped
out brigandase. The records show Il has
captured I,oo1 bandits and killed more
than 4OOo. 1t has retaken about 1900
stolen animals and returned them to their
owners.
This government force consists largely
of natives, being made up of fighting
men from all parts of the Philippine Is
lands. Some OF the men are Moros. some
Igorrotes, some visayans and some Mac
eabeebes and others. All have been
trained BY the soldiers. and We have a
training school at Baguio where they are
instructed. They make excellent fighters
and are proud Of their positions
The Reform of the Prisons.
Since We. took possession Of the Philip
pines we have brought about some OF the
greatest prison reforms Of the world
Take Bilibld, which was once about the
most horrible penitentiaTy Of the far east.
Its prisoners were flogged. and the only
mode Of execution was by the garrote, a
machine which broke the neck Of the
victim. or rather screwed the head back
until the neck cracked.
That institution is now one Of the finest
prisons under the American flag and one
Of the largest OF the world. The build
ings have been reTnade, aud the institu-
ton is now laid out like the Spokes Of a
wheel. with a tower In the center. There
is a great wall around II, and upon this
are twelve guard towers. In six of which
stand American soldiers. armed with Cat
ling guns shotguns and revoivers. In
the other six are native guards. also
armed. but not with Gatlings. In the
center tower stands an American guard,
with a loaded revolver and three rifles.
This man has control OF the lighting Of
the prison. and he can. In an instant. turn
off the electricity in any or all the build
inss. He has telephone connection. and
can call out the force on short notice.
when I visited BIlibid it was dirty and
filthy. The prisoners are now made TO
keep clean, and everything Is spotless
There Is no waste nor litter. The men
are on their good conduct and they may
rise from class to class as they do better.
Al present 50 per cent of the prisoners
are in tho first class.
The prisoners are well fed and they
seem to be eontented- They are taught
trades Of all kinds and they do excellent
work. There Is a carriage and wagon
department which makes wheels which
are sent broadcast over the Islands. There
are also silver making shops. weaving
rooms and departments where they make
hats and baskets. Some OF the prisoners
are carpenters. some poiishers and paint
ers. There is also a taiior's shop and