El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-04-18

The Philippine islands and Porto
Rico are largely autonomous, framing
their own laws under the liberal pro-
visions of their respective organic acts
passed by congress, subject. TO review
by congress. The affairs of these
islands are administered by the bureau
OF insular affairs Of the war depart
nent through which infOrEation re-
speeding either is disseminated.
kfIipinOs Are Christians.
The islands of the Philippine grOuk
number 3,l41 and have total lanu
al ca of nearly $4,000 square miles,
approximately that Of the six New
England states, New York and Ne"
Jersey. There are some 100000 PEG.
pie in the Philippines about ls5OU,yUo
of whom are civilized, Christian people,
the Eflipinos being the only Chrlstlau
people in the orient. The remainder OF
the inhabitants of the Islands are Mo-
hammedans and pagans who nave
/ maintained autocratlc forms OF trlOI
government until recently
The whole of the archipelago Is now
under civil government but IN some
OF the islands the civil offices are Oc-
cupied by military officers The cen
tral government is composed of the
governor general, and eight cOmmls-
siOners, four OF whom are Americans
and four FilipinOs- This commlssloL
IS the upper house Of the FnllpplnS
legislature, the lower house being tne
Philippine assembly, elected oy the
people and composed at present entire
general legislative authority in the IS
lands except over that part inhabited
by MOrOs or other nOn-ChrlstldA
tribes, over which the Philippine COM
mission has sole legislative authority
The legislature elects two resident
commissioners to the United states,
who have seats in congress. The Unit
ed States has gradually extended &c
the people Of the Philippine ISLANDS
such participation in the government
OF the islands as they have shoWL
themselves able intelLgently to eXer.
else.
The Philippine Legislature.
At the beginning OF each session o.
the Philippine legislature the governor
generai sends message to that BODY,
which corresponds TO the message OF
the president of the United States TO
congress, concerning finances, pend
ing matters and desired legislation A
summer capital is being built at
BaguiO, such as that at Simla, India
All progressive tropical countries
maintain a resort at an altitude which
insures a cool and recuperative climate
70 which the offices Of the govern
ment may be temporarily removed dur
ing The heated season. which is bene-
fetal not only to those suffering from
disease. but also to those enjoying
good health.
Construction on the government
buildings was started in 1903 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 dor
nzitOries With the extension Of the
railroad into Baguio. now contracted
for. the value of BaSuiO viii be great
ly enhanced to the FlipinOs. 1t is one
OF the possibilities Of the future that
university may be built there
The annual report Of the Philippine
commission makes a number of rec
concentrations TO congress respecting
cua ding legislation which II deems
necessary for the Islands and the gov
%.
to the legislature calls attention ID /
the fact that Manila is one OF the few I
large cities of the world Of great i'm
pOrUance which has no gas plant and ]
recommends that the legislature grant I
a properly guarded franchise TO parties !
no he understands are ready to COR
struct such a plant
Powers Of the Governor.
The governor general has oversight /
or the administration Of all public af- /
fairs in the islands He has under ]
his executive control and supervision ]
the executive bureau, the bureau OF ]
aUdits, the bureau Of civil service. a. I
well as the provincial and municipal I
governments, including the CITY Of I
ana pardon may change the boundary Z
OF any province. municipality, or other /
political subdivision, and may close or I
open certain ports Of entry.
one Of the chief officials directly ]
under the governor general is the ex- |
ecutlTe secretary. who has duties as
signed to him which are combined in |
no one Official in our government
The executive control vested in the
central government OF the Philippine
islands over provincial and municipal
governments is exercised directly by
the governor general through the ey-
ecutive secretary. He also conducts
much of the correspondence Of the /
governor general in his name.
The man who has some OF the most
arduous work OF the whole govern
mental service in the Philippine is
lands is the secretary OF the interior
one OF the problems which confrOnts 1
nm nm! IS Ihat OF control over and devel- I
opment OF the more or less unciviliZed ]
tribes. all of which widely differ ia
customs, dialect and pursuits and even
IN race With more tnan half a. million
Oh these people, many of whom for
merly practiced head-hunting and had
little respect for justice or right as Il
was practiced on them, the problem OF
winning their friendship and cooper
alton has been a most difficult one
Count Americans Their Friends.
Until the advent OF the Americans
these people were exploited CONNER
cIally BY the Spaniards and more in
teIlgent FilipinOs, but under the pres
ent form OF civil government they /
nave come to look upon the Americans /
with genuine regard as friends who
viii protect them IN their rights as
well as sternly punish them when thew
Cltend- Through this means Of attrac- l
Ton, impartial justice, and the grad
Ua4 5IOW IN OF confidence. the Amerl- ]
can influence is being extended far /
tner and farther into the hitherto ]
tfack!ess and inaccessible regions, I
bringing more and more Of them into |
peaceful occupations. and Iessening /
every day the depredations and inter-
tribal conflicts Of the past
me sharply dawn tribal lines Of old /
are disappearing and IgOrots. Ifugaos
and Kalingas now visit each others
territory In peace and meet in friend ?
y contests Of strength and skgll The
practice Of head-hunting as a-method /
OF settling Quarrels or gaining pres |
tlge Is lessening, and the use OF the 4
courts, and appeals to the American !
governor are becoming more and 1
more the method Of settling disputes.
In many instances these people are
being successfully employed to police /
their own country Unspeakably fill /
thy towns have been made clean and /
sanitary, and they are learning to
come to physician when injured or
The Filiplnos feel that they ought
to be permitted to govern the uncivil-
led tribes. The Americans reply 70
this by saying that there is no basis
Tor this claim either in justice or eX-
pediency and BY calling attention tc
the fact that wherever the people of