El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-01-27
FRANK G. CARPENTERS LETTER.


which has its own government. For
some years after we took hold Of the
Islands the policing was done BY our
army There were briganas every
where, and almost every bamboo clump
ma a bandit The towns had to be
protected from invasion. and every pub
nc road was guarded by soldiers. As It
Is now the provinces and municipalities
protect themselves with their own po-
Ice and the aid OF the cOnStabulary-
Uncle SANS Police Force.
But I want to tell YOU somethins
about this constabulary, as the govern
ment police force is called It is the
development and Improvement OF the
old guardia civile OF the Spanish. It
now consists OF about 5000 men, who
as ADVISERS and aids to the local pO-
nee as the protectors Of the roads
ana as the guards of the wild men
mere Is a detachment of this police
In or near every tribe. and its officer
is part OF the community where It is
sLauloned- He guards it from thieves
he IS ever on the lookout for disease
ana he hunts up the stolen animals
ana guarantees the sick one.
me constabulary has completely
wiped out brigandage, The records
snow u has captured 1900 bandits
ana killed more than 1000 It has re-
taken about 10000 stolen animals and
returned them to their owners
Thls government force consists large
" Of natives, being made up Of fight
ing men from all parts OF the Philippine
Islands. Some Of the men are MorOs,
some lgorrotes, some Visaysns and
some Maccabees and others. All have
been trained by the soldiers, and we
have training school at Baguio where
Lney are instructed They make excel
lent fighters and are proud Of their
positions.
The Reform Of the Prisons.
Since we took possession Of the
Philippines We have brought about
some Of the greatest prison reforms Of
the world Take BiIlibid which was
once about the most horrible peniten-
uary OF the Tar east. Its prisoners were
uogged, and the only mode Of execution
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 buildings have been remade, and
the institution IS now laid out like the
spokes of a wheel with a tower in the
center. There is a great wall around it,
and upon this are u guard towers, in
six OF which stand American soldiers
armed with Calling guns. shotguns and
reviewers In the other six are native
guards, also armed. but not with Cat
lings. 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 cleo
tricityl In any or all the buildings. He
has telephone connection. and can call
out the force on short notice.
When I visited Bilibid il was dirty
and filthy The prisoners are now made
TO keep clean and everything is spOtess
There is no waste nor litter The men
are on their good conduct and they may
rise from class to class as they do bet
ter. At present 90 percent Of the pris-
oners are in the first class.
The prisoners are well fed, and they
seem to be contented. They are taught
trades OF all kinds, and they do excel
lent work. There is a carriage and
wagon department which makes wheels
which are sent broadcast over the is
lands. There are also silver making
shops. weaving rooms and departments
where they make hats and baskets