Omaha daily bee., 1912-01-28

dictator. Uncle Sam still controls the
machinery. and he will continue to do
so notwithstanding the cry OF the Filipino
agitators for Independence. President
Taft. General Edwards and our other
officials who know the Philippines best
realize that to allow free hand in the
present condition would result in anarchy
and chaos. 1t will be long before the
Islands can be absolutely free. and their
future seems to be bound up with ours.
Nevertheless. the whole country has
been politically reorganixed, The archi-
pelago has been divided into thirty-eight
provinces. Seven OF these are inhabited
by the Moros and the non-Chrastian
tribes and In these there are governors
appointed by the governor-general al
Manila, who Is at the head Of the Philip
pine commission, The other thirty-one
provinces practically govern themselves
Each province chooses its own officials
II has governor. secretary, a prosecut'
ing attorney and other officers elected
by the people. and consequently natives.
Each has also treasurer appointed by
the governor general. and this last an
American OF known honesty and skilled
In accounts.
Every municipality has its presidents
vice presldente and city council. There
are 100 towns which have that kind Of
government. The council is an honorary
position, and its members serve for the
prominence which II gives them and for
the love of the town. The taxes collected
In the towns are spent by the towns and
the insular government gets its support
from Indirect taxes. Every town has its
body Of police, which keeps order in It,
and this in addition to the Filipino con-
stabulary, which maintains order in the
rural districts throughout the islands.
The Philippine Legislature.
The Philippines. in short. are rapidly
coming TO have a government like ours.
They have this town government, where
the officers and police are elected by the
people. They have the provincial govern
ment, which is like that OF our states.
and they have what might be called a
seml-national government, the president
Of which Is the governor general, ap-
pointed by the president Of the United
States. He must be an American, and
In addition there are seven commission
ers to advise him. OF these three are
Americans and four are F1lipinos. This
is the executive branch Of the gsyern-
ment.
Tne laws are now made by congress
consisting Of this commission and the
Filipino assembly. The assembly is
elected by the people. It first met In
1907, and II has held a number of ses-
slons since then. II contains eighty
members. all Filiplnos, and all elected
from the various provinces, including the
Christian parts Of the islands. The Mo-
hammedan Moros and the wild men
have no part in II.
This assembly makes the laws and
passes upon the appropriations. There Is
only one reservation, and that Is IL II
should not make appropriations. the ap-
preparations Of the preceding session
are Te-enscted until another assembly
should meet. Were II not for this the
assembly could hold up the government.
and stop all the salaries
There are two political parties, and
each stumps the country In behalf of its
candidate. The assembly meets at
Manila, and its members, who are
dressed In spotless white form a fine
looking body. The speaker stands be-
hind ahe desk, on a rostrum, with gavel
in hand, and over him on the wall hangs
the American flag and Uncle Sans coat
of arms.
The Civil service.
A great majority Of the government
employees are natives. This is so not only
at Manila. but throughout the islands
All are appointed by civil service rules,
and most Of them have to take examlna-
tons IN English or Spanish or both. Pro-
motions go by merit. and record is kept
in every office showing the relative eff
cheney Of the employees, SO that mans
record determines his advancement. Per-
sonaI habits. physical condition and per-
sonaI nl6rality are a part Of the tests.
The laws require work to the amount Of
six and one-haIf hours daily from each
CLERK except during hot weather, when
the time b cut down TO five hours. Clerks
are also allowed from twenty to thirty
five days vacation according TO salary
and rank. Those who get the most money
have the longest vacation.
Most OF the clerks are honest At this
writing the loss by defaulters among the
employees has been only about per cent.
President Taft says that the supreme
court Of the Philippine Islands is equal