Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1913-10-24
TAKE NO SUBSTITUTE,

TAKE NO SUBSTITUTE
For The HERALD.
UNCLE SANS EXPERIENCE
In GOVERNING ORIENTALS
BY ALEXANDER SIDNEY LANIER.
Late Assistant to the Attorney Gen.
eral of the Philippines.
Continued from last week s issue)
Provincial and Municipal Govern
mentS.
The archipelago is divided into
provinces, each having its own
government, but subject to the
strong and guiding hand of the
central government at Manila,
which, however, is more often
exercised in weakness and vacilia.
ton than otherwise. Each pro.
vince has governor, usually a
native elected by the people of
the province, and a provincial
board that is charged with the
local administration. This board
is also composed of natives, ex-
cept the provincial treasurer,
who is member, ex-officio, and,
with rare exception, always an
American.
The municipal governments
are all organized under a general
Act (No. S2) modelled after
municipal organization in the
United States, and are, without
exception, under the control of
the natives. With the expert
ence we have had here with the
failure of municipal government
under the old form, and its aban-
dOnment for the commission plan
of city government, it is strange
we should have adopted a form
of municipal government for the
Filipinos that is now being dis
carded by our own people. The
municipal governments have
been, as rule, very corrupt and
inefficient, and much of the time
of certain officials of the central
government has been occupied in
the investigation of complaints of
corruption and abuse of author
ity On the part of municipal
officials.
THE CITY OF MANILA.
The City of Manila presents an
exception to the other NUM-
cipalities, its government being
modelled after that of Washing
ton City. 1t has Mayor, or
Alcalde as he is called, and a
municipal board composed of a
majority. of Americans, all of
whom are appointed by the Gov
ernor General, except two native
members elecred by the people
under recent law, which has
proved very unsatisfactory. The
city has been very we'll and efhci.
emily governed on the whole, and
it is to be regretted that some
similar system was not adopted
for all municipalities. In pass
ing it may be interesting to note
that Manila, the capital of the
archipelago, is very ancient
city of approximately $4,000
people, with splendid churches,
hospitals, theatres, parks, auto
mobiles. and a splendid street Cal
system and electric lighting plant
On its streets one touches elbow
with every race of men, and
hears every language spoken. Il
is city of leisure, hospitality,
pleasure, and perennial interes'
to the antiquary and student o.
human nature.
THE MoRos AND NoN-cHRIsrIANs
The Moro Province, comprising
the island of .Mindanao and tn,
Sulu Archipelago, which are in
habited almost entirely by Mo
hsmmedans, has a separate ant
distinct government from tn,
rest of the islands. It's govern
ment is provided for by an act o
the Philippine Commission pass
ed pursuant to authority of al
act of Congress. The Governor
who is always a high ranking
officer OF the army, usually !
Brigadier General, and comman
der of the military dep armet EN-
bracing the province, with tn
legislative council, composed .
the secretary. the treasurer, an
the attorney of the province, com
prise the government. Th