Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1914-07-12
Administration Approx ed
Plan for More Autonom-
Gus Insular Government
is Laid Before National
Congress :.
NO ATTEMPT
TO FIX DATE
Preamble Recites It Was
Never Intention Of the
United States to Make
Spanish War One of Con-
quest
ASSOCIATED PRESS DIsPATcH1


WASHINGTON, July 11.-An ad-
ministration- approved plan for
more autonomous government in the
Philippines as another step toward
indepedence was laid before congress
today. Representative Jones of Vir-
ginia, introduced bill covering the
subject The bill makes no attempt
to fix the date for Philippine inde-
pendence Its preamble recites that
it was never the Intention of the
people of the United States in the
incipiency of the war with Spain to
make it a war of conquest for ter
ritorial aggrandizement.
Jones is chairman of the house in
sular committee, and his measure de-
claring the purpose of the people of
the United States as to the future
political status of the F'ilipinos, fol-
lows a long series of conferences
son, Manuel Quezon, Philippine resi-
dent commissioner to the United
States and democratic members of
the insular committee, all of whom
have approved it informally. The bill
asserts that it has always been the
purpose to recognize the independence
of the Philippine Islands, 'as soon
as a stable government be estab
lished therein"
Jones. explaining his Philippine bill
tonight. said: Generally speaking
the bill provides for the Philippines
a most liberal form of territorial
government. Its principal features
affecting more important changes in
the existing organic act, are those
relating to the enlarged powers con-
ferred upon the governor general.
abolition of the Philippine commits
sion as such and the substitution
therefor of senate. members of
which representing Christian pro-
vinces shall be elected by popular
vote.
Non Christian tribes are to be
represented in the legislature by two
senators and nine representatives ap-
proved by the governor general. The
governor general is to appoint the
head of the executive department.
The only officials to be appointed by
the president are the governor gen
eral and members Of the supreme
court.
The governor general is given
limited power of veto over acts of
the legislature, but the president
would have the power of absolute
veto.
The legislature. both branches of
| which is to be elective, with the ex-
ception of members representing nom
/ Christian territory, is given author
/ ity to legislate as to all affairs in
the islands, except that it cannot pass
any law affecting trade relations with
! the United States, cannot pass a
| tariff or currency act, nor any act
i disposing of public lands. timber or
mining rights without first securing
presidential approval.
/ "As an additional safeguard. in the
interest of the Philippine people, the
right of congress to annul any act of
/ the Philippine legislature is express
! ly reserved
"A permanent bureau to have gen
eral supervision over non-Christian
tribes is provided.
'"The right to vote is confined to
the citizens of the islands. and edu-
cational qualifications of the present
law are SO enlarged as to embrace
those who can read and write their
native language instead of English
or Spanish, as at present"