The Sentinel=record., 1914-07-12
BILL IS INTRODUCED AS THE FIRST STEP TO THIS END BY
 ADMINISTRATION
CONFERS RIGHT TO VOTE
President and Cabinet Members Ap- prove the Measure and Resident Commissioner Says 1t Is Step in the Right Direction.

Washington, D. C.. July ll.--An ad- mnistration-approved plan for q more autonomous Philippine government, as another step toward independence, was laid before congress today when Representative Jones of Virginia in- troduced a bill covering the subject Mir. Jones is chairman of the house insular committee and his measure, declaring the purpose of the United States as to the future political status of the Filipinos follows a long series of conferences with President Wilson, Secretary Garrison, Manuel Quezon, Philippine resident commits sioaer to the United States. and democratic members of the insular committee, all of whom informally have approved it.
 Supporters of the measure do not expect it to get favorable action by congress at this session. President Wilson has examined the bill care fully and Secretary Garrison strongly fayors it's enactment. It is designed to carry out declarations of the Balti- more platform toward the Philap- pnls.
 The bill makes no attempt to fix a date for Philippine independence, it's preamble recites that it never was the intention of the people of the United States in the incipiency of the war with Spain to make it war of conquest or territorial aggraadizement. It as- serts that it always has been their purpose to recognize the independ- ence of the Philippine Islands "as soon as a stable government could be established therein.'
 It declares it to be desirable to place in the hands of the Fiipinos as large control over their domestic affairs as consistent with the exer- else, in the meantime, of the right of sovereignty by the United States.
 Mir. Jones, explaining the bill 10. night, said:
 Generally speaking. the bill pro vides for the Philippine Islands the most liberal form of territorial gov ernment It's principal features af- fectilg the more important changes in the existing organic act. are those relating to enlarged powers conferred on the governor general and the abolition of the present Philippine commission as such, and the substi- tuition therefor of a senate, the mem- bers of which representing Christian provinces shall be elected by popular vote.
 "The non-Christian territory is to be represented by two senators and nine representatives appointed by the governor general The governor general is to appoint the heads of the executive departments. The oaly of ficials to be appointed by the presi- dent are the governor general and members of the supreme court
 The governor general is given a limited power to veto over the acts of the Legislature, but the president would have the power of absolute veto.
 The legislature is given authority to legislate as to affairs of the is- lands, except that it cannot pass laws affecting trade relations with the United States and cannot pass any tariff or currency act. nor any act disposing of public lands, without first obtaining presidential approval As an additional safeguard the right of congress to annul any act of the Philippine legislature is expressly re- served
 "A permanent bureau to give gen eral supervision over the non-Caris- tan tribes is provided.
 The right to vote is confined to citizens of the islands, and the educa. tlonal qualification of the present law is enlarged. The two resident com missioners to the United States now |elected by the legislature, would be |elected by popular vote" Resident Commissioner Quezeon gave tn ebill his approval tonight.
 The bill" he said, represents far less than ought to have been consid- cred, but it is step in the right d.
 rection. do not regard this bill as a finality''