Evening star., 1914-12-28
M|N|M|zES TROUBLE
IN THE PHILIPPINES
Gov. Gen. Harrison Cables
That Disturbances Are of
Minor Nature.

No further reports from. Gov Gen.
Harrison on the insurrectionist dis
turbances In the Philippines had come
to the War Department today, and Off
Gals declared the governor generals
cable OF yesterday. giving details of
scattered disorders and generally mini =
m1zing their Importance, was all they
expected, unless there were new devel-
opments.
Yesterdays report minimized the cX-
tent of the trouble. but stated tina
small bodies of Filpinos had assem-
bled in Manila and Novotas Christmas
eve. and at Lsguna dc Bay Saturday
night, and attempted to make trouble
AS result forty men were arrested
and one man was shot by j policeman.
Gov. Gen. Harrison reported that the
disorders had been suppressed; that
everything was quiet, and efforts were
being made to arrest the leaders, the
chief of whom; he said. was believed to
be man under sentence of impriSon-
ment for homicide.
He added that nobody of any iutiu-
ence or standing was concerned i'll the
movement. that it was ''sllsll and uu-
successful, and was connected with
the campaign of Ricarte. who has con-
ducted revolutionary propaganda
from IIongkong for several years,
appealing to the most ignorant classes
of Filiptlaps.'
Harrison Signed Message.
The message was sisned by GOV.
harrison hir.self. and, therefore, Of
ficials took it for granted that he had
returned to Manila from an inspection
tour he has been making of the
islands.
Administration officials have refused
to believe there was any seriousness
In the Philippine troubles. but have
watched the situation closely because
of its possible bearing on the Jones
bill, granting moro independence to
the natives, which has been passed by
the House and is now pending in the
Senate.
The Senate Philippines committee will
meet Wednesday to hear Dean Wor-
cester, former member of the Philippine
government. and at that time, accord
ing to Chairman Hitchcock, the COM
mittee will ask the War Department
for full Information concerning the up
rising.
President Wilson favors the passage
of the Jones bill during the present
session. Officials close to the White
House say the recent troubles will not
affect Mr.. Wilson's advocacy of the bill
In view of the quieting reports received
by. the War Department.
Resident Philippines Commissioner
Quezon said there are no specific
grievances against which the Philip
pine people can complain, and that
there is absolutely nothing in the talk
Of revolution
American Fairness Appreciated.
The horrors of war are still SO fresh
in the minds of the Philippine people
that no one would think of inaugural
ing a war in the islands," said Mr..
Quezon. To-day the Filipinos are SO
comforted with the spirit of American
fairness and justice that they would
defend the American sovereignty"
The passage by the Philippine leeis-
lature of a bill increasing taxes in the
islands Is understood to have caused
some dissat .sfaction there. protest
from the foreign chamber of commerce
of Manila against this increase has
been received at the War Department.
and President Wilson is to be asked
to intervene.
War Department officials explained
that this taxation bill was passed be-
cause Of the European war. and is to
be in effect one year. The principal
increase was on business transactions
and on articles included in the war
tax bill adopted in the United States.