The Washington herald., 1914-07-15
PHILIPPINE BILL
PROVIDES CHECKS
Garrison States New Jones
Measure Restraints Island
Government.
LEGISLATUREIS IS CHANGED
Effect Would Permit Enactment of
Laws Which Republicans Have
Begged for Ten Years.
LEGISLATURE IS CHANGED

The first official statement from the
administration with regard to the new
Jones bill for the reorganization Of the
Philippine government was made yester-
day by Secretary OF War Garrison, who
issued a careful analysis of the pro-
visions of the pending measure.
| 1t is asserted In defense OF the present
Jones bill, adequate checks are pro-
vided for every detail of the Philippine
government. and that the effect Of the
reorganization will really be to permit
the enactment OF legislation which has
been begged OF Congress by Republican
administrators for nearly ten years. This
phase OF the measure Secretary Garrison
points out in his statement, which is in
part as follows:
| Reorganization OF Legislature.
"At present the upper House Of the
Philippine legislature Is 4 commission,
the members OF which are appointed by
the President. This bill proposes that
the upper house shall consist Of twenty
four members, twenty-five OF whom are
elected from eleven Senatorial districts,
and two OF whom are appointed by the
governor general to represent Sena-
torial district. which will include that
territory in which elections have not
heretofore been held in the Philippine
Islands. which territory has heretofore
been governed exclusively by the Philip
pine Commission
This upper house is called the Senate.
The lower house, which has heretofore
been known as the Philippine Assembly.
is designated as the House Of Represen-
tatives, and will consist of ninety men,
bers-that is, Of the eight members at
present constituting the Philippine As
sembly, and of nine members appointed
by the governor general TO represent the
territory not heretofore epesented in the
Philippine Assembly.
The legislature thus created is granted
Jurisdiction over the entire territory OF
the Philippines-that is. its jurisdiction
will embrace not only the territory here
tofore represented In the assembly, but
the territory inhabited by the non-Chris-
tian tribes, the non-Christian tribes being
placed under the special protection OF
the governor general, who appoints two
senators and nine representatives to rep
resent them in the legislature. and who
appoints a chief OF bureau to look after
their special interests administratively.
'Tt should be. observed that in the bill
the governor general is given the usual
veto power, and in case his veto is over
ridden by a two-thirds vote in both houses
the President is given power TO veto ab-
solutely or TO approve the legislation thus
passed over the governors veto. Con-
gress reserves the right TO annul any law
passed by the legislature.
Appointment of Governor General.
This bill provides for a governor gen.
eral appointed by the President, by and
with the advice and consent Of the Sen
ate. as chief executive OF the Philippine |
Islands. He is given. in addition to such |
powers as have heretofore been given to |
that oficer, the veto OF legislation re-
ferred to heretofore, and authority to ap- |
point and remove the heads of executive |
Heretofore the heads Of ex-
ecutive departments have been appointed |
by the President Of the United States.
The existing law with reference to the |
judiciary is re-enacted, with the excep- |
ton that the right Of appeal. from the
Supreme Court Of the Philippine Islands
to the Supreme Court of the United
States. where the value in controversy
exceeds $4,000, is discontinued. All other
grounds OF appeal are continued as at
present. The President continues, as at
present. to appoint the Justice Of the su-
preme Court"