New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-09
Governor Harrison Heeds
Only Natives. Says
Letter TO Taft.
ISLAND GOVERNMENT
BADLY DEMOPAL!ZED
CHEZ p6iCial Said 10 Neglect
Duties. leaving pioiters TO
Do as They Please.

Ht'I re present reg nc Americans
are - ~" pos.t'o. ~ aliens IN the
Philippines. officials pa1dcr 20 native
politicians and business and social con-
Gitions are de3lora0le. according 10
letter received By William Howard
Taft. Tho vr.fer IS friend Of the
former President ADD familiar with
conditions IN the time Of y. Cameron
Forces. as we'll a. in that OF his sue
cessor. Francis Burton Harrison. The
letter We published IN 'Thc Hartford
Courant" yesterday.
you can hardly nave an idea he
writes. without being present on the
ground, Of The tremendous change that
has taken place in the Philippines in
one year. Business is utterly e.aguGnt
ard has been since the war began. No
new investments have come 20 the ISL
ands durirC this administration, and
many Of those WHO have Uorcy there
are striving to unload; : ma" say, how
ever. without success.
"The American community nave been
made to reei that they are aliens who
do not ~ any degree enter into the
consideration Of the government. There
are practically 20 relations existing pc
tween tho rc"- officials and the Amer
can community. They scarcely ever
meet anywhere and neither seems 20
care 20 meet the other.
Government Almost Nil.
There i, practically no government,
and what little there is 10 in the hands
of the LEADERS, of the Nationalis. party,
notably Osmeua and Palma. The Gov
ernor General seldom comes down to
his O.!ice."
In five weeks. the writer says, he
only heard Of the Governor General be-
ing ia his office two or three times, al
though during all of that time the Leg
islsture was in session. lt is well un-
derstood. he continues, that the native
leaders fiji Offices and guide legislation
70 suit their own ends. In fact. Os-
mena's party is now rent by revolt, he
says because some of his followers
thought thew we're being sighted IN the
disposition of the spoils. The new fac
ton he names as the national Demo-
cratic party" under the nominal lead
crship of Sandico, whom" he reminds
Mr. Taft. "you will remember as bad
'hombrc''
Much legislation il is asserted,
"has been passed for the apparent sole
purpose of strengthening the party in
power: the most notable bill Of all was
the one which destroyed the system OF
courts which then existed and created
a new system. It absolutely did away
with the land court. which, as you
know, was very valuable. and created p
number of new districts for the pun e
pose of giving Osmena number OF ap-
rontments. 1t seems very
strange to me that man Of Governor
ITarrison's progenitors should have
been willing to turn his power and au-
thority over 10 natives, but such he has
undoubtedly done.
"He is a pleasant. genial man." is the
description of the present Governor
General, "who sought the advice OF no
American in the Philippines and has
slavishly followed the suggestions Of
the natives who are particularly
strong
Bureaus Demoralized.
Mr. Riggs, the Secretary OF Com
merce and Police. sis inclined to think
much as we DO" says the writer, but
lust now is too busy with controversies
TO accomplish much. 1t is predicted
that Riggs will resign soon. Secretary
Denison. of the Interior, Is said TO
have established himself as the laugh
ing stock OF the Filipinos," by his eN-
traordinary eagerness TO appear IN
print. Mr. Martin, the new Niee-GoV-
ernor. is characterized as probably the
best in the lot" but dreamer
Every government bureau is demon
alizcd and inefficient because OF the
amazing aims OF the administration.
The writer declares. The Bureau OF
Agriculture he describes as torn to
pieces" the Bureau of Science as "a
remnant Of what it was" The Bureau
of Health is in danger of being placed
under the domination of native physl-
clans. The Bureau of Public Works ne
declares 10 be dsorganized, and en-
oineers have been transferred to re
mote stations to quiet gossip when
attended the resignation of General
Tinio from the Bureau OF Lands. Inc
collections upon the friar lands are
more than 100000 pesos behind the
writer asserts. ,,.
Convicts have received wholesale
nardons in a Christmas tree spirit,
he concludes. and many who still un-
accountably fingered IN jail have maze
their escape.