Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-12-17
DEMANDS A FULL
EXPOSURE OF SITUATION
IN THE PHILIPPINES
Representative Miller, of Min
nesota, Calls for Appoint
ment of House Commit
tee of Inquiry
M1sRULE is ALLEGED
Resolution Repeats Former Charges
of Maladministration in
Islands
BIZ a stor Correspondent

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17-Representa-
tive Clarence b. Miller, Of Minnesota.
who spent last summer in the Philip
pines, today fred the first congressional
gun In the fight the Republicans will
wage against the administration of Gov
ernor Burton Harrison in the Philippine
Islands. Mr. Miller offered a resolution
providing Tor an investigation by a COM
mittee composed of three Democratic and
two Republican members OF the House
of Representatives.
The preamble to the resolution states
that "1t has been asserted on competent
authority" that a large number of Span
ish War veterans who lave been In civil
service in the Islands have recently been
removed without cause and without no
tice." Also, that in recent appointments
and removals from office In the islands
the civil service rules have been fagrantly
violated. A third assertion is that the
government Of the Islands has been de-
moralized and inefficient, grossly incom-
petent and destructive OF free institu-
tlons The fourth Is that all the wild
or uncivilized Inhabitants have asked that
the American Government and American
officials remain over them, and that they
be not subjected to any government by
IT
ent government is both un-American and
anti-American.
SEEKS SPECIAL INQUIRY.
Mr.. Miller proposes that the special
House committee shall investigate:
The civil service and employees
thereof.
The efficiency of all governmental
institutions and the employees therein.
The conditions, government and
control OF all non.Ghristian peoples and
the regions they inhabit
The feelings and sentiments of ma
tive inhabitants toward American
sovereignty and American citizenship
and the propaganda or political parties
now active in the islands.
The health and sanitation of the
islands, including all boards having
to do with the health service, educa-
tional teaching force and the eit-
cheney of the educational system.
REITERATEs TAFT's COMMENT.
Upon proposing his resolution Mr.. Mill
Ter explained its purpose and defended
and approved the statements made by
ex-President Taft regarding the condi-
tions in the Philippines. He said:
"This resolution is offered with the
earnest hope that it will pass and that
an investigation most thorough and
searching will be made. In the first
place. no authoritative commission rep
resenting the Amrican people ever made
a real investigation of the conditions in
the islands or ever ascertained from the
people or the various subdivisions of the
people their wishes respecting the kind
of government to be carried on there. 1
made this investigation myself two years
ago and again this year. and firmly be-
lieve that the American people will be
tremendously Interested in having COM
mission report to them the facts.
''It seems to be the present intention TO
dispose of Philippine matters In political,
partisan manner. That is a fatal mis-
take. The Philippine Islands, their fu-
ture and the welfare of the people should
be settled and disposed of in accordance
with the exact facts. Nobody pretends
that Congress possesses these facts. Such |
independent Investigations as have been |
making have convinced me that the |
American people ought to know the truth |
about things in the islands. If this COM
mission Is authorized, 1t should do its |
work most thoroughly and conclusively.
CHAOS IN ISLANDS.
"Many OF our leading citizens have |
been greatly alarmed over reports COM |
ing from the islands, which reports all |
indicate that our present government has |
fallen into complete chaos and that every |
thing in the government is anti-American |
there, subjecting American citizenship |
and sovereignty TO abuse and attacks, |
such as to make every American posi- |
lively blush for his country and the honor |
of his people.
"The present Secretary of War, acting |
upon such meagre information as IL was |
thought advisable by political persons TO
let reach him, has seen hit to deny in
the public press statements made by Mr.. |
Taft Everybody at all acquainted with
things In the Philippines knows that Mr.. |
Taft is absolutely correct, literally, math- |
ematically correct, in everything he said. |
"This commission should make an in |
relative TO such matters and |
give a report that the truth may be |
known to the American people. 1t ap- |
pears that there will be no opportunity |
before any Of the committees about to |
the Philippine question for the |
truth respecting the matters there to be |
presented at this time. There has been |
two years OF the present Administration |
in the islands, and there is now given |
an opportunity to determine how capable |
are these people who have been exer- |
cising the power OF government"