The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-12-02
SAY FILIPINOS
UNREADY FOR
INDEPENDENCE
Despite Extraordinary Pro-
gress, Natives Yet Have
Much to Learn, Declares
Wood-Forbes Report.
IMPROVEMENT NEEDED
CRv Associated Pressl

ready TO take over their own govern
ment according to the report made by
Major General Leonard Wood. cover
nor general Of the islands, and w.
Cameron Forbes, former governor
general.
The complete report was issued to-
day by the war department as a sup
plement to the recent publication of
specific recommendations made by the
two Investigators.
Need of further national improve
ment is pointed out by the report
which declares. however. that the ad !
mlnistrative mistakes Of the Filipinos p.
have not been sufficient to counter /
balance the steadily rising progress /
barometer
Generally speaking" the report /
says, administrative departments Of
the government are tOp-heavy in per /
sonnel and enmeshed in red tape. !
There is vast amount of paper work. ,
The methods of the administration
are purely autocratic. There is a lack
OF supervision and personal contact"
Not Wholly Responsible.
Discussing the policy pursued dur
ing the administration of Governor
General Harrison from 1914 to 1921 the
report declared The orderly process
OF promotion on proved efficiency in
the government service was changed
to a hurried Fflipinization' and added:
"'While there has been retrogres-
sion in the efficiency of most depart
ments of the government during the
past few years, we do not feel that
the responsibility for this rests solely
upon the Filipinos. as the ultimate re-
sponsibiity for the selection of respon-
sible officers and for the exercise Of
proper supervision was in the hands
of the American governor general,
whose duty il was to appoint compe-
tent men as the heads of departments
and bureaus and above all to exercise
proper supervision over them"
1T is the general opinion among the
Filipinos, Americans and foreigners
that the public services are now in
many particulars relatively inefficient;
that there has occurred a slowing
down in the dispatch of business and
a distinct relapse toward the stand
ards and administrative habits of for
mer days the report ends. This is
due in part TO bad example. incompe-
tent direction, to political infaction OF
the services and above all TO lack Of
competent supervision and inspection
10 NOT want inGepenOenCe
The report asserts that the Filipino
people as a whole do not want inde-
pendence. while many who favor sew
erance of American ties do not com
prehend the responsibilities Of sell
government.
The people as a whole" says the
report, ARE appreciative OF the peace
and order which prevail throughout
the islands Many do not understand
what independence means or its res
possibilities. They are living under
the best conditions they have ever
known. 1t is not generally realized
hat the American government cannot
be expected to assume responsibility
for the results of internal disorders
particularly as they affect the nat
iOnals of other powers, the treatmen
Of foreign capital. and external pol
itical relations unless the United
states retains a certain measure o
control"
The majority Of the Christian Fill
pinOs are represented as favoring in
dependence under protection of tn
United States while a smaller mum
Der of them desire immediate an
.1mplete independence. The Moro
are unit against indeDendenCe, ant
ask that the portion Of the islands be
longing to them be retained as Amer
can territory in the event independ
ence ever is granted the report says
while the pagans and non-Christians
constituting about 10 per cent of tn
nonulation. are for continued Amer
can control and the Americans in tn
islands are a practical unit in oppC
. sition 10 Independence.
Economic Status Good
Economic conditions are favorabl
commented upon and evidence is sui
mifted by the WoOd-FOrbes missio
indicating progressive develOpmen
Figures show the gross business {
the islands 10 have increased frol
5000 600. 600 in 1907 10 $S63,000000
1920. while the total resources of con
merciaI banks rose from $i5.000,0OO
1906 TO the present estimates
S215.O00,OO0
Money orders sold increased frO
$4,000. 600 in 1913 TO S11,000,o0o
1920: postage receipts from $3SO,Ol
in 1913 TO S7S0.00O in 1920 and II
gross earnings OF the Philippine ra'
way increased in the same perlC
from $3.50. .OO0 to $780, 600. The Mani
railroads gross earnings increast
from S2.4OO 600 in 1914 10 $5,9OO,0l
in 1920.
In view Of good earnings, modera
expenses. inherent wealth, a sma
public debt and backed by the cred
of the United States" the report say
the problem of reha bilitating Il
credit of the Philippine Islands shou
be an easy one
Unfortunate Chapter
The report recites the story Of Il
Philippine national bank as one
the most unfortunate and darke
pages In Philippine history Loss
sustained by the bank are estimate
at S22,500,000 and are said to ha'
-. been caused by mismanagement {
= the part of some of those who ha'
been at its head and in charge
branch offices. Criminal charges ha'
been preferred against the manage
Of each of the four branches in whi'
investigations have been complete
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