New-York tribune., 1921-12-03
Wood Bla11les
u. S. for Laxity
In Philippines
Responsibility for Retro
gression in Efficiency
of Government Charged
TO Harrison's Regime
Enmeshed i'm Red Tape
Report ON Islands Saws
People as Il Whole Don't
Want Self Government

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2.--Despite ex-
traordinary progress in the last twen-
ty-threc years, the Filipino people have
long road to travel before they will
be ready to take over their own cov-
ernment, according to the report made
by Major General Leonard Wood, Gov
ernor General of the islands, and w
Cameron Forbes, former Governor Gen
eral. The complete report was issued
to-day by the War Department. as a
supplement 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-
ministrative mistakes Of the F'ilipinos
have not been sufficient to counterbal.
ance the steadily rising progress ba-
rometer.
Generally speaking the report
says, administrative departments of
the government are top-heavy in per-
sonnel and enmeshed in red tape There
is q vast amount of paper work The
methods of the administration are
purely autocratic. There is a lack of
supervision and personal contact"
Harrison Regime Criticized
Discussing the policy pursued during
the administration of Governor Cen
eral Harrison, from 1914 to 1921, the
report declared "the orderly process of
promotion on proved efficiency" in the
government service vas changed to a
hurried flipinization, and added:
"While there has been retrogression
in the efficiency of most departments
Of the government during the last few
years, we do not feel that the respon-
sibility for this rests solely upon the
Filipinos. as the ultimate sponsbil-
ity fox the selection of responsible Of
tcers and for the exercise of proper
supervision was in the hands of the
American Governor General, whose
duty it was to appoint competent men
at the heads of departments and bu-
reaus and, above all, to exercise proper
supervision over them
ut is the general opinion among
Filipinos. Americans and foreigners
that the public services are now in
many particulars relatively Inefficient;
that there has occurred q slowing down
in the dispatch of business and dis
tinct relapse toward the standards and
administrative habits of former days."
the reports adds. "This is due in part
to political infection Of the services
and above all to lack of competent
supervision and inspection"
Majority Oppose independence
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
prehenG the responsibilities of self
government.
The majority of the Christian Fill.
dependence under protection of the
United States, while smaller number
Of them desire immediate and complete
Independence. The Moros are a unit
against independence. The pagans and
non Christians, constituting about 10
per cent Of the population, are for con-
tinued American control, and the Amer
leans in the islands are practical unit
in opposition to Independence
Discussing economic conditions, the
report says:
IN view OF good earnings, moderate
expenses, inherent wealth, small pub
lie debt and backed by the credit of
the United States, the problem of re-
facilitating the credit Of the Philippine
Islands should be an easy one"
The report recites the story of the
Philippine National Bank "as one of
the most unfortunate and darkest
pages in Philippine history" Losses
sustained by the bank are estimated at
$22 100000, and arc said to have been
caused by mismanagement on the part
OF some of those who have been
at its head and in charge of branch
offices. Criminal charges have been
preferred against the managers of each
of the four branches, in which exami-
nations have been completed. the re-
port cites, adding that they were in
each instance in charge of unframed
Filipinos.
The mission reports that "inspectors
OF election" required under the laws
to prepare ballots for illiterate voters,
supply q "fruitful source of frandso