New-York tribune., 1921-11-30
Keep Control
In Philippines,
w OOd Advises
Commission Finds island
ers Should Have Time
to Master Power Already
Granted Them by U. S.
Protection Still Necessary
Says It Would Be Betrayal
to Quit Before People
Have Stable Government

WASHlNGION, Nov. 29.-The Philip
pine Islands should remain in their
present general status" until the peo-
pie there "have had time to absorb
and thoroughly master the power al
ready in their hands,. former Major
General leonard Wood, now Governor
General, and w. CAMERON Forbes, for
mer Governor General, say in their re-
port to President Harding, based on
their six months study of conditions
in the islands.
I'VE are convinced" they say, shat
it would be betrayal OF the Philip
pine people, misfortune to the Ameri-
can people, distinct step backward in
the path of progress and a discredit-
able neglect of our national duty were
we TO withdraw from the islands and
terminate sur relationship there with
out giving the Filipinos the best chance
possible to have an orderly and per
ranently stable government.
We feel that with all of their many
excellent qualities, the experience of
the last eight years, during which they
nave had practical autonomy, has not
been such as to justify the people of
the United States in relinuuisaine
supervision of the government of the
Philippine Islands, withdrawing their
army and navy, and leaving the islands
a prey to any powerful nation covcting
their rich soil and potential CONNER
clal advantages"
General Conclusions
These observations of the invcsti-
g4Jccs are contained in the general
conclusions" and recommendations
made n tts<s report, which was made
publi, to- say The general conclu-
sions" are as fellows:
We fnd tia people happy. peaceful
and in the main pros@erous and keenly
appreciative of the benefits of Ameri-
can rule.
I'VE find everywhere among thc
Christian Filipinos the desire s'or in
dependence. generally under the pre-
lection of the United States. The nor-
Christians and Americans are for con-
tinuance Of American control.
sWe find general failure to appreci-
ate the fact that independence under
the protection of another nation is not
true independence.
tinn of officials and employees are
men of good character and ability and
reasonably faithful to the trust inn
posed upon them; but that the eff
cheney CT the public services has fallen
off, and that they arc now relatively
inefficient, due to lack of inspections
and to the too rapid transfer OF con-
troll to officials who have not had the
necessary time for proper treining.
"We find that many Filipinos have
shown marked capacity for government
service and that the young generation
is full of promise; that the civil serv-
ice laws have in the main been honestly
administered, but there is marked
deterioration due to the injection of
politics
Lack of Confidence Seen
I'VE find there is disquieting lack
OF confidence in the administration of
Justice, to an extent which constitutes
a menace to the stability of the goy-
ernment.
eve find that the people are not
economically, nor from the
standpoint of national defense, to
an independent government.
I'VE find that the legislative cham
bers are composed of representa- tive
men.
eve find that questions in regard to
confirmation of appointments might at
any time arise which would make a
deadlock between the Governor Gen
eral and the Philippine Senate"
The recomendation made in the re-
port include:
"We recommend that the Governor
General have authority commensurate
with the possibilities of his posi-
tion. In case of failure to secure the
necessary corrective action by the
Philippine legislature we recommend
that Congress declare null and void
legislation which has been enacted
limiting or dividing the
authority granted the Governor Cen
eral under Act No. 24u Of the sixty
fourth Congress, known as the Jones
bill.
1--WE recommend in case of
deadlock between the Governor Cen
sral and the PHI spne Senate in the
confirmation of appointments that the
President of the United States be
authorized to make and render the
final decision.
I'VE recommend that under no cir
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