Evening star., 1928-05-20

Yet we conccde that this money
| belongs to America. and so IL Congress
wishes to take back that which, for the
| reasons above, she has for the last %
wears remitted to the Philippine gov
| ernment, that is her privilege. Being
| American money, we would very much
| prefer that it is spent by and for the
American people. For to receive this
gift, If 1t is a gift, With strings TIED
to it in the form of a free and un-
hampered disposal of a portion of it by
Tense against the finer sentiments of q
people with any pride and Self-respect.
AS said above, our opposition to this
bill is not due to lack of desire to pro-
vide the governor general with the
necessary aid to help him administer
the affairs of the islands. That this
desire exists is fully demonstrated by
the fact that the Philippine LegiSla-
ture included in the appropriation bill
for 1928 an item that was to be used
for the same purpose for which this
bill is desired enacted into law. The
then acting governor general vetoed the
item. And now Congress is urged to
make use of the supreme authority
that 1t has over the Philippines and
do what the FilipinoS have done and
that the Philippine legislature in pro-
vtoing the money which this bill calls
Tor. 1t was not and is not now con-
vnced of the necessity of furnishing
the governor general with assistants.
Contention of Islanders.
The Filipinos have always contended
that the already established agencies
OF the Philippine government are Suf-
ncient aid 70 the governor general in
ms task OF administering the islands
Ihe Philippine Legislature appropriated
similar amount last year because Il
wanted TO show. not only In word. but
In oeeo, its eager and sincere desire
70 cooperate. This friendly demon-
Stration OF eagerness for mutual under
standing was brushed aside. And enact
naent by Congress of this measure. es-
peciaIIy at this time, would mar the
sincere friendship and mutual co-ope-
ration which have already been de-
monstrated by the Filipino peonle To
the new governor general and which
am sure, it is the desire of both
peoples to see attain robust growth
rather than wither into useless decay.
Has Machinery at Disposal.
The governor general has the entire
governmental machinery at his disposal.
from the secretaries of the departments
which compose his cabinet to the SMALL
est executive Office. As a part of our
governmental mechanism we have had
and we now have experts In various
lines and the Philippine Legislature has
always been ready TO appropriate. and
has, in fact. appropriated. funds for ex-
pert advisers and assistants to the gov
ernor general. There is, right now.
q law which authorizes the Philippine
Government TO make special contracts
and pay special salaries TO chiefs and
assistant chiefs of bureaus and other
employees of the Philippine Government
performing duties that require technical
knowledge. The directors OF the bureaus
of science. education, agriculture, for
estry and public works are Americans.
experts IN their respective lines, now
engaged With several other Americans
in the service Of the Philippine govern
ment by appointment of the governor
general with the advice and consent
OF the Philippine Senate and are draw
ing salaries higher than the salaries
paid 70 Filipino directors OF bureaus.
under contract authorized, and an
appropriation made, by the Philippine
Legislature. And where II has been
found necessary to carry on some spe-
cfal technical work for the Philippine
government. the Legislature has made
the appropriation required for this pur-
poSe. viii cite one case: Four years
ago We appropriated 100000 pesos $780,
000) for the purpose Of bringing TO
the islands a committee of expert edu-
Gators TO make q survey OF the educa-
tional institutions of the country; and
a committee did come, headed by Dr.
Paul Monroe Of Columbia University
with such other distinguished educa-
tors as DR.. Stephen Duggan and others.
Right Contended For.
1t win be noted from the foregoing
that all We want Is to be permitted TO
continue exercising the right Of appro-
praattng the expenses Of our own gov
ernment, which American democracy
itself has implanted In the Philippines,
right for which 800 years ago Charles
lost his head and TO preserve which
the American Revolution was fought
The other two bills to which the Fill
pinos are opposed are another Willis
Kiess bill, which would remove the
power Of the Philippine Senate 70 con-
firm appointments OF governors Of the
nom Christian provinces, and the Tim
berlake bill, which would limit the
amount Of sugar the Philippines may
export TO the United States free Of duty.
With regard 10 the first, Ii need only
10 be said that, like the other bin, Il
curtaiis Filipino autonomy. and also
disrupts the system OF checks and bal
ances which is so indispensable in a
democracy. To the assertion that II is
more desirable TO appoint Americans
rather than Filipinos as governors OF
the non-Christian provinces Of the
/ Philippines 1t may be said that there
! have been just as good and ef1cient Fill
/ piE1o governors that have administered
| the affairs Of these provinces as there
/ have been good and efficient American
| governors. Just as there have been fail
ures in both cases. But, admitting foT
/ the sake of argument, that IL were true
| that 1t Is more desirable to appoint
| American rather than Filiplno govern.
org for those provinces, still the pro-
| posed legislation would not be justified
since the Philippine Senate has con-
! flrned appointments made by the gov
/ ernor general In favor Of Americans AZ
governors OF said provinces.
Non Christian Provinces.
The so-called nom Christian provinces
| in the Philippine Islands are: tht
Mountain Province. the Province oi
J0i0, the Province Of Lanao, the
Province Of Cotabato and the provinces
Of Bukidnon. The governors Of tiIt
Mountain Province. Jolo and Lanao ara
all Americans and they have all beer
confirmed by the Senate, The oriS
appointment made by the governor
general, Of an American governor
which the Philippine Senate absolntell
refused 10 confirm, was that OF Gov
johnson OF Lanao~-a man plainly lack.
ing the ability 10 perform the duties
Of the ofiee. His successor, however
sIso an American, was confirmed b.
the Senate
4 The interests of the Philippine Leg
lglatuTe IN the Moros and other non
Christian Fiiipin0s has been demon
strated, time and again. by the fac