The Chronicle-star combined with the Moss Point advertiser., 1946-07-05
BY JOHN n. WARD
AP Feature Writer

: republic July 4 with a govern
ment patterned closely after that
Of its political parent, the United
States.
Except for broadened executive
powers, asked by President Man
uel A. Roxas in his recent mes
sage to Congress, and reorganiza-
ton of the executive branch, the
transition to independence brings
no departure from governmental
procedures established in 1895.
The president asked for and
probably will get expanded pow
ers to cope with the Philippines
two most pressing problems-re.
construction and economic re-
Mobilization.
OF the pair. reconstruction OF
devasted Manila and other war
wrecked cities is a relatively sim
pie matter of money and mater
ials. But the archipelago's eco
nomic ills, as reflected by spir-
aling prices, agrarian unrest and
widespread banditry, offer the
real challenge to the newborn
republic.
New Era for Orient
independence Day in the hot,
~sprawling islands ushers in a new
era in the Orient, whose multilin-
quail millions elsewhere have been
insistently demanding self deter
mination and a start on the road
to the four freedoms.
The unprecedented grant of in
dependence to l7,000.0 900 Filipinos
Is viewed as deeply significant.
Many observers say that the
course of future events in this
part of the world will be influ-
enced strongly by progress in
self-rule made in the Philippines.
The republic has a firm demo
cratic foundation whose specific
outlines were drawn by the Tyd.
ngs-McDuffie Act signed by the
late President Roosevelt March
"a, 1884, and accepted by the
commonwealth congress May |.
The act provided for a dual
instrument consisting Of a per-
manent constitution and an or
dinance governing relations be-
tween the United States and the
Commonwealth for a period of
ten years from November l5,
1885.
Broad Powers Given President
The ordinance was ratified by
the Philippine electorate, women
included, In a national plebiscite.
A constitutional convention a.
dopted 4 document similar to the
U. S. constitution, but which
placed broader powers in the
hands of the executive and con-
tanned revisions 70 conform with
the provincial government sys-
tenn.
The constitution originally pro-
vided for one six-year presiden-
tial term and a unicameral assem-
bly,. This was amended in 1910 to
limit me terms of the president
and vice president to four years
and to provide for one immediate
reelection. The bicameral legisla-
tive system was restored, with 4
membership of "a senator's, elect
ed at large and 100 representa-
tives elected from districts. Re-
preventative government was re-
sumed June 9, l945, while the
last remnants of the Japanese
army were being pursued.
Powers of the president in
clude control over provinces and
municipalities, CONSUMPTION of
labor and property and power to
regulate wages, rents and proper
ty. The executive branch has
nine departments, the secretaries
of which constitute the presidents
cabinet-as in the United States.
l.200 Justices of Peace
Topping the Judiciary is the
Philippine Supreme Court. con-
sisting of a chief justice and six
associates appointed by the pres
idtnt. The court must have a
two-thirds majority to declare a
law unconstitutional, as distin-
guished from sd decisions in the
u. S. There are justices of peace
for about 1000 municipalities,
which comprise nine judicial dis
tricts. Each district has several
judges of first instance (three
in Manila) and these courts or
respond to U. S. district courts.
Above these is the l5-judge
court of appeals.
Suffrage is enjoyed by all Fill
Pine citizens 81 years Of age or
older who can read or write Eng
lish, Spanish or one of the native
dialects. There are "a dialects, of
which about eight are in wide
usage. Literacy vas about AZ
percent prior to the Japanese
invasion.
There are more than 5000, 900
registered voters. Spontaneous
rallies and colorful banners
stretched from service poles give
political campaigners in the Phil
ippines the appearance of those