566 



PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. 



their bondsmen, clerks and functionaries of the 

 administration, bankrupts until discharged, or in- 

 sane or feeble-minded persons can in no case be 

 elected or appointed to municipal office. The al- 

 calde is authorized to appoint all nonelective offi- 

 cers of the municipality, exact punctual payment 

 of taxes, and punish violations of municipal ordi- 

 nances and regulations. The municipal council 

 has power to create the offices of municipal attor- 

 ney, treasurer, secretary, and such offices as may 

 be 'necessary to manage the finances and property 

 of the town, maintain municipal prisons, fire de- 

 partment, and schools, and to levy and collect 

 taxes. All ordinances before taking effect are to 



not higher than in the average American State. 

 These with the revised customs tariff would give 

 less annoyance than the Spanish taxes, and after 

 peace was restored would produce a revenue suffi- 

 cient to pay the expenses of efficient government, 

 including a militia and constabulary. The adop- 

 tion of the gold standard of currency was recom- 

 mended. The commission prepared a stringent 

 civil service law, giving opportunity to Filipinos 

 and Americans, with preference to the former 

 where qualifications are equal, to enter the lowest 

 rank, and by promotion reach the head of the 

 department. Later soldiers who had been detailed 

 to discharge civil offices, and who wished on their 



THE CITY OF JOLO. 



be approved by the alcalde. Taxation shall be uni- 

 form and just, and persons deeming themselves 

 injured by any tax levy may protest to the coun- 

 cil and appeal from its decision through the al- 

 calde to the provincial governor. The governor 

 of the province is president of all the municipal 

 councils, and may inspect and supervise the ad- 

 ministration of all municipal affairs, hear and 

 determine all appeals against the acts of munici- 

 pal corporations or their officers, and suspend or 

 remove municipal officers and appoint substitutes 

 until the next general election, or may call a 

 special election, reporting the cause to the gov- 

 ernor of the islands. As a temporary expedient 

 the commanding officers of military districts were 

 authorized to appoint the first alcaldes if it was 

 not practicable or advisable to have them elected. 

 The municipal governments were soon established 

 under the provisions of this law. In villages presi- 

 dents were appointed in accordance with the choice 

 of the people. When such officers were detected 

 in seditious acts they were removed and others 

 were appointed. The new Philippine Commission 

 had for its president Judge William H. Taft, with 

 whom were associated Dean C. Worcester, Luke E. 

 Wright, Henry C. Ide, and Bernard Moses. The 

 commissioners formulated new tariff and tax laws. 

 The Spanish tariff rates that were still operative 

 were nearly prohibitory for many articles, pre- 

 venting the importation from America of canned 

 goods, machinery, and other important commodi- 

 ties. The Spanish revenue laws threw the burden 

 of taxation on the poor and gave the wealthy com- 

 parative immunity. The inland revenue was de- 

 rived chiefly from the poll tax, the taxation of 

 small businesses, a fishing license, and the like. 

 The commissioners recommended instead a reason- 

 able land tax and a tax on corporation franchises 



discharge from the army to remain in the civil 

 service, were exempted from examinations. Re- 

 forms in civil and criminal procedure, the criminal 

 code, and the judicial system were adopted on the 

 recommendation of the Filipino bar. A branch 

 railroad into the mining country of Luzon, 45 

 miles in length, was considered favorably. Calls 

 came from all parts of the islands for public- 

 schools, and the supply of English teachers \va> 

 far short of the demand. Native children showed 

 great aptitude in learning English. Night schools 

 were established for teaching English to adults. 

 Only a small fraction of the people speak Spanish. 

 The creation of a central government like that of 

 Porto Rico, securing all rights described in the 

 bill of rights and the Federal Constitution, prom- 

 ised to bring contentment, prosperity, education, 

 and political enlightenment. The subsidence of 

 the rebellion toward the close of the year gave 

 grounds for the opinion that the disturbances conld 

 better be suppressed by the native police of a civil 

 government, with the army as an auxiliary force. 

 than by a continuance of complete military con- 

 trol. The commission was embarrassed in secur- 

 ing good material for judicial and other service 

 by the provisional character of the military gov- 

 ernment and its uncertainty of tenure. LegNla- 

 tion by congress to create a central civil govern 

 ment was urgently needed. Until such a bill \\a- 

 passed no public franchises could be granted, nor 

 any mining claims, and no substantial investment 

 of private capital in internal improvements \\a- 

 possible. The sale of public lands, forest conci- 

 sions, and the grant of railroad and other fran- 

 chises seemed desirable to the commissioners, and 

 especially the starting of mines by hundred* "' 

 American miners who were on the ground awaiting 

 a law to perfect their claims. The beginning ot 



