Condition in Philippine Islands

Politics.

ence.

on the commission. Good, constructive legislation was passed, but there were marked tendencies to inject politics into administration and to interfere with administrative efficiency. Injudicious economy by salary cutting and discouragement of government personnel became marked. The tendency toward Government interference in business and radical government paternalism began. Legislation to The legislation also showed a conscious effort to encourward independage Filipino nationality and independence." Third period. Third, 1916 to 1921. With an elected House and Senate, the legislation in this period became increasingly radical in its paternalism and government interference with business. Some constructive legislation was passed, but the general trend was toward injection of politics into administration and encroachment of the legislative on the executive. Legislation affecting finance, banking, and currency has been radical and unwise.

Increase in radicalism.

Supervision by Filipinos legislated.

criminates

cans.

Another tendency in recent legislation has been the deliberate effort to take away from the American officers of the Government supervision of the different branches of the Government and put it into the departments conAct 2666 dis- trolled by Filipinos. Act 2666 provides that the secreagainst Ameri- taries of all departments must be Filipinos. This is discriminatory legislation against Americans. The socalled Jones bill provides that the vice governor and secretary of public instruction must be an American, and it further provides that the health duties should be under of this officer. The Philippine Legislature has endeavored to evade this by transferring the management of all Government hospitals to the department of the interior and by creating and placing in the same department a board of pharmaceutical officers, a board of optical examiners, etc.

Evasion Jones bill.

"It is to be noted that franchises granted by the Government during this period contain the following clause:

"The concession of the privilege mentioned in the preceding section shall not take effect unless the grantee shall accept in writing and make part of this concession the following condition, to wit, 'That the grantee state in writing that it is informed of the message of the President of the United States addressed to the Filipino people and communicated to said people by the Governor General of the Philippine Islands on the sixth day of October, 1913, and of the reply message of the Philippine Assembly made in the name of the Filipino people and approved and sent on October 16, 1913; that said grantee binds itself not to engage in or aid, by means of contributions in cash or otherwise, any propaganda directed against the policy of the Government of the United States outlined in such message of the President and the aspirations of the Filipino people set forth in said reply message of the Philippine Assembly, whether under the pretext of vested interests or under any other pretext, and that said grantee shall further bind itself to exact a similar engagement from its administrators, agents, successors, and assigns.""

The tendency which is found in all legislatures of pass-slation hurried. ing the bulk of the legislation in the last two days of the session is noted. By this means, much important legis

currency bills.

lation is passed with a rush. The forms of budget and Budget and currency appropriation bills are good.

GENERAL CONCLUSIONS.

We find the people happy, peaceful, and in the main prosperous, and keenly appreciative of the benefits of American rule.

We find everywhere among the Christian Filipinos the desire for independence, generally under the protection of the United States. The non-Christians and Americans are for continuance of American control.

We find a general failure to appreciate the fact that independence under the protection of another nation is not true independence.

We find that the Government is not reasonably free from those underlying causes which result in the destruction of government.

We find that a reasonable proportion of officials and employees are men of good character and ability, and reasonably faithful to the trust imposed upon them; but that the efficiency of the public services has fallen off, and that they are now relatively inefficient, due to lack of inspection and to the too rapid transfer of control to officials who have not had the necessary time for proper training.

We find that many Filipinos have shown marked capacity for government service and that the young generation is full of promise; that the civil service laws have in the main been honestly administered, but there is a marked deterioration due to the injection of politics.

We find there is a disquieting lack of confidence in the administration of justice, to an extent which constitutes a menace to the stability of the government.、

We find that the people are not organized economically nor from the standpoint of national defense to maintain an independent government.

We find that the legislative chambers are conducted with dignity and decorum and are composed of representative men. ·

We feel that the lack of success in certain departments should not be considered as proof of essential incapacity on the part of Filipinos, but rather as indicating lack of experience and opportunity, and especially lack of inspection

We find that questions in regard to confirmation of appointments might at any time arise which would make a deadlock between the Governor General and the Philippine Senate.

We feel that with all their many excellent qualities, the experience of the past eight years, during which they have had practical autonomy, has not been such as to justify the people of the United States relinquishing supervision of the Government of the Philippine Islands, withdrawing their army and navy, and leaving the islands a prey to any powerful nation coveting their rich soil and potential commercial advantages.

In conclusion we are convinced that it would be a betrayal of the Philippine people, a misfortune to the American people, a distinct step backward in the path of progress, and a discreditable neglect of our national duty were we to withdraw from the islands and terminate our relationship there without giving the Filipinos the best chance possible to have an orderly and permanently stable government.

RECOMMENDATIONS.

1. We recommend that the present general status of the Philippine Islands continue until the people have had time to absorb and thoroughly master the powers already in their hands.

2. We recommend that the responsible representative of the United States, the Governor General, have authority commensurate with the responsibilities of his position. 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 diminishing, limiting, or dividing the authority granted the Governor General under Act No. 240 of the Sixty-fourth Congress, known as the Jones bill.

3. We recommend that in case of a deadlock between the Governor General and the Philippine Senate in the confirmation of appointments that the President of the United States be authorized to make and render the final decision.

4. We recommend that under no circumstances should the American Government permit to be established in the Philippine Islands a situation which would leave the United States in a position of responsibility without authority.

OCTOBER 8, 1921.

LEONARD WOOD, Chairman.
W. CAMERON FORBES.