Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 34, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 January 1902 — OUR INSULAR NEEDS, [ARTICLE]

OUR INSULAR NEEDS,

Philippine Commission’s Recommendations to Congress in a Nutshell. The following is a synopsis of the various recommendations made by the Philippine Commission in its annual report to the President: 1. That Congress make appropriations to construct posts and garrisons for the army outside of the towns, so that they shall not be quartered in the towns. 2. That Congress be requested to confirm the legislation of the commission already enacted and provide for a permanent form of government for the islands, be instituted Jan. 4,-1904, with Filipino representation before Congress. 3. That the commission be authorized to Issue bonds to buy up the property of the friars . v. - 4. That an appeal be gypnted from the Supreme Court of the islands to the Supreme Court of the United States in all cases between the insular government and the Catholic Church in respect to ownership of property. 5. That the new tariff act of the commission be confirmed by congressional enactment, and that Congress reduce by at least 50 per cent the United States duty on tobacco, hemp and other merchandise coming from the Philippine Islands into the United States. 6. That the commission be given power to issue bonds for the city of Manila not exceeding $4,000,000 for improvements in the water supply and sewerage and drainage system. 7. That the commission be given power to grant street railway, electric light, telephone and other municipal franchises. 8. That the commission be given authority to pass a general public land law making provision for the acquisition of homestead rights. 9. That the commission be authorized to contiuue the present regulation of the cutting of timber. 10. That the commission be authorized to pass a mining law similar. to the United States mining laws. 11. That the commission be given power to pass a law for the conducting of legitimate business by corporations. 12. That the commission be given special authority to issue charters to railroads, with power to make donations of land. 13. That Congress enact a general coinage law providing for the gold standard with local silver currency. 14. That Congress enact a general banking law providing for the establishment of national banks in the islands. 15. That Congress authorize the commission to appropriate Spanish and insurrectionary seized funds for school purposes. 16. That Congress provide a sum sufficient to reimburse the insular government for the actual value of the property turned over to the army. IT. That Congress appropriate a sum sufficient to reimburse the insular treasury for certaiu Spanish gunboats turned over to the navy. _