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of Spanish control during which period Spanish has
been the official language only 10 per cent of the
people can speak it and they consider that this
alone shows how incapable the Philippinos are at
present of understanding any goverment which is
not absolute.
Municipal suffrage has however been granted in
the pacified parts of the Islands. It is limited
to 3 classes.
1. Those who can read and write English or
Spanish.
Those who possess property to the value of
£50 or pay taxes to the value of £3.
3.
Those who have been Municipal officers.
The new tariff took effect on November 15th
last and reduced duties on the necessaries of life,
machinery and railway equipment. The Commission
earnestly recommend a reduction of 50 per cent in
the United States duty upon tobacco, hemp, sugar
and other island produce.
The Commission ask for authority (1) to carry
out a system of land purchase by bonds issued by the
Philippine Government; (2) to continue in force the
regulations respecting timber cutting;
(3) to pass a
general public land law, (4) a mining law, (5) a gen-
eral incorporation law for conducting legitimate
business by corporations (6) and to issue charters to
commercial railroads.
The Commission also desire Congress to enact a
coinage law and a banking law.
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