Popular Government in the Philippines
It may be interesting to many readers to know something of the extent of popular government established in the Philippines. According to the report of the Secretary of War, municipal governments have been organized in 765 towns, in which the municipal officers are elected by the people. All persons who own real property to the value of $250, or pay an annual tax of $15, or who speak, read, or write either English or Spanish, are competent to vote. The affairs of the town or village are in the hands of the municipal authorities, subject to “extensive visitorial and supervisory powers” by the Commission. This is somewhat indefinite. An “extensive” supervisory power might be so extensive as to be dictatorial; that would depend upon the temper of the Commission; but a New York journal assumes that it is not more extensive than the powers exercised over the municipal affairs of New York City by the legislature of that State.