History III

Group 5 The American Military Administration The Civilian Government Administration of Taft Philippine Bill of 1902 TITLE TITLE TITLE TITLE TITLE TITLE TITLE

The American Military Administration

The Civilian Government

Taft Administration The most admired administration by the Filipino people. But before that, the governorship of Taft was beset with immense difficulties. After the capture of Aguinaldo and the deportation of the irreconcilable patriots in Guam, the flames of war continued to blaze in the provinces for another year. Governor Taft also had to face the deplorable economic situation of the people, which was an inevitable aftermath of the war. The people also suffered from epidemics, drought, and ravages of locusts. Agriculture and commerce were also ruined. And thousands of people were jobless because the industries had been destroyed by war. Governor Taft visited the United States in 1902. He worked for the passage of the Philippine Bill of 1902 and the purchase of "Friar's Land". In December 1903, the Philippine government was able to purchased the Friar Lands. Another great achievement of Taft was to win Filipino sympathy. His genial personality and his policy "Philippines for the Filipinos" erased the hostility of the Filipinos to Uncle Sam and captivated their admiration and confidence. The people came to regard his as their friend, family, and they sadly saw him leave Manila, to assume the portfolio of Secretary of War in President Roosevelt's cabinet.

Philippine Bill of 1902 The first Congressional law about the government of the Philippines was the Cooper Act, better known as the Philippine Bill of 1902. Congress passed it on July 01, 1902. Among its provision were: (1) extension of the Bill of Rights to the Filipino people, except the right of jury trial; (2) appointment of two Filipino resident commissioners to Washington; (3) establishment of an elective Philippine Assembly, after the proclamation of complete peace and two years after the publication of a census; (4) retention of the Philippine Commission as the upper house of legislature, with the Philippine Assembly acting as the lower house; and 5) the conservation of the natural resource of the Philippines for the Filipinos.