THE CABINET: Colonel's Report

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Doubtless, by this time, enough has been said concerning Col. Carmi Alderman Thompson, rotund Personal Representative of President Coolidge, to make him a public character. He spent three months in the Philippines; he used two more going and coming. He compiled a report. It was not until last week that Colonel Thompson's report was given to the public. President Coolidge, having pondered thereon for a fortnight, despatched the report to Congress.

Important recommendations of the Colonel who left his Cleveland home to ferret out Filipino needs:

No Independence. The granting of absolute independence should be postponed "for some time to come," because the Philippines have neither the necessary financial resources nor the racial homogeneity at present.

Friction Remedies. The antagonism between the Governor General and the Filipino legislature is the most immediate and vexing problem in the islands. As remedies, Colonel Thompson suggests that the administration of the Philippines be transferred from the War Department to some new bureau or department, that Governor General Wood's military advisers be replaced with civil experts, that the Filipinos be given increasing internal autonomy. Land Laws. The Philippine legislature should amend the land laws, so as to attract U. S. capital to develop, on a large scale, the production of rubber, coffee, sugar, rice, etc. The U. S. Congress should not attempt to interfere with these land laws. Banking. The Federal Reserve system should be extended to the Philippines. Also, Federal land banks should be established to loan money to Filipino farmers at reasonable rates. They now pay from 12% to 30% interest. Moro Provinces. Mindanao and Sulu, inhabited by Mohammedans, should not be separated politically from the rest of the islands,— but U. S. control in these provinces might well be strengthened to prevent Moro-Filipino animosity. Miscellaneous. The Filipino government should withdraw from its private business enterprises immediately. The Jones Act, fundamental law governing the Philippines, should not now be changed. Colonel Thompson's report, comprehensive though it is, produced nothing startling. His recommendations seldom veered from the happy middle ground. Hence, the applause was extensive, well-mannered; there were few jeers or raucous cheers. President Coolidge said that the report was an "exellent one," that he agreed with it for the most part. What will Congress do about it? There will be no time for action this short session; so Colonel Thompson's researches of the summer of 1926 will probably rest peacefully until the opening of the 70th Congress in December, 1927—perhaps longer.