Investigation?

An echo of Philippine dissatisfaction with Governor General Wood came out in the House of Representatives last week, when Congressman Frear of Wisconsin presented a resolution for investigation of the Wood regime. Secretary of War Weeks, on behalf of the Administration, has several times previously expressed support of General Wood. Now there will be pressure on the Administration from two sides--from the Filipinos (Manuel Roxas, Speaker of the Philippine House, is now in Washington for that purpose) and from the Republican insurgents of whom Mr. Frear is one.

The Frear Proposal. The resolution of the Representative from Wisconsin called for investigation by the

Rules Committee of reports made in press despatches from the islands:

1) Whether Congressmen have received money to influence their stand on Philippine independence.

2) If the charges are not true, why records in the hands of General Wood were "permitted to be used to besmirch Government officials."

3) What are the facts of the differences between General Wood and the Filipinos?

4) What are the facts about General Wood's calling a special session of the Philippine Legislature, attempting to close the Philippine National Bank, etc. ?

5) Whether those who contributed to General Wood's campaign for the Republican Presidential nomination in 1920 have received concessions in the Philippines.

6) To what extent, if any, do American officials of the Wood regime profit by opposing Philippine independence ?

7) "What valid objections, if any, exist against having the American Congress now declare that the Philippine Islands are, and of right ought to be, free and independent?"

The Significance. There are two distinct political situations which bear upon the charges and proposed investigation. In the Philippines the Collectivist Party, in control of the Legislature, has independence as a primary plank in its platform. Richard V. Oulahan, an able correspondent of The New York Times, has made an investigation of the situation in the Philippines, on the spot. His conclusion is that the Collectivist leaders use "independence" as a catchword, but really care only to oust General Wood and have him supplanted by someone who will allow them to run the Government in their own prodigal, inefficient and, to them, profitable way.

In the U. S., the Democratic Party has always stood for giving independence to the Philippines immediately or very soon. Both Democrats and Republican insurgents are naturally eager to discredit the Administration at this time. And these two groups together have a majority on the Rules Committee (TIME, Dec. 24) and might employ an investigation to political advantage, whatever its outcome. Whatever they feel in regard to General Wood, the regular Republicans will probably seek quietly to prevent such an investigation.

General Wood, who had been visiting Java on invitation of the Dutch Government, returned to Manila. He declined to comment on the Frear resolution. The Dutch Governor of Java, Fock, will visit the Philippines in March. The object of the mutual visits of the Governors is to exchange knowledge of the art of colonial Government.

A court composed of four Americans and three Filipinos sentenced one Isaac Perez, Municipal Secretary of the town of Pilar, to two months and one day in prison for sedition. Perez was tried for having declared that the Filipinos should behead General Wood with a bolo because the Governor opposed Philippine independence. Two Filipino judges dissented.