It is beyond doubt or cavil that high ideals heretofore have prevailed in the Philippine Civil Service.  Are they now to be substituted by the methods of the ward politician?

In its report for 1901 the Philippine Commission said:—­

“The civil service law has been in operation since our last report, and we see no reason to change our conclusion as to the absolute necessity for its existence, and strict enforcement.  Without this law American government in these Islands is, in our opinion, foredoomed to humiliating failure.”

I signed that report.  I have not since seen any reason to change my mind.

CHAPTER XIV

The Philippine Constabulary and Public Order

During the last thirty years of Spanish rule in the Philippines evil-doers were pursued and apprehended and public order was maintained chiefly by the guardia civil.  At the time of its organization in 1868 this body had a single division.  By 1880 the number had been increased to three, two for Luzon and one for the Visayan Islands.

The guardia civil was organized upon a military basis, its officers and soldiers being drawn from the regular army of Spain by selection or upon recommendation.  Detachments were distributed throughout the provinces and were commanded according to their size by commissioned or non-commissioned officers.  Central offices were located in district capitals; company headquarters were stationed in provincial capitals, and detachments were sent to places where they were deemed to be necessary.

Under ordinary conditions they rendered service as patrols of two men each, but for the purpose of attacking large bands of outlaws one or several companies were employed as occasion required.

The guardia civil had jurisdiction over all sorts of violations of laws and municipal ordinances.  They made reports upon which were based the appointments of municipal officers, the granting of licenses to carry firearms, and the determination of the loyalty or the disloyalty of individuals.

They were vested with extraordinary powers.  Offences against them were tried by courts-martial, and were construed as offences against sentinels on duty.  Penalties were therefore extremely severe.

Officers of the guardia civil on leave could by their own initiative assume a status of duty with the full powers and responsibilities that go with command.  This is contrary to American practice, under which only dire emergency justifies an officer in assuming an official status unless he is duly assigned thereto by competent authority.

The guardia civil could arrest on suspicion, and while the Spanish Government did not directly authorize or sanction the use of force to extort confessions, it was not scrupulous in the matter of accepting confessions so obtained as evidence of crime, nor was it quick to punish members of the guardia civil charged with mistreatment of prisoners.