Show FIRST PHILIPPINE CONGRESS Proceedings Will Not be Opened by Prayer But Taft Will be There Manila Great Interest Is shown in the first Philippine congress which will take place this week and tho arrival ar-rival of Secretary Taft which comes at an opportune time In the Inauguration Inaugura-tion of time Philippine home rule Already Al-ready tho contending political factions arc showing great activity and at the caucus recently held tho first brush occurred over a motion to have tho assembly proceedings opened with prayer This was defeated by ana vote on tho broad ground that church and state should hu kept distinct Guerrero one of the native leaders in Manila backs Gomez In his promise prom-ise to secure the repeal of tho drastic flat sedition laws If this repeal Is carried through I other radical measures meas-ures pwbnbly will follow The conservative con-servative element declares against any extreme legislation and the better class of politicians favor an ultra conservative con-servative course Tho governor general and tho officials of-ficials of the Philippine commission think that the chief activities of tho assembly will lie devoted to the enactment enact-ment of legislation for tho general Improvement Im-provement of tho Islands + |