neral and secretaries of departments,
and the annual reports of the governor-general uniformly expressed
satisfaction with their practical operation. Mr. Taft was always an
enthusiastic supporter of the merit system.

Governor-General Forbes in his inaugural address made the following
statements:--

"It is necessary that the civil service should be rigidly maintained
and its rules carefully observed. One very distinguished Filipino
has recently been appointed to administrative control of one of the
most important departments of the Government, equal in rank to any
executive position in the Islands with the exception of the Executive
head. In the executive branch of the Government, the Filipinization
of the service must steadily continue. As vacancies occur Filipinos
will be gradually substituted for Americans as rapidly as can be
done without positive detriment to the service. At the same time,
care will be taken to provide a suitable career for honest and capable
Americans who have come out here in good faith. They should know that
during good behavior and efficient performance of their duty they
are secure in their positions, and that when they desire to return to
the United States an effort will be made to place them in the civil
service at home.

"I want no better men than the present officers and employees of
the Government, Americans and Filipinos. They compare favorably with
any set of men I have ever seen both as regards ability and fidelity
to duty."

Under the operation of the Civil Service Act the proportion of
Filipinos employed has increased from 49 per cent, in 1903, to 71
per cent in 1913, as is shown by the following table:--

Comparison of Percentages of Americans and
Filipinos in the Service

=============================================
| NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES
YEAR |-----------------------------
| Americans | Filipinos
---------------------------------------------
1903 ......... | 51% | 49%
1904 ......... | 49 | 51
1905 ......... | 45 | 55
1906 [487] ... | - | -
1907 ......... | 40 | 60
1908 ......... | 38 | 62
1909 ......... | 38 | 62
1910 ......... | 36 | 64
1911 ......... | 35 | 65
1912 ......... | 31 | 69
1913 ......