Proceedings of the first Independence congress : held in the city of Manila, Philippine islands, February 22-26, 1930 / Published under the direction of Dean maximo M. Kalaw, executive secretary, University of the Philippines.

POLITICAL SECTION

117

limits the local governments can fix the rate which to them may
seem convenient.
It is not possible to grant absolute and complete autonomy
to our municipalities. It is an illusion to think of this, if
we bear in mind the fact that these municipalities are public
corporations created by the State, and it is absurd to think
that a municipality' can be set up in the position of an
imperium in imperio. The municipality, even if it So desires,
cannot completely emancipate itself from the control of the
central government. An autonomy, partial, sound and constructive, is the most that it can aspire for. It is enough that
our municipalities could, without unnecessary restrictions,
develop themselves and perform effectively the part assigned
to them in the great and common task of promoting the general welfare and prosperity of the entire nation.
From what has been said it will be seen that vast conquests
have been made in the direction of stabilizing our local
institutions and extending popular control over them. And
if we examine the laws approved by the Philippine Legislature,
we will see reflected in them the policy followed by that
body until now.
Much remains to be done. But to a person who will take
the trouble to make his own observations, ample opportunity
is afforded for accurate judgment of what has been accomplished. Indeed, if the stability of the Philippine Government
is to be judged by what the local political units have.
achieved and by the condition of public order prevailing
therein, then it follows that we do have in these Islands
today a stable government,-a degree of stability that finds
seemingly partial but concrete expression in the progress' made
in local self-government, in the maintenance of law and order,
and in the abiding faith of the people in their capacity and
vast potentialities.
No 'that we have surveyed briefly the origin, history and
present organization of our provincial and municipal governments, we are ina better position to consider the problems that
will present themselves in this 'connection in the event that
independence is granted us. I shall begin by' saying- that in