The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-11-12
IN FERTILE PHILIPPINES.
BRIG. GEN. WHITTIER REPORTS
on CONDITIONS IN THE ISLANDS.
Currency question One of the Host
Intricate Confronting the Gov
ernment-Reveaue. Head Tax and
Opium Smuggling Important.
WASHINGTON

WASHINGTON. %ov. u.-fsharias \
Whittier bfsgsaseF general 81 Foi4l.ke'. s1.
now collector % customs a. ska-,ia' 80
date or septernner II l2st 4122- si&tSfiats+f' g
resarf az his observations gpo1 tie 1zSI.4i-
tscn III things in 8anE.a @nd tae EA-74,D -
Islands ard suggestions - - t44e as~l'''S
10 bs puyKuea pending any peffta ''fi'+ o.
egpatsnn % the country T1t1b it.as ~ 20
csded s1s1Df. Be say.
.1Tae most iEsplstaf5 e~t7i--ls az t.'S
,urrssnc4r r4yefsla gre. lGgag 'fhe ceaula,
Or head tax. opium ana 'ite a4.fA'AS'9a "a
Chinese. These aFs Fe'g grave 4aea's'aa
and cannot b. decide a1teF q Dt.Sf corr
alteration The earxeacF quespoia j. even
more important toan "a 1he tinted STATES.
IL must b. remembered that Mexico was
the bukiaeas channel foy tDeAe isi3h12 InE
30 years, shBt ai efforts 10 remove ia.s
dollar ana substitute another have failed.
notvflshs;andsug law OF fne Saaniasds
forhidd.n. It's entrance, and lne same way
IN tht. East orr trade dollar was ) failure
and was withdrawn. IN H0aekong the
Engllnh dollar seems 81 q discount Upon
the Mexican.
.sThere is but ore bank OF issue here. the
Bance de Filipino. Owing 10 its advances
10 the Spanish government of some <it8.-
va II is ia q saaky condition. The TWO
other banks, tne Hongisong and Shanghai
and the chartered EanA o india. Aa5sia-
l.a and China. are very strong. Tie blasi-
ness people have accustomed themselves TO
the notes OF the Filipino bank az a ine1!uin
of exchange and found them a great con
seaianec IN place 81 tie cumbersome meth
oG ~ handling silver dollars II would
create q financial revolution 20 attempt 10
substitute - moment a8y currency "a
the islands 10 replace the present one. save
that national banks of tie United States
OF America, chartered andcr soae new
I-as vas gsF - %
currency would lee useful and profitable.
'''Tne cedula. or head tax. which has given
an income Of Sl6.Gy).Da - year. has been a
most popular rneasuve. II has varied from
81 per head 10 $3.50.
lit WAs the Spanish practice 10 sell the
right Of importation 81 opium. The con
eessona!re WAS the captain Of the Chinese
who paid about $s1A0o for the privilege for
three years. The compiler IF the new reg
ulatIons without know ledge OF this add
ton 10 the revenue. has placed the Tax al
2 pesos for l0J kilos. eteualing about go
pounds This has been rlodlaed by the gov
ernor general hy pesos per pound. This
change will lead Ia Increased smuggling,
at which the Chinese are most aarot.
Manila OF course is a very small por-
ton OF the Philippine islands or even OF
Luzon. SO one who has uOt gone heyond
the limits Of the town can have 3ny Idea
OF the wealth. the fertiuty and Resources
OF the country. II has happened to nae TO
be the only person. save q companion ~
mlne, 10 make any inyesti gati0u Of the ai-
jacont country. September : i went aver
the liae Of the Manila railway. 10 miles
IN length. running nortnward from Ma
mia. The line has opened aud developed
country of most extraordinary fertility.
Rice Is the principal product much sugar.
small amount Of indigo on the northern
part or tire Tine; possibilities Of cotton, c0f-
4FetsQ and almost al hing have
country Of such splendid productive pow
e.. Tor the first hundred miles almost al
OF Il under cultivation. From there 20 the
terminus Is a different and pfettier ce0n-
Try, with high cocoanuts. palm trees ~
rare beauty but not Yet as much cultivated
as that to the south.
"A week LATER 1 went un the pasig river
10 the laguna. extraordinary fertility Of
soil being again the marked characteristic.
and possibility Tor the requirement ~
large estates II we control tho country, and
If good tides can be assured.
'"fhe islands TO the south Panay Uioilo
being the principal porO. Ce5u Sefaar.
Mlnd2nao aud possibly the SHiu or Jolo
archipelago should hc investigated as soon
our relations with the Spanish permit. I
arm extremely anxious 50 make tbis four-
ney under the auspices ana az the invita-
ton Of English merchants thoroughly ac-
qualatcd with lha Islands Il one-haif they
they would be . most valuable acquisition
To tire United States
al trust THAI shall not b. deemed in
trps!ve In these remarks ana sugRestians
Hens On army officer and at the satne
time collector Of customs NJ Manila fay
DEFY would seem to BE- ~ the secretary at
WA and 10 the treasury auI submit these
remarks as directed - them as weI. as "a
yourself.
81 desire m place herc except upon the
aAip - return II America. hat / am sa
tEnFouE hiy Impressed WITH The ysyalth ana
beauty az tho islands notwithstanding che
most peculiar conditions existing here that
am most anxious FOR the success or our
government III working out this sxierllrieot
with the best fruitiou TIE Inhabitants afa
unique the natives clean am4 clever. tar
thinese more active ard pess.rerinp. au
hsas's Of burden. accustomed g. Ntti. T., thu.
WAY Of pay, food or shelter XNe nav
holise servant WHO works Eattsf4-tari}, e..
aainonjh. osluaiing sac - o..r n,oae1 49,
fuEniSsi'ng his OWN fool The eustaa.s
fterse receipts daring oar ,a-ssn,h,nt,
fwenty-fouF working aays amount 20 s,ss
ca Testlna lgnte should IT, the rlis II
cur ceuiuQt"