The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-11-11
BADLY MIXED.
Currency Situation in the Phil
ippine Islands
In a State Bordering on the
Chaotic.
MEXICAN MONEY ONLl
Will Be Accepted as the Stand
ard in Business.
Wonderful Resources and Fer
tility of the Country.

Washington, Nov. 11.-Charles "A.
Whittier brigadier general of volun-
teers, now collector of customs at Ma
Mia, under date of September 10 last
has submitted a report of his observa-
tions upon the condition of things in
Manila and the Philippines islands. and
suggestions as to the methods to be
pursued pending any permanent occu-
patton of the country which may be
decided upon. He says:
THE most important questions are
the currency, revenue (including the ce-
dula, or head taxi opium and the ad-
mission OF Chinese. These are very
grave questions and cannot be decided
under a brief consideration.
THE currency question is even more
important than in the United States. 1t
must be remembered that Mexico was the
business channel for these islands for
25O years; that all efforts to remove this
dollar and substitute another have fail
ed, Notwithstanding law of the Span
iards fOrbidding its entrance; and the
same way in the east, our trade dollar
was failure and was withdrawn. In
Hong Kong, the English dollar sells at
a discount upon the Mexican. There is
but one bank of issue here, the Banco
de Filipino. Owing to its advances to
the Spanish government of some $1,1OO,-
600, it is in a shaky condition. Efforts
in a mild way to bolster it, have up to
this time kept it alive. The two other
banks, the Hong Kong and Shanghai
and the chartered bank of India, Aus
tralia and China are very strong. The
business people have accustomed them
selves to the notes of the Filipino bank
as a medium OF exchange and found
them a great convenience in place of the
cumbersome method of handling silver
dollars. 1t would create a financial rev.
OlutiOn to attempt to substitute in
moment, any currency in the islands to
replace the present one; save that ma
tional banks of the United States of
America, chartered under some new
nf q
ing currency, would be useful and pro-
dtable.
Revenue and taxes-The cedula, or
head tax. which has given an income of
$4,000 600 a year, has ben a most pOpu-
lar measure. It has varied from So
(formerly $5) per head to $37. SO. Com
plant mainly comes from the lowest
class. Many people of good judgment
here think that reduction to 81 would
be satisfactory and might be tried for
a year. The higher classes do not seem
to find their rate onerous. Advocates of
the Single tax might make a strong
case in these islands. I think the main
revenue of British government in India
is derived from the land tax. 1t IS
worthy of consideration here
"Opium-The Spanish practice was to
sell the monopoly of the import on this.
The concessiOnaire was the captain of
the Chinese, who paid about S55,000 for
the privileges for three years. The
compiler of the new regulations, with
ont knowledge of this addition to the
two pesos for 100 kilOs, equalling about
22O pounds. This has been modified by
the governor general to six pesos per
pound. This change will lead to in
creased smuggling, at which the Chi
nese are most adrOit. 1t Will be diff
cult to prevent this, even with the use
of the greatest vigilance and expense.
The English in Hong Kong derive
great revenue from farming the privi-
lege' as was the practice here.
Manila. of course, is very sman
L1 4C1o
even of Luzon. No one who has not
gone beyond the limits of the town can
have any idea of the wealth, fertility
and resources OA the country. 1t has
happened to me to be the only officer
(save one companion of mine) who has
made any investigation of even the ad-
jacent country On saturday, Septem-
ber 8. I went over the line of the Manila
railway 123 miles in length, runninS
northward from Manila The country
three miles out from Manila is occupied
by the insurgents for the whole dis
tance. The line is in fair order, tele-
graphic communication destroyed in
many places, probably requiring
month for their restoration. The line
has. opened and developed a country of
most extraordinary fertility. Rice is
the principal product; much sugar, a
small amount of indigo on the northern
Dart of the line; possibilities Of cotton,
coffee and almost anything. The sta
tiOns are at short intervals, in accord
ance with orders from the Spanish gov
ernmeQt W6lcn SUBSIDIZED Ine line.
have never seen a country of such
splendid productive power. For the
first hundred miles almost all of it is
under cultivation. From there to the
terminus a different and prettier coun>
try, with high cocoanut palm trees of a
rare beauty; but not yet so much culti-
waited as that to the south.
with new extensions and lines con-
templated on the island of LuzOn, say
first, Manila to Bantangas south; sec
ond Dagapan to Leog north; third.
tobacco district; added productive power
and wealth would be impaired to the is
land.
"A week later I went up the Pasig
river to the Laguna, extraordinary fer
tility of soil being again the marked
charac cteristic and a possibility for the
requirement of large estates, if we con-
troll the country and if good titles can
be assured.
THE islands to the south. of which
Panay OloiIo being the principal port
and the second of the island). Cebu
Samar, AIindanao and possibly the Sulu,
or Jolo, archipelago, should be investi-
gated as soon as our relations with the
Spanish permit. am extremely
anxious to make this journey under the
auspices and at the invitation of Eng
lish merchants thoroughly acquainted
with the islands If one half they say
of the richness of these be true, it would
be a most valuable acquisition to the
United States. I trust I shall not be
deemed intrusive in these remarks and
suggestions. Being an army officer
and at the same time collector of Gus
toms at Manila, my duty would seem
to be to the secretary of war and the
treasury and I submit these remarks
tod hoy Ia