The record-union., 1898-11-12
CONDITIONS IN
The PHILIPPINES.
General Whittier, Collector of Gus
toms at Manila,
Submits Report Of His Observations In
the Islands.
The Currency Question One OF the
Most Important Matters to BE
Dealt With-Revenue, Opium,
and the Admission Of Chinese
Other Grave Subjects to BE
Considered.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 11.-Charles
NJ Whittier, Brigadier General of Vol
unteers, now Collector of Customs at
Manila, under date of September 18th
last, has submitted a report of his OBJ
servations upon the condition OF Things
in Manila and the Philippine Islands,
and suggestions as to the methods TO
be pursued pending any permanent oc-
cupation of the country which may be
decided upon. He says:
The most important questions are
the currency, revenue Qncluding the
cedula, or head tax,), opium and the
admission Of Chinese. These are the
very grave questions, and cannot be
decided under 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 ISL
ands for 25O years; that all efforts TO
remove this dollar and substitute an
other have failed, Notwithstanding a
law of the Spaniards forbidding its en-
trance; and the same way in the East,
our trade was a failure, and was with
drawn. In Hongkong the English dol
lar sells at discount upon the Mexi-
can.
There is but one bank of issue here,
the Banco de Filipino. Owing to its
advances to the Spanish Government
of some 81, 700, 600, it is in a shaky con-
dition. Efforts in a mild way TO boil
ster it have up to this time kept it
alive. The two other banks the Hong
kong and Shanghai and the Chartered
Bank of India, Australia and China,
are very strong. The business people
have accustomed themselves 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 revolu-
tion to attempt to substitute in a mo-
ment any currency in the islands to re-
place the present one, save that ma
tional banks of the United States of
America, chartered under some new
form of law on the basis of the exist
ing currency would be useful and
profitable.
The cedula, or head tax, which has
given an income of $4,000 900 a year,
has been a most unpopular measure. 1t
has varied from So per head to $37. so
Complaint mainly comes from the low
est class. Many people of good judg-
ment here think a reduction to 50 would
be satisfactory, and might be tried for
a year The higher classes did not
seem to find their rate onerous Ad-
vocates Of the single tax might make
a strong case in these islands. I think
the main revenue of the British Gov
ernment in India is derived from the
land tax. 1t is worthy of consideration
here.
1T was the Spanish practice to sell
the right of importation Of opium The
concessionaire was the Captain of the
Chinese, who paid about S550000 for
the privilege for three years. The COM
piler Of the new regulations, without
knowledge of this addition to the reve-
nue., has placed the tax at 80 pesos for
100 kilos, equaling about 220 pounds
This has been modified by the Governor
General by 6 pesos per pound. This
change will lead to increased snug
Cling, at which the Chinese are most
adroit. It will be difficult to prevent
this, even with the use of the greatest
vigilance and expense. The officials at
Hongkong derive great revenue from
farming the privilege as was the
practice here.
Manila, Of course, is a very small
portion of the Philippine Islands. or
even of Luzon. No one who has not
gone beyond the limits of the town can
have any idea of the wealth and re-
sources of the country. On September
3D. I went over the line of the Manila
Railway, 123 miles in length, running
northward from Manila. The country
three miles out from Manila is occupied
by the insurgents for the whole dis