Lewiston evening teller. (Lewiston, Idaho) 1900-1900, 1900-09-22
THEIR REPORT
Continued from Page /.

the Americans III tue ~ehounueo oeiiei
.hot their people are not now fit for self.
government, and reintroduce the same
on,ression and corruption which existed
IN all the provinces under the Malolos in.
.rrgent government during the eight
..,ortbs of its control. The result will be
f,c,;oral strife between jealous leaders,
oh.os and anarchy, and will require and
;,s,;fv active Intervention of our govern
,raut or some other. Business, inter
runted bv war, is much improved as peace
sx,ends, but investment of new capital
&c retarded by doubt concerning the pol
;cv of the United States. In Negros more
sugar is in cultivation than ever before.
New forestry regulations give impetus to
timber trade and reduce the high price
Of lumber. Cultivation of rice in some
proyinces is retarded by loss of draf. cat
lie through disease and war. Meat is
now IS cents pound.
SIGNS OF PROSPERITY.
Custom collections for the last quarter
were so per cent greater than ever in the
Spanish history, and August collections
show further increase. The total revenue
for the some period was one-third greater
than that of any quarters under Spain,
though the Cedula tax, the chief source
OF Spanish revenue, has been practically
abolished. The economy and efficiency
of the military government have created
surplus fund of IS, 900, 900, Mexican,
which should be expended in much need
ed public works, notably the improve
ment of Manila harbor, the conditions of
which, with consequent delay and ex-
pense in landing goods, is a greater EN-
barge on business than many years pro-
hibitory tariff rates inherited from Spain
and still operative. With proper tariff
and vicilities Manila will become the
great port of the Orient. The Spanish
revenue laws, throwing the burden of
taxation on the poor, give the wealthy
comparative immunity. The tariff now
prevents importations from America of
canned goods, machinery and other
necessaries. The Spanish inland revenue
is chiefly derived from poll tax. tax on
small businesses, fishing licenses and the
like, but no land tax. We are formu-
lating laws remedyihg these evils and
are confident that, by judicious custom
laws, reasonable advalorem land tax
aud proper corporation franchise tax,
the imposition of no greater rate than
that in the average American state will
give less annoyance and with peace will
produce revenue sufficient to pay the ex-
penses of an efficient government, in
Guiding military and constabulary. The
bad condition of the currency binders
business
RECOMMENDATIONS.
Steps should be taken towards the early
resumption of the gold standard. We are
preparing most stringent civil service
law giving equal opportunities to Fill
pnos and Americans, with preference for
the former where the qualifications are
equal, to enter at the lowest rank and by
promotion reach the head of a depart
ment. Municipal corporations are being
organized on popular basis. Much
needed reform i'll civil and criminal pro
cedure, the criminal code and the judicial
system favored by the Filipino bar, will
De elected. Railroad franchises should
al once be granted. Railroads will revo-
iuuonize life aud business in these won
uerfully rich beautiful and healthful
tropical islands. Forty-fve miles of rail
road extension, under negotiation, will
give access to a large province rich in
valuable minerals, mile high, with
strictly temperate climate, curing tropi-
cal diseases. Railroad construction will
give employment to many and communi-
cation will furnish market to vast
stretches of rich agricultural lands. The
calls from all parts of the islands for pub
nc SCHOOLS school supplies and English
'eachers are greater than the commission
e'h provide until comprehensive school
system Is organized. Night schools for
eaching English to adults are being
s''aoi'shed in response to the popular de-
A'ahu The native children show apti-
'uue In learning English. Spanish is
spoAeh by small fraction of the people.
N"u IN few years the medium of COM
unication in the courts, public Offices
anu between different tribes will be Eng
" he creation of a central govern
en' within Is months like that of Porto