The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1900-05-21
ABUSES AT MANILA
lniquitOus Concessions That Throttle
Trade.
Landing Privileges Held by an Un-
serupulous Monopoly That fs Ac-
cumulating a Fortune.

; in our new possessions:
. MANILA, p. l., April 30.-One Of IN
a unfortunate things in connection wit
the requirement Of the Philippines un
der the provisions OF the treaty Of Pari
J is the clause which recognizes ever
I concession granted by the Spanish gov
eminent 10 It's favored citizens. Thes
concessions, most OF which are monopo
lies extending over a period Of from 2
, to 80 years, cover almost every profita
Bile public franchise and many privat
affairs.
Perhaps the most fragrant and unjus
is concession now supposedly owneC
by asyudicate Of English and Americans
the privilege OF "Grrastre and condition,
which is nothing more nor less than the
unloading from cargo boats all dutiabl,
wares and merchandise and then con
duction by means Of tramway 20 the
Government customs warehouses. The
unloading plant consists Of three steam
cranes, located on the bank OF the Pasp
River, directly in front OF the Custom
House, and about 100 feet distant. Mer.
chandise Is lifted perhaps six feet and
landed on the tramway cars, which are
pushed by hand OF handled by dimin
utive locomotive distance OF from 200
TO 500 feet. For this service the conces-
sionaries receive cents per 100 kilos, or
about 80 cents per long ton. The labor
employed in this work is paid not 10 ex +.
coed 80 cents Mexican per day per man,
so that In itself is extremely profitable.
Every ton Of goods imported into the
Philippines must pay this tax. The
ownership Of this concession throws into
the hands Of the syndicate practically all
OF the cargo boat service; that is from
the ships to the shore, since there are
no wharves except in the river, and
ocean. going vessels drawing over nine
feet cannot enter the river. As con-
sequence, all freight is discharged into
lighters and towed into the river, a dis
lance probably OF two miles. For this
service the concessionaries make min
imum charge Of 1850 per ton. This
same outfit have the bonded warehouse
privilege, and altogether are enjoying
nice fat thing, and they have a cali upon
the business, as their own cargo boats
receive quick dispatch, while rival boats
are unloaded at leisure. Inasmuch as
cargo boat carrying 25 10 40 tons are
worth from $50 TO 800 per day, the de.
lay makes IL impossible for others 10 en-
gage In the business at competitive rates
This concession was formerly the prop
erty Of Spaniard, but his good thing
was soon discovered and he was fright.
ened off the nest. Many rumors are
rife In Manila as 10 who is the actual
owner of the property, and some guesses
have been made which strike in high |
places. This little tramway, with liz
handful OF Of cars and engines, and its
one quarter mile Of track, Is probably |
the best paying rail property In the
world In proportion 10 its size.
A concession recently created IL a bag.
gage transfer company, and all baggage |
from steamers must be handled by this
company.
The brewery in Manila also claims and
adyertises ian exclusive privilege" for
a term OF years. A Chinaman possesses
the sole privilege 20 import opium. A
German has the sole right 10 manuiact
nro matches.
Tho hcTelephonecompany and the street.
,ar company are well fortified, and their
service is 90 wTetched that no American
would give the reader any
dea Of the real situation.
The cable company possesses the sole
light TO lay cables on the islands for
period Of 40 years, aud even deputies
'AAN y iAkilN W Nuulltfl lilt
Stands with cables for military service.
very curious incident in this con.
lection was the destruction OF the cable
hip Hooker, which was run ashore in
broad daylight Just as she was leaving
he harbor TO commence work. The
Hooker was in command of civilian ,
'apital, and his course was inexcusable
rom any standpoint of marine error.
IL was also the custom OF the Span I
ards t0 sell the privilege OF collecting
ertain taxes, a practice which has been
ontlnued To some extent by the Ameri.
ans
Some months ago, an enterprising
american concern engaged in importing '
rozen meat from Australia. and fitted
p several meat markets, stocked them !.
With meat aud commenced business. A
cry courtly Spaniard walked into the v
one day aud informed [
hem that as he held the concession
lr collecting taxes on all meat sold, he
q should like 10 arrange for a weekly x
ccOunting. The tax was mere trihe &
cents pound. IL is needless to say
hat the business was OIL aud the mar. 4.
cts closed the next day.
Talk about American trusts Manila p
tied up and will be until We bounce p
he whole Quit OF concessionaires. s
'arcely any Of whom have rendered any a
lequate equivalent for the mOnopoles :,
hich they control. Bribery aud official II
'scality are responsible for most OF Il
lem.
so, also, are maAy Of the provisions
the customs tarih. Prohibitiye du.
es are fixed t1 protect these manuiac. q
ring monopolies, and We are brayely "a
iiorclng them, The brewery has a pro.
ctlon to the extent oi a. 30 Mexican,
" barrel, and glass Of American beer
lls Tor 40 cents Mexican, while the
cal beer retalls at one half this h
mount
The monastic Oplers have had a mon. '"
'oly on marriages, births aud deaths
9 centuries, and spanish law does not sI !
yogniEe ceremony performed by -.
her than iriar or Catholic priest,
III American officials sustained them W.
lti quite recently. Now, however. n o'
possible 10 be- born and married with
y pangling up 10 the church, but the
nm tax Of So Is still In vogue and
'ur friends must pay rent for burial ol
ACC or you 70 10 the bone pile. Thi, -
Tin tax doesn't pay Tor the coffin or M
q ceremony. Bless your soul. no N
only gives you the right TO wear one o.
The Better Part nh