The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1900-11-24

II large number Of worthy people
who needed the work on account of.
reyerses suffered during the insur-
rection, and that the building of
highways was as necessary for the
government as for the people them
selves. This explanation was made
in public and for the benefit Of the
people at large, for it should be un-
derstood that the session Of the
commission was public, and that
the president Of the commission an
nounced at the outset that discus
sion of all bills would be allowed.
As a matter of fact, but a small
number ofpeople were in attendance.
AT the same time, the spirit mani
tested by the commission was APP
preciated by the press and the peo-
pie, and the hearing Of the bill
above mentioned ELECTED from one
Of the Filipinos present the sugges-
ton that if it were provided that
the country people would be given
an opportunity to work ON the
roads during their idle months,
when they were not occupied with
harvesting, the beneficial results
would be greater than if no selec-
ton of time and season were made.
Another bill passed by the commits
sion appropriated $4,000 or so
much thereof as might be necessary
for the purpose of making a survey
to ascertain the most advantageous
route for a railroad into the noun
tains of Benguet, Island of Luzon,
and the probable cost thereof.
The measures passed are signifi-
cant at once of the attitude of the
commission toward the people, and
OF the policy to be followed in deal
ing with conditions in the islands.
1t is intended, while caring for the
interests of the government in the
important matter of improved com,
munications, to initiate system o.
material development. In explain
ing this bill one of the members
of the commission said that it wa:
but preliminary to measures calcu
lated to open UP rich country ant
the expenditure by private cor
poration of considerable money ii
/ railroad construction. It is inter
esting to note, in connection will
this, that the Director of the Phil
ippine Posts reports that in thu
branch of the service under hi
charge: a gratifying degree of prog
ress has been made. The close o
the year finds the postal service il
the islands with a handsome sur
!. plus to its credit for the seconC
time in its life of twenty-fou
months. The revenues from al
sources, excluding fees from tn
money-order service, since May I
1899, were $rI7,848 and the ex
. penses $98.22o, which left sur
plus of $1e,628. Owing to tn
stamps sent out to the soldiers from
the United States and the collection
of postage on soldiers letters o.
delivery, the receipts do not shov
the actual amount of mail handled
from 81 to az per cent. of the let
tiers dispatched being one of thos
classes. It is recognized that tn
success and economical administra
I ton of the service was largely du
to the cooperation of Generals OH
and Macarthur, through who's
good Offices thirty-seven militar,
post offices were operated withou
expense to the postal service, Will
yielding $1,I7s in revenue. AS
is, the postal service has since ii
institution paid for itself, and that
the director says, without sacrifc
> ing efficiency to a false economy.
-BradStreet.