Evening star., 1900-12-24
PROGRESS IN PHILIPPINES
WHAT THE ISLANDS GAIN UNDER
AMERICAN RULE.
Col. CrOwder's Summary of the Rec
ports of Various Military
Of1cers.

The department has made public a series
of reports made to Gen. Macarthur by the
subordinate officers constituting the heads
OF the various bureaus and departments
which have administered the civil affairs Of
the Philippine Islands during the last year.
These are closely but sufficiently summar-
lied in the report Of Lieut.. Col. Crowder
39th Infantry secretary to the military
governor.
The Currency.
Under the head of Treasury Departments
it Is said that the problem of securing q
stable currency has never approached a
definite solution in the Philippines, though
1t had not pressed for immediate settlement
until very recently. when United States and
Mexican dollars were for a few days evenly
exchanged This was terminated by pro-
Vlsional order whereby the government ar.
ranged to reimburse the banks for any
losses they might sustain through paying
out Mexican silver for United States cur
rency from disbursing officers and trade
Doubt is expressed, however. as to the de-
srabillty OF continuing this arrangement.
Increase In Customs.
The customs service is discussed at some
length. and it is stated that there does not
seem to be any present necessity for an in
crease in the number of ports of entry. At
tehtlon Is directed to the marked increase
IN the customs receipts under American
management This is explained in part by
the fact that formerly d large part of the
imports came from Spain and paid no du.
ties. Also the American system of collec-
tlon Is said to tend to honest collections
The new tariff adopted for the island is SET
our III detail: In almost every specific
duties are fixed. following the established
system IN the islands. which it was believed
10 De dangerous 70 change to the ad valo-
rem system.
The hmm grafton Laws
The extension of the United States immi.
grafton laws to the island without substan.
tial change to meet the local conditions fs
said to have proven of doubtful expediency.
ana especially so with regard to the con.
tract labor law. 1t Is essential for the mer-
cahlIe interests to secure employees from
abroad under contract, else business will
suHer These laborers do not come into
Compellton with the native residents More
than 1000 Chinese entered and left the
islands last year Only one-ninth of the
land in the archipelago has been brought
under cultivation, and there is no land tax.
The Judicial System.
Regarding the judicial department, it
was found to be early necessary to pro-
VIDE system which would be diyested OF
those harsh and oppressive features SO
much In conflict with American standards.
1t was impossible for lack of time to SUM-
ply an entirely new system, so some
changes regarded as indispensable were
made by a general order. It appears that
the operations Of the law as thus qualified
have been satisfactory in securing to de-
PENDANTS In criminal cases the fundamental
rights of Anglo-Saxon criminal law. The
writ or habeaS corpus has been frequently
invoked. and under Its speedy operation,
nearly 100 prisoners, the heritage of Span
lsh regime, have been liberated from un.
warranted detention.
The Mining Laws.
Colonel Crowder thoroughly endorses the
recommendation of Lieutenant Burrtt in
charge Of the mining bureau, looking to a
thorough change in the mining laws He
says that these are extremely cumbersome
and that once they are brought up to
American standards, the mineral condition
OF the country Will soon be enormously inn
proved. as experienced prospectors and
Islands stand ready to undertake the work
of exploitation.
The Island Of NeErOs.
Colonel Crowder closes with a summary
Of the report of General J. F. Smith. MILL
tary governor of Negros, showing that this
island, which has had under the entire
period Of American control, a substantially
autonomous form Of government, has been
in marked and favorable contrast with the
other islands. The attitude Of the people
Is highly favorable toward the United
States, and the largely autonomous govern
ment which they now enjoy seems to be
their fitting reward, and the people are nat
urally desirous that 1t should be continued,
But 1t will be impossible to discriminate In
fevor Of Negros in the scheme of govern-
ment to be ultimately adopted, 50 that com.
plications are expected not easy of ad-
iuStment.