The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-12-24
TO OPEN ISLAND MINES
PrOspectOPs and Others Gather
in Philippines.
NEW LAWS ARE NEEDED
REPORTS MADE ON THE GEN
EEAL CONDITIONS.

! Washington, Dec 23.-The war de-
/ partment has made public series of
reports made to General Macarthur by
the subordinate officers constituting the
heads of the various bureaus and de-
parments which have attended to the
civil affairs in the Philippines for the
past year.
Colonel CrOwder thoroughly endorses
the recommendation of Lieutenant
Burnett, il charge Of the mining bu-
reau, looking to a thorough change in
the mining laws He says that these
are extremely mbersome and that
once they are brought up to American
standards the mineral condition of the
country soon would be enormously Op-
Grated, as experienced prOspectOrs and
competent mining engineers now in the
Islands stand ready to undertake the
work of exploitation
The report says q stable currency has
not been used in the Philippines, and
Mexican dollars were for a few days
evenly exchanged. This was termfn-
ated by a provisional order by the gov
eminent by which it was arranged 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
20 the desirability of continuing this
arrangement.
Customs Are Increased.
The customs service is discussed at
some length in the report and it is
stated that there does not seem to be
any present necessity for any increase
in the number Of ports of entry. Atten-
ton is directed to the marked increase
in the customs receipts under American
mana cement This is explained in part
nv he ri u Ia 1rrf
of the imports came from Spain and
paid no duties. Also. the American
system of collection is said to tend to
honest collections The new tariff
adopted for the Island is set out in de-
tail. In almost every case specific du-
ties are fixed, following the esta blished
system in the islands, which il was be
Heved 10 be dangerous to change to the
ad valorem system
Favors Contract Labor.
The extension of the United States
emigration laws 10 the island without
change TO meet the local /
conditions is said to have proven of /
doubtful eNpediency- and especially 50 /
with regard TO the contract labor law. |
II is essential. says the report for the /
mercantile interests TO secure en-
pIoyees from abroad under contract. /
else business viii suffer. These labor
erS do not come into competition with /
the native IeSluelllS- more IMAM Z5,OUO Z
Chinese entered and left the islands 1
last year
Oni- one-ninth Of the land in the I
archipelago has been brought under I
cultivation and there is no land tax
Regarding the judicial department. il +
early was found to be necessary to /
provide a system which would be di- /
vested OF those harsh and oppressive 4
features so much in conflict with Amer
lean standard. It was impossible on 4
account Of lack of time to supply a new
system. SO some changes regarded as /
We're made by a general !
order 1t appears that the operations
)f the law as thus qualified have been
satisfactory in securing to defendants
m criminal cases the fundamental
rights Of Angio-SaXOn criminal law.