Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-04
IN THE PHILIPPINES.
The Military Situation Takes a Turn
for the Better.

| for the Better.
DIR. Isaac W. Brewer Of Washington. in a
! letter from Mangatarem to a friend in this
| city, gives some interesting facts In re-
gard to conditions in the Philippine Islands
which have come under his observation.
| He says:
The military situation took decided turn
| for the better during the latter part of
| May. when We ran down several bands of
ladrones, and since that time we have Sc
cured several hundred rifles. either by cap
| ture or surrender: in the latter case $50 is
paid for the weapon. provided it is In good
condition. We have paid out several thou
sand dollars for guns and the natives have
promptly invested in carabao or stock for
! their shops, so the money has been we'll
spent.
Early last month We learned that two
American prisoners were murdered i'm one
OF the barios of this town. and after much
work We have at last located their mur-
uerers and placed them behind the bars
ana commission Is considering their case
AS soon as those men were captured The
rank and file of the natives began to talk
ana We have our hands full investigating
cases OF murder and robbery. | personally
have six murder cases that | am looking
up. Many of the natives are very timiS
and Will talk to me when before others
they are silent.
One evening man whom l employ as
enumeration for the local census came in
and showed me his body, that is all covered
with scars from the stripes given him by
the local presidente during the regime Phil
lpplne. All who were suspected of being
friendly to the Spaniards were placed in
jail and given fifty lashes daily for over a
month One man died from this treatment
Such things are not uncommon over here
suspects are either logged or tied up, all
or which shows that the natives are not
able TO govern themselves, and that our
government must keep strong hand on
local affairs for long time.
Since my last letter We have made a trim
into the forests that cover Mount Lopez
There We found fine timber trees six and
eight feet in diameter and hundred feet
ana over to the first branch Just how
much timber there is we cannot say but
We travelled six hours and had not come to
the end when the trail ran out With few
exceptions the government owns all the
timber. and 1t is hoped that laws to pro-
tect 1t will be passed at an early date be-
fore the iron hand of the lumber man OBJ
tains a grip upon 1t. To clear Lopez would
mean to deprive this section of its water
supply during the dry season. General
Macarthur has issued general order No.
~. which deals with this question, but I
fear with the passage of his government
1t may be changed. According to his order
there are 3S5 different kinds Of timber here
which are classified into six groups, there
being twelve of the first class. On my re-
turn l hope to bring with me some samples
Of the woods which grow In this vicinity
and as many others as can be obtained.
Besides my other collections / am now
taking a census of the town, which, al
though not uniform with the national GEN.
sus. which is not taken over here, will show
many facts of value. such as the total
population, number of persons to a house,
occupations. besides which hope to have
two years vital statistics.
Our friend the presidente of Calasino
was badly defeated In the recent election
by a rather ordinary native. 1 understand
that Sison became unpopular because of
the reforms we instituted through him. all
of which shows the smallness of the native
mind As a rule the average Filipino only
looks to the present, and he can see no
reason why his yard should be kept clean
or the roads and bridges kept In good
order. All such work sadly encroaches
upon his sissta. OF which he q very fond.