The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-01

john addressed letter to Representative
Long, of Kansas, setting forth what had
been done by the War Department to-
ward opening the hemp ports in the Phil
ippine islands. The latter contained some
errors made by the compiler in tabulat-
ing the figures. At the request of the de-
partment the letter was returned and yes
terday another letter was sent Mr.. Long,
in which the errors were corrected, ex-
ceptions having leen taken by hemp i'm
porters and manufacturers to the state
ments made in the first letter. The cor
rected letter. i'll part, follows:
."rhe correspondence with the military
governor of the Philippines, herewith in
closed, shows that no effort has been
spared by this department. in urging the
importance of opening and garrlSoning the
hemp ports, and that the only reason for
the delay in opening such ports has been
the existing exigencies, the hemp question
and similar matters being forced to remain
subject to the conditions and necessities
incident TO the military situation.
'Concernng the quantity of hemp ex-
ported and remaining on hand in the Phil
ippines, major General Otis, in his annual
report, says, that for the year ending Aug.
81, 1899, the same quantity of hemp has
been taken from the shipping ports dur
ing that year as in the preceding year and
that there still remains in the Islands con-
siderable quantities OF hemp. In this con-
nection it should be stated that the ship
ping ports above mentioned are Manila,
Iloilo and Cebu, no other ports being
opened. The date OF occupation of the port
of Manila was Aug. 13, 1888; of Iloilo Feb
Is, 1899, and of Cebu Feb. p, 1899, since
which dates these ports have been open.
up to the present time this department
has received complete reports from the
collectors of customs at Manila and Cebu
concerning hemp exports as follows: From
Manila for the nonths of July, August,
September and October, 1899, the total eX-
ports of hemp were 19,302. tons, of which
amount 10,053 tons were exported to the
United States. ReuortS from the collector
Of Cebu for the months of May to October
1899, inclusive, show the total exports of
hemp from that port to be 1880 tons, of
which 3,9o7 tons were exported TO the
United States. The total number of tons
exported from these two ports for the
period named were oO.l12 tons, of which
amount 10,Joo tons were exported to the
United States. Using these figures a
basis, and in the absence of other informa-
ton, the estimated exports of hemp from
the Philippine islands for the one year of
American occupation will approximate
$1,000 tons, of which amount 29,000 tons
should be accredited to the United States
and $1,000 tons to other countries. This esti-
mate places the estimated exports of hemp
to the United Staes for one year of Ameri-
can occupation at about 1900 tons less
than the exports of 1897. This is accounted
for by the fact hat there have been opened
for shipment only three ports of the Phil
ippine islands,
Inns department has been repeatedly re-
quested during the past year by hemp
importers, manufacturers and brokers to
open the so-cailed hemp ports in the Phil
ippines and, as stated herein, every effort
has been made by the War Department in
the past and will be in the future to COM
ply with these requests where compatible
with the military situation.