The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-04-03
NEEDS OF THE PHILIPPINES.
SETTLED FORM OF GOVERNMENT
THE MOST URGENT.
Operations of the Old Spanish Tar
ms, as Rigidly Enforced by the
Americans, Proving Burdensome
and Relief Is Much Needed.

Correspondence Of the Associated Press.
| MANILA, Feb. 22.-The news that civil
| government is soon to be established in
| the Philippines gives the greatest salts
| faction to all residents. Cablegrams came
last week to two Manila newspapers an
/ nouncing that President Mckinley would
| send a commission TO begin work on some
| substantial form Of government and mod
! ern systems OF laws and taxations. Two
| military censors suppressed the messages,
| but the news was too vitality important TO
| be kept secret and II has spread about
! the city almost as soon as the dispatches
were locked In the censor's desk. About
| the same time, but without knowledge
| that commission was coming, the cham
| Der of commerce cabled to the president
| the following message: -
Respectfully urge Immediately action
| substituting American laws for Spanish,
| reduction where duties are excessive; ad-
| justment of shipping regulations so Amor
| lean vessels may operate I'm coasting
| trade without requiring resident owner
| ship"
Want 1t Speedily.
There is a general desire, based upon
| both commercial and political reasons
| for the speedy establishment OF some
| form of permanent government The View
held by intelligent Eilipinos who have
| held aloof from or have deserted the in
| surrection Is, that the most effective step
| lbWdIu ItStOflnS peace ana prosperity
VIII be to let the people know what Gov
| eminent and what laws they are TO live
under and what voice they are 10 have in
| the conduct OF the new machinery.
Old Spanish Laws IA Handicap.
| 1t is recognized that the greatest hand
| leap to the success OF American rule thus
| far has been the retention of all the old
| Spanish laws in the face OF clamor from
| the foreigners and Filipinos, who expect
| ed immediate and sweeping reforms
| Spanish customs duties on imports and
| exports are still collected; Spanish ship
| ping and port laws are still enforced and
| inequitable and oppressive Spanish taos
| are levied. Residents declare that they
| find the American administration even
more vexatious and hampering 10 bust
ness than the Spanish was. for the reason
| that the American try to enforce by the
| book all laws which they find: whereas,
| during the former regime many OF the
| most unreasonable statutes had fallen
| into disuse Various sorts of petty taxes
| now revived. Natives are brought into
courts and fined for falling to pay taxes
| which they were not aware existed. taxes
| for building nipa huts. for keeping a
| horse or cart. a license for selling fish,
peanuts or sea shells on the street., Or an
impost on each individual Of ths drove
| of useless but cherished dogs which APP
| pertains to every Filipino household:
| While the cedula tax has been reduced
| salaries of 2la per cent, remains; every
| one who conducts business must pay
| higher than ever before, so that the sum
total OF taxation is greater than under
| the Spaniards.
Tariff Revision Much Needed.
The most urgent demand of the business
men Is for tariff revision. The Spanish
tariffs upon imports were almost prohibit
tive against every country except Spain,
whose products were charged only nom
iDal rate. The purpose OF the system Of
Spanish control of commerce was realized,
but the products of Spain could be bought
at reasonable rates.
The American government has abolished
the discrimination In Spain's favor, but
has retained the other rates OF the Span
ish tarir even against goods from the
United States. so that tho cost Of all i'm
ported articles is much greater than be-
fore American control. 1t is significant of
the increase in the tariff that receipts
therefrom have been much greater during
the American occupation than at any time
during Spanish rule. although only two or
three ports outside of Manila have been
open. trade with most Of the interior has
been suspended and supplies for the army
entered free.
Enhanced Cost of Living.
Old residents estimate the general ad-
vance in the cost of living at 800 per cent
Salaries and wages have advanced hardly
more than 80 per cent. and not nearly
the price. OF the neccssaries OF life This
imitation falls particularly hard upon the
salaried employees OF foreign commercial
houses, who are majority OF the foreign
colony. War and tariffs are not altogether
responsible for the costiiness OF living.
because the past years experience has
shown that the proverbial liberality Of
Americans In money matters will bring
American colonies to the American scale
Of prices instead Of giving to the natives
the benefit Of Eastern cheapness The
masses do not stop 10 analyze causes
they only know that with the Americans
IN control everything costs more than
during Spanish days. The dissatisfaction
az business men with the courts is chiefly
based now upon tho retention of Spanish
laws The Philippine Judges have proven
fairly capable men. but Spanish laws are
extremely unpopular even with the Span
iards
Enterprises at Stapdstiii.
Partly on account OF war conditions and
partly on account Of the uncertainty what
legislation congress may enact many en-
terpriscs arc at standstNl The big in
flow OF American capital which WAS cX-
pected has failed 10 appear and Intending
Inv estors Who visit the islands 70 home
20 await Developments A frequent re-
mark among business men IS. we wish
congress would stop talking about the
good government q is going So give the
PHILIPPINES and begin 20 give US some
Of a."