The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-12-15
ARE CATCHING On
How Natives in Philippines
Adopt American Customs.
PROUD OF THEIR ENGLISH
Inability of the Filipino TO
Master the typewriter

Washington, Dec. 14-FranI N. Higgins
Of the Philippine civil service board, who
has returned TO Washington, speaks very
Interestingly Of the condition of the SER
vice in the islands.
The merit system has been well estab-
hshed there, but Of course is subject to
The usual Inequalities and crudenesses of
such enterprises in their experimental
stage Both whites and natives have
been admitted 10 public employment
through the competitive examinations
The difference between the races appear
most plainly in the character of work
each is naturally best fitted to do The
natives are clever at tasks which are es-
sentiaIly mechanical. Many Of them are
skiiful penmen, for instance. and in
draughtsmsnship they excel. But in mat
ters requiring sound discretion or tech
meal knowledge they are deficient. Their
work Of any sort in which precision is Of
chief account has TO be scrutinized with
especial care. a pretty good evidence
Of the stage of clerical efficiency reached
by the Filipinos is the record Of the exam
inations mp 10 and, including Nay 81 of the
present year. OF those natives who ap-
piled, none passed the stenographer or
typewriters examination, though there
were five applications for the former and
fourteen for the latter; in bookkeeping
there were twenty-seven applicants, but
only one passed. and so on. In the exam
nations corresponding to the basis ex-
aminadons in this practically
nothing more than the three R's"-62
per cent of the applicants passed the low
est grade. 30 per cent the middle, and less
than IS per cent the highest
All the natives take their examinations
in Spanish. that language and English
being the only ones used among the Of
fetal class IN the islands. The native
tongues alone are spoken by large ma
joriIy OF the natives. while the more intel
ligent and better educated know Spanish
as wei. Indeed, the only classes OF ma
tives who could be Of any use in clerical
places understand Spanish, and most Of
these are studying English also with
great industry. All Official records and
proceedings, OF course, are in English,
and our tongue is spreading over the
more thickIy populated parts Of the isl
ands with such rapidity that the coming
generation, If the Philippines continue
under control of the United States. VIII
have good practical command Of it.
Even the newsboys now cry their papers
in the streets of Manila in English; and
the natives generally seem to delight in
practising their linguistic accomplish
rnents on any stranger wearing the ap-
Of A d
they have learned TO say may be Good
morning or How do you do?" The
fears entertained in many quarters a
while ago that the language barrier would
prove an irremediable menace TO the hap
by relations Of the races seem therefore
to have been groundless.
The more ambitious natives, although
taking their examinations in Spanish and
often making a pretty bad fist Of them,
are willing TO work hard to get ahead.
and attend diligently the night schools
established TO prepare candidates for gov
eminent employ. Thus far it has been
Jmpracticable to appoint even the best
Of them to clerical positions of response
bility, the lower places. however, which
they are competent to ill, embrace, in
Guiding Iaborers, about four-Gfths of the
whole number. The pay and privileges
In the civil service at large are graded
according to the respective Importance Of
the places. This is what makes the na-
tives appear TO suffer so by competition
with the whites; but the reason offered
for this Discrimination Is that the white
clerk cannot live as the native does, and
must pay more for everything Some
tally when the drop from the white to
the native salary Is very sudden Not
long ago. for instance. several ex-soldiers
Of the United States army were called
upon TO resign places worth $50 a month
10 make room for native employees at
1880. To the natives this was pretty
large salary. the figures under Spanish
rule ranging from Sc upward; but they
found it hard TO understand why they
should not have $50 month like their
white predecessors. Moreover. the dis
charged men could see no reason why
they should give up their places to ma
tlves who could do the same work no bet
ter Ii was frmitless. perhaps, in their
state Of mind, 10 try TO make them ap-
preciate the fact that the governments
policy is to use Fiipinos fin all the civil
branches Tor which they are competent.
The principle which regulates the differ
eace in salaries holds good also in the
matter Of vacations. Mr. Higgins is Of
opinion that white civil servant who
takes care OF himself has no necessary
difficulty IN living in the Philippines. lie
must adapt himself reasonably to his en-
vironment. and he viii then set along.
But it IS necessary Tor him TO go away
from time TO time and refresh himself
with a taste Of lie in another climate.
The annual leave for the higher grades
Of tire service IS thirty-five days. and it is
cumulative; so that any clerk who feels
that this period viii be too short for his
fuli recuperauon may save up his vaca-
tions for two or three years and so to the
United States fer his recreation. The
favorite vacation countries within easy
reach sre China and Japan. in the lower
grades the vacations have been made
shorter. because the natives Who nh these
places are in the same climate fin which
they have grown ZIP. They need no
change-only a respite from work.
It is not expected that the present in
equahties alon grace lines viii continue
indefinitely. When Fiippinos fiji most OF
the places. there VIII be no ground for ii
70 rest upon The civil service Of the ISL
ands VIII then. moreover. be conducted ar
a minimum cost.
SHIPMENT OF 1900 BALES
Fr0m the Town CT Harrison. over in
she Ha,,. r~s,p4r,,