The Washington times., 1901-12-01
THE MANAGEMENT
OF COLONIES.
A Pamphlet on the Subject TO be
Officially Issued.
HOW FOREIGN COUNTRIES Do
The Chief of the Bureau of Statistics
Has Prepared an Exhaustive study
of Colonial Administration, After
Much Research and Travel


of a publication which will be issued b.
The Treasury Bureau Of Statistics as {
part of the October number Of tn,
Monthly Summary of Commerce and
Finance" 1t is understood to be the
personal work of the chief of the bu'
reau, Mr.. Austin, who recently visited
the capitals of colonial departments OF
the European Governments with the
purpose of obtaining information re-
garding the methods applied in The gov
ernment of colonies.
The work is devoted especially to the
government and development of colonies
in tropical and sub-tropical territory.
and the method by which this relation
ship between temperate zone nations
and tropical areas becomes mutually
beneficial to the people of both COM
munities.
The study which occupies over 400
closely printed pages. is summarized on
single page as follows:
1T may not be improper, in closing
this study of the six great questions into
which the subject at the beginning di-
vided itself, to briefly summarize the
facts developed by the investigation.
Before stating these conclusions, it is
proper to again call attention to the
fact that this study and the conclusions
drawn therefrom relate especially to
conditions in tropical and sub-tropical
colonies. 1t is in colonies of this class
that the people of the United States are
especially interested at the present
time from the practical standpoint. The
conclusions do not relate, therefore. as
a general rule to conditions in the great
self-governing colonies inhabited chiefly
by people of the mother country, such,
for example, as Canada, Australia, and
South Africa.
1T has been assumed in this study
that the chief purpose in the manage
ment of tropical and sub-tropical colo
MES is the development and advance
ment of the people of the colony and
the territory which they occupy, and
that when this is accomplished the re-
suit viii be beneficial to the commerce
of the mother country and the world
through both the increased production
and consumption which will follow such
development of the territories in ques-
ton
1t is along the lines above indicated
that this study has been made and the
conclusions which follow reached.
The Degree of Autonomy.
'l-What share of the government Of
the successfully managed colony
originates at the seat of the home
government and what share in the |
coiony; and by whom and in what
l.. .u.-.s
created?
The general system of government 1
adopted for the colony is determined by /!
action of the Legislative body of the 4
home Government, and when this is
done the conduct of the details is placed
in the hands of a department of the
Government. All nations now attempt I
ing the government Of communities diff
fering in race, customs, and climatic
conditions from those Of the home Gov
ernment. appoint from their own people
a governor and other executive officers.
and these officials. with others named
by the home Government. form the law
making body in the colony, though in
the more advanced colonies a popular
branch Of the law-making body is also
elected by the people of the colony. The
more important of the laws and regu-
lations formed by the lawmaking body
are submitted TO the home Government
and are subject to its final action, but
the details of framing and administer
ing the laws and regulations are left to
the representatives in the colony of the
home Government
''2-What share of the administra-
tion within the colony is conducted
by represen tatives of the home Gov
eminent. and what share is en-
trusted to the natives in cunjunc
tion with the representatives in the
colony Of the home Government?
''The general administration Of gov
ernment in the colony is performed by
the Governor and other executive off
GERS. and the law making is by the leg
isiative bodies above described: hut the
details Of administration are largely
carried out by the natives, in conjunc-
ton with. and under the supervision Of,
the direct representatives, Of the home
Government Local and municipal leg.
islatiOn and administration are left to
the natives wherever practicable. and
they are encouraged TO assume the du-
ties Of administering law and order and |
improving and developing the commun-
ity }
W nat steps are taken and methods !
applied to improve the material. I
mental, and moral condition Of the /
people Of the colony?
THE first asd most important steps
after the development Of order are the ,,
creation Of roads railways. telegraphs, Z
steamship lines, AMI other methods of {
and transportation by
which the natural products of the col !
ony can be sent to the markets Of the !
world. where they will find ready sale. J
With this the native finds his earning [
power increased, and with this increase !
Of earnings comes increased desire for
the comforts and conveniences Of civili- !
zatiOn, which In turn are followed by s
better homes, education, newspapers, / 5
schools. churches. and increased pow c
srs of self-goyernment. The public 3
works for the development and inn /
proYement Of the colony are usually I
:reated with funds raised by local tax
ition or loans based upon future reve- l
lues, and not with funds supplied by =
he home Government, nor dos the n
nome Government usually make itself u
'esponsible for the loans raised by the {
'olony. 9
Developing the Industries. Il
a. I -