The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-05-10
BLAZING
THE PATH.
HowCiviIRuIeW Was
Organized in
Masbatc.
AN ISLAND OF
SMALL REVENUES
GIimpses Of the Methods Of Com
missioner Taft in Reconstruct
ing the Philippines.
Correspondence of the Associated
Press.)

PreSS.)
PALANOG, Island of Masbate, March
ravages Of the rinderpest had
left the Island of Masbate people in
condition, as the United
States Philippine Commission learned
when they arrived yesterday for the
purpose of organizing a provincial gov
eminent of the three islands of Mas
bate, Ticao and Burias. The chief in
dustry of Masbate has always been
the raising of beef cattle, and in the
ply of meat from that island. Within
the past few months practically all of
the cattle and caribaos on the entire
island had been swept away by the
pest. When the troops of Colonel
Hare's district came to occupy the
town of Palanog, eight months ago, the
inhabitants fed after burning most of
the houses. The little place of about
800 people is recovering very slowly
from these disasters, and more so, as
the people are impoverished on account
of, the cattle misfortunes. There is to
date not a public school in the three
islands. A new one is being built at
Palanog, however, and American
teachers will soon be in charge.
Delegations came to the commission
ers session from all parts of MaSbate.
a few from Ticao, and none from the
rias, to the northward. The men APP
peared to be fairly intelligent, consid-
ering their comparative isolation, but
were rather hopeless about any pros
pect of immediate improvement In
their business conditions. The only in
surgents remaining in these islands are
a few detached bands of ladrones and
federal party branch, recently or
gained.
President Taft, on behalf of the rep
resentatives of the Uniteds States gov
eminent, made an explanatory address
which, except in his references to the
poverty of Masbate, was similar to
those made at all points visited.
Bonificio Serrano, candidate for gov
ernor, addressed the commission, say
ing that although there was plenty OF
land in MaSbate, it was not sufficient
ly cultivated to be able to meet the
necessities of the proposed provincial
government. He declared that II the
people were taxed on the land now, or
shortly, they would fail to raise money.
Said he: 1.-THE owners of the land only
raise sweet potatoes enough to eat,
and there are some few rice paddles"
Judge Taft asked: DO not the pri-
vate lands have values? What is good
cattle land worth? 2"
Serrano answered.: Good situated
and well conditioned land is worth
about three pesos per hectare. A
fourth or fifth of the land of this ISL
and is private holdings, mostly pasture
land. There is little private wood land,
and very little cocoanut raising, most
- L. srl~
Responding to questions, Serrano
said:
Before the pest cattle were the
standard product Of the islands, $4,000
to $4,000 worth being shipped annually.
A tax was levied in the Spanish time
on each head shipped to Manila; also.
on shipments Of copra. The average
value of the cattle placed on board
was about $40, Mexican money. Three
fourths of the cattle are now dead.
and the rest affected"
All the testimony on the subject of
mems wages placed that at rs to SO
cents Mexican per day, and food. Po-
month.
Responding to questions, Serrano
said that his people did not expect to
attain their former condition of pros
perity for ten years. He acknowledged
that the timber was a considerable as
good prices; also, that cocoanut trees
and tobacco grew fairly well, but he
said, these had been planted but little.
The alleged mineral wealth of MaSbate
had never yet been really exploited.
although a few Englishmen were min
ing for gold in the northern part.
The presidents of all the towns rep
resented addressed the committee as
called upon, all agreeing that the low
est salaries possible should be paid the
provincial officers for the present, and
that the capital should be fixed at
Palanog. All displayed a singular ig-
about Burias. The commits
sioners questioned whether Burias
ought not be annexed to a southern
Luzon province, but Masbare and Til
Gao were unanimous for including Bu-
rias with the province or Masbate,
contending that the trade OF Burias,
though small, was rather with the ISL
of Luzon, and that 1t was in the in
terest of the Burians to be Joined with
other smaller islands. It was conSe-
quently so ordered.
After long private conference of
the commissioners, President Taft an
that there had been consid-
cradle difficulty in adjusting some of
the provisions Of the general provin-
cial bill to this province, on account
of the conditions Of its diminishing
revenue. A return of prosperity. how
ever, would later justify new arrange
ment. The expense Of salaries of all
the provinces heretofore organized
We're upward Of $1,000, but in Masbate
they would be made half that amount.
The capital of the province was locat-
ed at Palanog, which town was de-
creed to be hereafter known as Mas.
bate. Bonifacio Serrano was appoint
ed Governor. and George Landers. OF
New York, soldier, supervisor, at
salaries Of $720 each. Lieutenant Chas.
Snyder. Of the Twenty-seyenth In
fantry, was appointed treasurer. The
salary Of treasurer was nxed at 81. 200,
the appointee for the time being ee-s
ceiving his pay from the United STATES
government as an army officer. Iff'fhe
interest of economy the governor was
required to perform the secretary's
duties, and the fiscal OF Roubion
province was required to also perform
similar duties for Masbate for 5000 ex-,
ira compensation and expenses. A
committee was appointed to reorganize
the municipalities and order elections,