The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-26
THE TAFT COMMISSION
The Repert on Philippine Affairs
Transmitted tc Congress.
President sIckinIcy's letter Urges
ate Wants of ths IsInnds-Militnry
and Naval Expenditures Alcne
AMOUNT 10 100000 Per Month.


Amount 10 100000 Per Month
The President yesterday transmitted t.
Congress the report of the Taft Commits
sion concerning affairs in the Philippines
The report embraces a great variety o
subjects. covering. all questions which hav,
arisen regarding the government of thu
islands. The matter is arranged system
atically under various heads, among
which are revenues, expenditures, anC
surplus, education, the friars and theil
relations 10 the American authority
banks, harbor Improvements, native troop.
and police, forestry. legal procedure. pub
lie health, internal taxation, Benguet as
health resort, mineral wealth and min
ing. civil code. highways and railroads
reorganization of the courts markets fol-
American products. civil provincial gov
eminent at Benguet. public lands. and a
scheme of civil service.
In transmitting the report of the Com
mission the President sent the follow ing
letter
ITO the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatiYes:
For the Information of the Congress
and with view to such action on its
part as Il may deem wise and appro-
Pirate, l transmit a report OF the Sec
retary of War made to me under date
of January "a, 1901, containing the re-
ports Of the Taft Commission. its sew
eral acts Of legislation. and other i'm
portant information relating TO the
conditions and immediate wants of the
Philippine Islands. / earnestly rec
ommend legislation underNwhich the
government of the island may have
authority to assist in their peaceful
Industrial development in the direc-
tons Indicated by the Secretary of
war WILLIAM MCKINLEY
Executive Mansion Jan 2s. 1901
The following letter from Secretary
Root TO the President. explaining the
Philippine Commissions report. was also
sent TO Congress:
To the President: | beg leave TO SUD
plenent my annual report Of November
80. 1900, by transmitting a report made by
tne philippine Commission oa that
aa'e. but only recently received at ihe
war department. Al the same time I wish
TO call attention 10 some conditie-s .viet-
ing in the Philippine islands which in7i-
cate ihat The development OF that country
along the lines Of peaceful Industrial
progress now requires the exercise OF pow
efs or eiy,l goveTHmclt not vested in this
department, CT ia yoa as Military Com
mander. but requiring a grant Of authority
from Congress.
The commission gives a very gratify-
ing account Ci the progress made in the
paeifeation Of the country and the gradual
frr
NATION received subsequent to the date Of
the report ooshrms the favorable snticipa-
tons of the commission
Secretary Root supplements ID his letter
Win communications from President Taft
and other members Ct the commission. set
tlng ferih recent Developments in the
Philippines.
Taking up the s1biect Of revenues. ex
penditures. and surplus. the report says:
increase CT Island Revenues
The reyenues OF the islands have iE-
creased 50 remarkably under the military
government that with the result of the
election and the assurance which it gives
TO the continuance Of the present policy,
ii may be reasonably prophesied shat the
income for each month will exceed TWO
millions Of dollars, Mexican. For the
month OF October ii exceeded this amoun;
by two hundred thousand dollars. Mexican
During the present month and the two
following months it will proba bly, fall be-
low the two million mark by two or three
hundred thousand dollars, but in the
months thereafter there is the strongest
probability of an increase. The present
ordinary expenditures OF the Government
aggregate more than one million one hun
dred thousand dollars, Mexican This
amount VIII increase in the future as the
civil service is enlarged and as the mill
tary officers and soldiers who are now de-
tailed for the discharge of civil duties
shall be supplanted by civilians whose
salaries must be paid out of the public
funds. The commission has made one
large appropriation of one million dol
lars, gold, for the building of roads under
the supervision of the Military Governor.
and another appropriation OF ene million
dollars. gold, for carrying on the improve
ments Of the Manila Harbor works. The
Improvement OF the harbor can probably
not be completed without the expenditure
OF at least million and a half more, gold
The appropriation which the general ST.
perintendent Of public instruction has rec
commended for school purposes for the
coming year from the insular treasury
will amount to more than one million f1ve
hundred thousand dollars In gold.
There is now on hand In the Treasury
NOT coFereu pF appropriations SZ,5J0. .O9o in
gold. and this sum VIII increase for the
present at the rate Of not less than $780,
coo month, If only the ordinary appre-
priatioas are made.
The Military and Naval Expenses.
Zone very serious question which we
desire to present TO you and upon which
We have already had some correspondence,
Is whether The policy should not now be
adopted OF sper 1ing nothing from the pub
lic civil funds fer purely military or naval
purposes. Tie amount spent FOR purely
military and naval purposes In these Isl
ands from ,fIly to September Is is ap-
$500. 900. Mexican, or about
sl60 00o gold a month. In view OF the
very great burden which viii he placed
lpon the public civil funds the moment ?
satisfactory school system is inaugurated
and the needs for internal improvements
are supplied the revenue. unless materi- !
ahy increased, win be insufficient We |
taink # much better policy that every |
thing that comes from the Islands to the
public civil funds should be expended for (
TO PREVENT THE GRIP