The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-09-19


Taft commission, non-partisan body
carefully selected for their special
qualifications. and the presidents In
structions to this commission make one
of the few epoch marking state papers
that figure in the history OF our coun-
try.
"The spoils system was rlgidly barred
from the island. The fifth act passed
by the commission provided for thor
ough and complete civil service IN
which proven merit was the only open
sesame to position or advancement. As
far as possible natives were employed
and the Americans who secured posi-
tlons under the insular government
were given to understand that an Inn
portant part of their duties was to train
natives to perform the work at pres
ent in charge of Americans.
"A careful system of accounting was
established. based upon the experience
gained in handling of public funds IN
the United States. and the funds have
been carefully safeguurded and ac-
counted for from the date of Occupa-
tion
The harbors of the Philippines are
generally shallow At Manila all the
freight of seagong vessels of over six
teen feet has to be transferred by light
ers between ship and shore for several
miles at great expense and risk. This
has been heavy burden upon COM
mil ha froiuhf rnt tac
between Manila and Hong Kong, a dis
tance OF about seven hundred miles,
are as much and sometimes more than
between Hong Kong and San f ram
cisco, a distance of about eight thou
sand miles.
"The commerce of Manila urgently
demanded the creation of a thoroughly
protected harbor. with a sufficient depth
of water to accommodate the largest
vessels. The Spanish government had
been working at 1t for twenty years be-
fore the cession of the islands to the
United States. and had finished about
30 per cent. of the work. The commits
sion has appropriated $2,00O,0OO to COM
plete the work. and within two years
Manila will have safe, cOmmodiOus
harbor, with modern facilities for hand
ling freight, that will cheaper every
pound of merchandise which enters or
leaves that port.
Nearly every account of the Philip
pines dwells upon the wretched con-
dition of the roads, or, rather, internal
rn, tho vi oa hla
rivers. The commission appropriated
81 900. 000 tMeXicam to be expended in
the construction of highways and
bridges, and this work, as well as the
harbor improvements, has been placed
under the direction of the United States
corps of engineers, and during the year
1901 they built over eight hundred miles
of roads, and built them so soldly as to
resist the tropical rains of those ISL
ands. More public improvements in the
way of works of general utility have
been made during the less than four
years of American control than Spain
in all her centuries of
But this is not all the story. 1T Is
evident that, with their great extent of
fertile land and wide variations of ele-
vation, and therefore of temperature,
in the agriculture of the
islands could be made to the
immense advantage of the people. Their
of cultivation were primitive
and ineffective. The ordinary vege-
tables. Notwithstanding the fertility of
the soil, are small and poor. and many
vegetables are imported from China and
other points. Many grains and vese-
tables unknown to the people could un-
loubtedly be raised. In view of this
a department of agriculture
was organized. and an expert from the
United States department of agricul-
ture was put in charge, experiment sta
lions and farms We're established, seeds
and plants were introduced, and a
series of agricultural primers is being
printed and distributed among the
will aid them in improving their crops
md methods of cultivation. The agri-
cultural possibilities of the Philippines
may be imagined when account is taken
)f the fact that good sugar land in the
Hawaiian islands is worth from $500 to
he island of NeGros. in the Philippines,
ran be bought for from $50 to $50 an
acre. Under intelligent cultivation, with
good seed and improved machinery, the
can and will become the
agricultural Monte Cristo of the world,
able to vie with Java, that has been
such mine of wealth to the govern
nent of Holland"
Moreover, in the way of education,
merican control has done wonders
No less than one hundred and fifty
thousand pupils are now enrolled. Over
ng English in schools under American
teachers, and more are applying than
IAN be cared for at present There are
more people anxious for education than
here are teachers to furnish 1t, and
here are more teachers than there are
hat can be put into extending the
school system and In supplying the
needs of additional natives is promptly
expended.
Another great reform has been
in sanitation, Conditions in
the Philippines We're, when the Ameri-
,ans went there, as they We're in Cuba
dirt and neglect everywhere. Vac
,ination was made compulsory; drain
age was insisted upon; garbage, refuse
md night soil were disnOSed of Hnuse