The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-02-09
MONEY FOR THE PHILIPPINES.
GOV. TAFT PAYORS OUR GOLD
DOLLAR STANDARD.
He Proposes 10 Purchase Only the Asri'
cultural lands Of the frfars TOO
Large Fees ESacted BY Priests for
Marriages. Bsptisms and DEANS

Feb. SIN continuing
his statement before the Senate Philip
pines Committee this morning Gov. TAFT
submitted a telegram which he had received
nom Acting Governor Wright, saying
that the sugar and tobacco interests Of the
islands had. In q public session of the COM
mission. favored a tariff reduction OF at
least rs per cent, regarding a reduction
of so per cent. as almost prohibitory; that
the price OF sugar Il now very low and the
European market very dull on account
OF ~overproduction Tho reduction OF
rs per cent. on sugar and tobacco would be,
the Acting Governor says, a measure OF
relief and Of excellent political effect.
Speaking Of the property Of the fiars
in the islands. Gov. Taft said that what the
Philippine Commission proposed to pur-
chase was the agricultural property OF the
fiiars. Possibly II the friars were to leave
the islands, the commission would be glad
70 purchase the house in which they lived
IN the walled city Of Manila. The property
IN the walled city was very largely Govern.
ment property and church property.
To an inquiry by Mr.. Proctor as TO where
the friars had got the money to buy the
lands in the first instance. Gov. Taft taid
that some Of It had come to them by devise.
and that many of the parish priests had be-
come rich through the large fees which
they charged for church fu~nctions-such
a. marriage. baptism and death.
The chairman CAir. LODGE remarked that
In Porto Rico those ceremonies had been
largely abandoned by the people on account
OF the enormous charges.
THAT is undoubtedly true Gov. Taft
assented. -The cost OF marriage in the
Philippines has led to the establishment
of illicit relations between men and women
The Governor went on to discuss the
questions Of banking and coinage. On
the latter point he said tina he felt confident
hat the plan recommended by the COM
mission-thai is, the establishment OF the
gold dollar standard of the United States
and the guarantee Of the silver coin Of the
islands-would be the proper thing: He
was asked whether he meant that the United
States Government should guarantee the
silver coinage Of the islands, and he said
no, that he meant that the Philippine Gov
eminent should do so.
H. disapproved of the plan Of Represen-
tauve Hill OF. Connecticut, for United
States coin and money. That, he said.
would increase the value of the peso
so per cent, and would So unsettle trans
actions as TO lead to disaster. The value
of the peso had already been doubled. and
10 double IL again would nave the effect OF
quadrupling wages ia less than -four years.
Gov. Taft argued that the Philippine
should have authority to grant
franchises for street railroads and tele-
graph and telephone companies. The fran
chises should not be perpetual, but for
Twenty-Five or fifty years.
Mr.. Proctor inquired about timber in
the islands, and the Governor said that al
there was magnificent timber
Of all kinds there the price OF timber in
Manila was almost ~prohibitory. The only
building timber that could be used was
timber not susceptible TO the ravages Of
ants, which went through ordinary
timber as II 1t were cheese. In temperate
zones the timber wou be most ornamental.
As to the public lands in the islands,
the Governor said that the commission
recommended the sale of lands in large
so as To attract capital ard develop
the country. In the sugar districts large
were necessary; but they might be
for long periods. The limitation
Of quantity was suggested by the COM
at 100 acres 70 n purchaser.
The committee adjourned till Monday
nj 10 A NJ