The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-02-17
SENATE AND !.
PHILIPPINES
Attitude of the Democrats on
the Tariff.
A SOLID PARTY FRONT.
Republicans May Adhere to rs Per
Cent Concession.
FINANCES AND THE SCHOOLS
A SOLID PARTY FRONT.
FINANCES AND THE SCHOOLS
Greatest Need Is a Master Hand to
Harmonize the Civil and
Military Branches.

From, Tho journal Bureau. Room 40. Post
Buitdi,ag, Washington.
Washington, Feb. 17.--It will evidently
be the purpose Of republican leaders of
the senate to keep the concession granted
to Philippine imports down to 25 per cent
of Dingley rates. Mr.. Forakers rs per
cent proposal has been taken by many
persons to indicate that compromise at
perhaps so per cent would be the final
result, and several. senators still predict
that this will be the case; but the real
finance leaders have not acceeded to this,
and thus far are declaring that they do
not intend to do so.
How the democrats will vote as between
the 25 and the IS per cent proposal, when
free trade with the archipelago is what
they advocate, has not been revealed,
more than that in whatever course is de-
cided upon, they will present solid party
front. There has been some rhetorical
defamation that they had no interest in
making the republican tariff scheme less
unpalatable, but if an actual vote comes
there would be two reasons for their ia
voring larger reduction than the COM
mittee's recommendation; it would in
practical way be getting nearer the free
trade which they favor, and 1t would
drive deeper wedge into the ranks OF
the opposition. Moreover, since tariff re-
ceipts on trade between the archipelago
and the parent republic are to be turned
into the insular treasury, going and com
ing, the larger the resulting trade the
greater will be our revenue loss from pos
session of the islands and hence the
stronger the anti-imperialistic argument
How much would it be worth in millions
to Canada or to Germany for us to. pay
their regular tariff rates as other coun-
tries were doing, and to give Canada OF
Germany as an act of grace tariff con-
cession in approaching our markets vary
ing from 25 to rs per cent? This plan may
stimulate industries in the Philippines all
right, but it is the poorest bargain that
parent government ever made. It is the
colonial system Of asti1tury ago reversed
the revenues of the Mime government de-
liberately invaded in the interest Of the
industries of the subject. The economics
of this scheme will ultimately dawn or
the American people, and in that expec-
tation< the opposition has more capital in
a Is per cent or compromise concession
than in one of rs per cent.
Reports from the Philippines indicate
that American oficeholders are learning
what it is to face tropical conditions
Judge Taft and his fellow commissioners
seem to have set the pace that kills in
doing white mans work in the climatic
conditions of Manila. His own health is
matter of public record, and for his
complete recovery the best wishes of the
country go out. Judge Ide has gone tc
Japan for recuperation. The Doctors
diagnosis is, played OUT; cause, "over-
work" Professor Worcester is not well
and is also planning a trip to, Japan
Judge Wright, who has been acting as
governor, will, it is expected, come home
on Judge Taft's return. James Leroy
Professor Worcester's secretary, has
started back home on few days notice
he has been tremendously oyerworked
and is said by the doctor to suffer from
lung complications. He is a graduate Of
the University of Michigan, with fine
athletic record and some newspaper ex-
perience. Paul Carter, Judge Ide's sec
rotary, has been at Corregidor hospita
for some weeks without gaining any.
AS a practical question in the Philip
pines that, over currency is most impor-
tant, according to all reports which are
now coming in from that quarter. All
| the civil employees are paid in Mexican
money, which entails loss Of five to ten
per cent in their salaries. Some of the
school teachers have families in the
United States who are dependent upon
| them for support. Others contracted debts
| to be able to go to the islands and must
remit money out of their salaries to meet
/! their obligations These people are with
| out the means by which these remittances
can be made, the banks charging from six
to ten per cent for United States exchange
| and the Dostoffice refusing to take local
currency from them at any price. The
postal department is, it should be remem-
bered more or less independent of the
! insular government, being more directly
responsible to the postmaster general in
Washington.
| But the greatest need of all, to summar
| iZe all other needs which are portrayed
| in the private correspondence received at
| the war department, is master hand
which will harmonic the military and
! civil branches, and bring about their com
| plete cooperation in attaining the COM
mon end. The civil needs above all the
machinery of the army. The Americans
at home do not, as they should, present a
solid front No doubt the civil govern
ment people have considerable reason tc
| complain Of the effects upon local condi-
tons there OF the constant agitation OF
the Philippine question In the United
States. But this is a free country, and
people will agitate.
| Meanwhile the schools which seem to
| be the. pride of all Americans in defend
ing the Philippines policy chiefly empha-
sized by Mr.. Plat of Connecticut In his
reply to Senator Hoar the other day, and
| by. Secretary Long in his Boston speech
continue to flourish. From the figures
that are now coming il appears that near
| 1y 5000 FiliDinos are in our elementary
schools There are 5000 or 4 900 Filipino
teachers and $50 An erican teachers. Two
hundred and fifty more American teachers
/ are expected about March L.
| WHEELER'S The republicans are evl.
IDENTIFY very earnest in
! BOOMERANG. their purpose to make
campaign use OF Repre-
sentative Wheeler's speech. Tens of thou
sands of copies of it have already beef
ordered, mostly, thus far, by republicans
| in close districts who have influential
German constituents. 1t is claimed by
republican politicians that Prince Henry
will make so favorable IAN impression