Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-07-25
HIS WAGES ON A POLE
GIVEN A BIG BAG oF SILVER FOR
PAY.
Impressions of an American Teacher
in the Philippines-Loss in Using
the Current Money.

Clyde o. France one of the teachers who
were recently murdered in the Philippines.
wrote the following interesting letter from
Manila under date of May S:
Il suppose you are reading great tales
about the cholera in Manila. The Ameri-
cans are practically i'm nuue from the dis
ease, not because they cannot get the dis
ease. but because they know how to take
care of themselves. 1t is no wonder the ma
tives and the Chinese get the cholera, for
they are indescriba5ly filthy and eat any
thing and everything. Americans have no
conception how people in the orient live
The government is distributing distilled
water free and artificial ice is sold very
cheap. In fact. the people are allowed to
drink only distilled water. The ice plant
here is very fine. The main portions of the
city are reasonably presentable. due to
American occupation. When the United
States acquired the islands Manila must
have been a reeking hOtbed of nth, mud
and dirt. Judging from descriptions given
me by men who were here then. The condl-
lions now are doubtless hundred per cent
better and still there is big room for i'm
Drovement-
My friend Brown and l have been as
signed to the Island of Cebu, and We are
to report at CSbu city before June ]. We
shall then be assigned TO the different
towns. There are twelve teachers of the
Mcclellan assigned to Cebu Island. There
are now I'VE american ledcHeTS III the CITY
of Cebu. and l think that most of these
twelve will be stationed in that city.
Unsatisfactory Currency System.
The money question seems to be in the
greatest nesd CT an early settlement by
Congress. / signed a contract December
{, 1901, agreeing to remain in the Philip
pines for two years at an annual salary of
sl,2,o from date. Nearly all the other
teachers did the same. Now we learn that
all insular employees of the government are
paid in Mexican currency. The Philippine
commission establishes the legal rate of ex-
change between the two currencies every
three months. Prior to January l the rate
of exchange was two for ore. From Janu-
airy l TO April / the exchange was $40
Mexican for 81 United States currency.
For this quarter the exchange is s2.27,
Mexican. for 81 gold. l received pay from
January | yesterday at the following rate:
$40, Mexican. for January, $40 for Feb
ruary and s.. 10 for March; also s2-2I for
April making total of SJ1 Mexican dol
lars. A Mexican dollar is a trif1e heavier
than the United States dollar. This sum
seems % be quite a nice, snug sum. SO 1t
would De if we could get full value for it;
but the banks are paying s2.3l and S2-;}S for
gold and United States currency. They will
not sell it at any price. Such is free sill
YER The cheaper money has driven the
dearer money out of circulation entirely. l
wanted to send 500 (gOld) home. The post
office authorities passed order about a
week ago refusing to accept any Mexican
money at all in payment for money orders.
yet when they pay a money order it must
be- paid ii. dobe dollars The Philippine
commission has made the Mexican currency
the legal currency of the islands. yet they
refuse to accept it themselves. l thought
there lot of red tape in the army,
but this beats the army.
Profits of Money Changing.
Il managed to buy a draft on New York
for 500 (golD for s2a9.10 tMexican), the
bsst / could do 1 also managed to buy
SD of United States currency of civil en-
gIneer at $50. / sold the $40 about five
minutes later for 81 ~. thereby making 81
IN 'dobe currency which was not so bad.
Guess I'll turn banker.
About three-fourths of the teachers are
working for the health department, thus
drawing two salaries by special permission.
l have not been doing so. though l should
have been were ii not for the folks at home
worrying unnecessarily. We are both well,
and enjoying the climate first-rate.
Yesterday when l drew my money got
in a ba z So silver dollars. Another teacher
drew the same amount. We could scarcely
move them. let alone trying to carry them
a half mile through the hot sun. So We got
two Chinese to carry them for They
tied the two bags To the middle of a bam-
boo pole. which they carried on their Shout
ders a Chino at each end. We made
them walk up the middle of the street,
while we took the sidewalks. one of US on
each side When we arrived at the hotel
i took picture of them with my camera.