The Iola register., 1902-02-14
GOV. TAFTS REPORT
Gives Very Interesting Insight
Into Many Island
Problems

ducing cablegram he had received
from Acting Governor Wright, urg
ing a reduction in the tariff on Phil
ippine articles imported into tn,
United States from the Philippines
He said this cablegram was in re
sponse to an inquiry from him as tC
the effect of a reduction of so per cent
The reply of Acting Governor Wrigh
is as follows:
''The public session of sugar and
tobacco interests favors a reduction oi
% per cent at least. A reduction oi
90 per cent leaves tariff almost pro-
hibitive. Sugar price now very low:
European market very dull on ac-
count of overproduction and low
price. Beet sugar planters here have
lost heavily by Carabaos, machinery
and otherwise. Sugar cultivation In
bad condition. Memorials received
from Sugar Growers Association of
Negros and Panay ask for free trade
Tor this reason. Think a reduction of
10 per cent on sugar and tobacco
would be measure of relief and have
excellent political effect"
Senator Rawlins questioned Cover
nor Taft concerning the holdings of
the friars. The governor said he
thought the general opinion as to the
wealth and holdings of the friars had
been greatly exaggerated. He did
not believe, for instance, that they
had three-fourths of the property
owned in the cities. That, however,
the religious orders have ready cash
was true as was evidenced by the fact
that they make loans. He instanced a
case in which the friars had advanced
money to promote a corner in hemp
which had afterwards failed, because
of Irregularities on the part of the
manager.
Governor Taft said that the Philip
pine government is desirous of pur-
chasing the Manila property held by
the friars and that it also would be
desirable to secure their holdings of
agricultural lands.
In connection with the loaning of
money by the friars Senator Lodge
asked about the necessity for a bank
ing law and the witness replied that
such a law is badly needed. There
are now, he said, two English banks
in addition to the Spanish.Filipino
bank, the latter being controlled
largely by the church and being the
only bank of issue. He said there
had been some grants of land to the
church orders, but.that as a rule they
had acquired their holdings by pur-
chase. "The charge has been made"
he said, "that much of their land has
come to them by deathbed conveyances
but this charge is not borne out by
tracing of the title. The truth is that
the friars have the best titles in the
island and even where there have been
Irregularities the statute oflimitations
would protect the title"
He said that according to the charges
one method of extending the holdings
of the orders had been by extending
their irrigation systems over adjoin-
ing lands.
Senator Proctor asked where the
friars had secured money with (which
to purchase their lands, and this IN
quiry led Governor Taft to say that
the fees for marriages, funerals, chris
Jennings, ETC., had been. so high as to
be complained of. These charges for
marriages had, he said, led many
couples to live together illicitly, but
that in most cases the obligations thus
taken were observed.
Again referring to the financial in
terests of the Philippines, Governo"
Taft said that interest rates are as
high as from 20 to 40 per cent and that
it is very necessary that there should
be authority for granting franchises
to financial concerns, which would
reduce the interest charges, AS to the
coinage Governor Taft said that it is
desirable that the gold dollar should
be exchangeable for gold and the par
ity assured by the United States.
This, he said, is the plan of the com
mission, and he believes 1t wise. This
plan embraced the coinage of a Phil
ippine peso, and the circulation 'of
this coin, he thought, should be con-
fined to the islands. Referring to the
suggestion that United States money
should be adopted, Governor Taft
said that, if this were done, it would
have the effect of increasing the value
of the peso to the extent of 50per cent,
and this would unsettle transactions.
This plan also would havethe effect of
siuarig the price Of wages and disturb
ing business relations.
Taking up another point of admin
istration, Governor Taft advocated
the right of appeal in certain cases to
the,supreme court of the United States,
especially such cases as would involve