The Washington times., 1902-02-08
Urges Government Pur-
chase in the Interest
of Peace.
A CAUSE OF IRRITATION
Reduction of Dingley Tariff
Rates Needed.
A MATTER OF SENTIMENT
Lack of Transportation Facilities
in Philippines Noted-Fine Oppor-
tunities for Railroads in Luzon-
Line From Naniln to Coast.

Civil Governor Taft made 4 strong ar
gument for the purchase of the agricul-
tural lands OF the Philippines held by
the friars IN his testimony yesterday be
fore the Senate Philippine Committee. He
stated that il these lands were acquired
the greatest present cause of irritation to
the natives would be removed. and the
progress toward peace and friendliness
greatly aided.
Governor Taft took up The question in
answer to the question from Mr.. Lodge,
the chairman of the committee, if he con-
sidered it important that the friars' lands
be purchased.
Governor Taft's Views.
Governor Taft answered:
''Yes, sir; I do. | do not think that
any one thing which Congress has been
invited to do is of more imminent i'm
portance than that. The people are
against the friars as political enemies,
and as land owners l believe that by the
purchase of their lands we can satisfy
the people and avoid the agrarian ques-
tions that will otherwise arise"
Most Important Question.
The Chairman-Is there any single
thing in which the Filipinos are more in
terested than in getting rid of this land
situation"
Governor Taft - Nothing. There q, is
nothing which gives SO much trous1.e
and arouses the hostility of the people
more quickly. In Cavite, where there are
ways started, and the reas son has always
been the objections of the people to the
friars The people who are now occupy
ing these lands refuse to pay rent ard
law suits are necessary to enable t..
friars to collect. The idea of free p"
session of the lands is of course getting
more popular and it will grow. unless we
do something very quickly, until the feel
ing will affect other owners of lands We
VIII have an agrarian question tn meet.
l favor buying the lands and then sell
ing them to the people.
MIR. Burrows-With the purchase of the
friars' lands, would the friars cease to be
a disturbing element?
Hopes They VIII Emigratc.
Governor Taft-Where a mans treasure
is Scriptural. If you take out of the is
lands the property interests that lord
it there. and give them an equivalent. so
that they 50 to other countries where
they are not unpopular, we hope that they
will go. We have no power to exclude
them.
Governor Taft also made a recommen-
dstion that the tariff on imports from the
Philippines be reduced. for the political
effect such acticn would have in the is
lands He said:
.One of the strongest motives for ask
ing a reduction OF the Dingley rates on
imports from the Philippines was, as
said yesterday, sentimental reason
What 1 meant was that every evidence Of
the desire of the American people to help
the Filipino people we of the CommiS-
sion will welcome, because 1t Will be IL
the line of what We are attempting 10 &c
there Il will be an object lesson of the
friendliness of the United States toward
them.
Tran,portstion Facilities Needed.
with regard also to our statement IN
our report that the effect would be i'm
mediate apI that the trade between the
United States and the Philippines would
increase by leaps and bounds, l desire
to say that it is doubtful whether the
effect would be felt at once because OF
the lack of transportation facilities be-
tween the two countries, and other rca-
sons. There If no doubt that in rea-
sonable time Il would be of great ad-
vantage to the farmers. and they arc all
farmers in the Philippines, whether they
are sugar planters or tobacco raisers.
Heavy Reduction Favored.
.sT n pa mt ,--itldra wing the rqcommen-
ostion; ! should, or the contrary, be glad
TO have the reduction made IS per cent
instead of so per cent. My reason for
using the word 'sentimentality' had a par
ticular reference to the political effect
such action would have in assisting in the
pacification of the islands by showing the
1,lndly intentions OF the United States. Ii
would undoubtedly also be OF practical
benefit TO the archipelago. l do not think
st advisable that thI reduction should be
made temporary, as was the case with
regard to Porto Rico.
Speaking of the building of railroads in
the islands Governor Taft said that it
was indispensable that the commission
should have the power TO incorporate
railroad and other companies.
II think there are fine opportunities for
railroads in Luzon.'' he said. Il think a
railroad from Manila to the coast could
be built with profit without guarant 90
or subsidy of any kind. II would be about
300 miles long. The agriculture OF the ISL
ands would be enormously developed BY
the construction of railroads.
Mining and Timber Franchises.
He favored the right OF the commission
TO grant franchises for mining and timber
corporations. and he pointed out, on the
map, a locality which. he said contained
rs large a vein of copper as there was in
the world.
At the close OF his statement Governor
Taft referred TO a remark ia the Senate
Chamber on Thursday by Mr.. Patterson of
Colorado TO the effect that Governor Taft
had not been present when the sejition
act was passed by the Philippine Com
mission and that If he had been ii would
have been modified.
The Governor said that his statement
before the committee had not gone SO far
and he did not desire 10 be put in the
the commission. Although he was not
present when the law was passed he had
while rot actually drafting IT, suggested
the necessity 10 General Wright of in
-cluding that section which made it Illegal
10 work or talk for independence.
Air. Patterson said that he had not
meant to misrepresent the Governor. and
the committee then adjourned until II
O'Clock today.
GA ACT0Re6 Emlnfau,s and Csldt,n