The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-11-28
!. LOSING MONEY.
The Government Finds Itself a
Million Dollars Behind
In Connection With Admins
tering Philippine Affairs.
MIST RE A CHANGE
MUST BE A CHANGE.
Will Be Strong Effort to Secure
Additional Legislation.
Silver Currency Is Blamed for
All the Trouble.

Washington, Nov 2S.-The admins
tration has fully decided that there
shall be Philippine legislation at the
coming session of congress. The presi-
dent, seconded by Mr.. Root, the secre-
tary Of war has laid deliberate plans in
this direction. Vice Governor Luke
Wright, ostensibly in Washington en-
route to his post in the Philippines, is
making a social and official call upon
the high officers of the government. The
first day he was here he was a guest at
the White House. There he met Senator
Lodge, the chairman of the Philippine
committee. The second day he was here
Congressman Cooper of Wisconsin,,
chairman of the house committee on
Philippines. called al the White House
by appointment and invitation of the
president. Governor Wright was intro
duced, and the two talked for hours.
Since that time the most influential
members of the senate and house have
met the vice governor. and talked with
him. He is man of wonderful per-
SOnality, with personal force and mag
netism second only to that of Governor
Taft. To the presidents callers he ex-
planned clearly the need of legislation
for the islands. The scope of his sug-
geStions was broad but he impressed
upon leading men the two cardinal
points which the administration hopes to
reach. One of these is a reform of the
financial scheme for the islands and the
other is the increase of the tariff dues.
Under the decision to collect rs per cent
of the Dingley rates. for the benefit OF
the islands, but $4,000 was collected in
the past year. Under the present silver
basis on which the system of the
islands finance operates, the govern
ment has lost round million of doll
lars. 1t has been forced to accept pay
ments of taxes and customs dues at the
prevailing rate for silver. A day later
/ a ffA 1facr md in "a
or two instances 40 per cent in disburs-
ing the same money.
Days have passed in Manila where the
fluctuations in a single bank have been
morning to 20 per cent late in the af-
ternOon. Last session a determined
fight was made by Congressman CooDer
to have the financial provisions of the
house bill adopted by the senate. The
senate was determined to stand out
against it. There was suspicion that
the attitude of the senators was
prompted in part by a desire to court
favors with certain western silver inter-
eSts- The house cOnferees stood out for
their provision for a gold basis. Until
late the night before final adjournment
the matter was not decided Then the
senate conferees told the house members
frankly that they would not permit any
legislation TO go through unless they re-
ceded from their contention for the gold
basis. Not wishing to see the whole
fabric of government they had built UP
for the islands fail of approval, Con-
gresham Cooper and his associates re-
ceded- Some of the most conservative
members of the senate stood out against
the gold basis system. One of them
was a senate cOnferee.
Governor Taft had recommended the
gold basis. Mr.. Root, the secretary of
war. had seconded this recommendation.
| Charles A Conant, recognized expert
on financial questions, had been sent to
the islands and conducted an investiga-
ton at great expense and with much
care The senate provision was for the
coming of subsidiary coins. No actor:
was ever taken under its terms Now
Senator Allison. Senator Lodge and all
the members of the senate who made a
study of the question admit that they
were wrong and should have given their
/ assent to the house proposal.
There will be little opportunity for the
Democrats to oppose the legislation as
the conditions in the islands and the
actual losses the government has sus-
tained are too patent to allow for much
debate The effort to make the Philippine
issue a prominent one at the last session
ended so dismally and prove such 4
| boomerang that no repetition of the fight
/ against Philippine legislation is expected
from Carmack and young senators of his
txsr