Omaha daily bee., 1902-08-25
jerks RETURNS FROM ORIENT
Special Commissioners COmpIeten HIS
investigation of Systems of
Oriental Government. .

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 24.-Dr. jeremiah
w. jerks, special commissioner of the
United States in the Orient for the War de-
partment and professor of political economy
and politics in CORNELL university, has re-
turned from his years journey throughout
Europe and southeastern Asia and is spend
ing a few days with friends at Stanford uni
versity. He will start for the east next
Tuesday. Of
This journey he had undertaken at the call
OF the War department, having been ap-
pointed by Secretary Root special commits
sioner to investigate the workings Of the
currency Of eastern countries, their system
OF internal taxation, the Importation OF
coolies and Chinese labor to work the plan
~tations of the East Indies, the use OF native
police and the organization Of the constabu-
lary-in general, to report upon the internal
administration Of the Dutch and English
possessions in the far east. The purpose of
the investigation was to throw all the light
possible upon the problems which confront
the United States government in the devel-
opment of the Philippines.
Mr.. Conant, holding a somewhat similar
commission, went to the Philippines direct
and made an investigation Of the currency
In use in the Philippines. Dr.. jerks report
In matters Of currency was completed during
his seven weeks stay in the Philippines, and
the reports on taxation, imported labor and
police control while he was in Japan. These
reports are now in the hands of the secre-
tary OF war.
Prof. jerks found that the prestige of the
United\States throughout the east had been
vastly increased by the events of the last
four years. In trade, particularly in China,
m auraw a~oant UrA7o.a ~. A. aA.-. =
fore it that the United States has. and COM
mercially England itself is likely soon to be
outstripped by the great republic Ger
many has a vast and rapidly growing trade
with the east. but its geographical position
will enforce a severe handicap In the future.
Russia's influence is largely political, and Is
likely to be confined pretty strictly to the
north.
Following his Instructions DR.. jerks Wis
tied the different countries Of Europe with
colonies in the east, to learn what their ex-
p~erience might teach in governing OF the
peoples of the Orient and trading with them.
After passing some weeks In Egypt he then
sailed for India, touching at the Island Of
Ceylon, His itinerary and investigations
also included Burmah. Java, Sumatra, the
Straits Settlement. China, the Philippines
and Japan.
While in India. the Dutch colonies and
Japan gold has been declared the standard.
silver. except in Japan. is almost exclusively
the medium Of exchange. A par OF exchange
between gold and silver was reached in In
dia about four years ago. The silver in use
throughout the East Indies Is pretty gem
orally the Mexican trade dollar or some sim
liar coin dating back to the old days Of
Spanish supremacy in war and trade. A
peculiar state Of affairs exists In some Of
the islands. particularly in East sumatra,
where the Dutch coinage "a the oficiAi cur
reneey demanded in taxes and imposts and
paid to all government officials, while the
silver money OF the Straits settlement is
used to pay the coolie and Chinese laborers
who work the plantations and in ordinary
retail trade.