The Washington times., 1902-02-11
GOV. TAFT FINDS HIS
SALARY TOO SMALL
Saved Money Last Year by
Being Ill.
WAS UNABLE TO ENTERTAIN
would Have Been $4,000 Out of
Pocket Otherwise-Urges Sufficient
Remuneration for Judges to Avoid
Bribery and Corruption.

hiioSioh ioI tHe ClNll Government or the
Philippine Islands. was again before the
Senate Philippine Committee yesterday,
and continued his explanation of the con-
dition of things in the islands. and his
recommendations as to various points con-
nected with the bill pending in the Sem
ate to provide temporary revenue for
them.
This was the ninth day of his state
ment. He will not be heard again until
Friday, as he is to be in New York for
several days for medical treatment.
school buildings Needed.
Governor Taft began by speaking Of the
necessity Of spending a considerable
amount Of money in building schoolhouses
the custom being to have the boys and
girls taught apart, so that an equal num-
Der of male and female teachers is re-
quired. The number of American teach
ers there now he gave as 135. with 200
or 300 more ordered and on their way
there.
The teachers are scattered among 445
towns. The salaries paid in the islands
exceed by 20 or % per cent those paid for
the same services in the United States.
Salaries of Commissioners.
Mr.. Culberson enquired as to the sal
aries of the Commissioners being $4,000
a year.
Governor Taft said that that was mis-
take. At first the salary of each member
of the Commission was $4,000, and of the
president s12,5a0 In addition to that
there was s15aa day-enough to make up
$1,000 That left the president s17.j0O and
the other members of the Commission
$4,000. F-F
The Governors Salary 100000.
When a change was made and the Civil
Governor was appointed, the salaries of
the Commissioners for legislative SER
vices were $4,000 each, and as the Cover
nor was allowed s15, 900 for executive SER
vice, that made his compensation $4,000
The salaries OF the other Commissioners
became SIS, 900 in American money. The
Commissioners were allowed clerks.
Mr.. Culbersone-What else is allowed the
Civil Governor hesides a salary of $40, 900?
Governor TaftLHe is allowed to live in
the palace Of the former Governor Gen
eral.
Mr.. Culberson-Is that quite an extern
sive establishment?
Governor Taft-Yes; it costs me s125
month for light and $1,000 a year for
servants.
Mr.. Culberson-Paid out of your own
pocket?
Would Have Been Out of Pocket.
Governor Taft-Undoubtedly. There
were fourteen ponies in the stables and
one or two carriages. On my salary of
S17 500 last year had 81 500 left; and il
had entertained as | should have done had
l not been i'll. 1 would have been $4,000
out of pocket. The cost of living in
Manila is exceedingly high.
Questioned further on the subject of
salaries, Governor Taft said that the chief
justice of the Supreme Court was paid
$500 and the six associate justiceS 81, 600
He had tried to have the salaries of the
Judges made higher. as he had definite
idea on that subject. Other judges were
paid from $4,000 to $1,000.
To Avoid Corruption.
One good reason for paying good
salaries to officials instead of letting of
ficials exc out their compensation by
bribery and corruption, as under the
Spanish regime. was to show the Fill
pinos the possibility of an honest admin
fstration of government-somethi which
they had never known under Spanish rule
or under their own rule with Aguinaldo
as chief.
Questioned as to the admission of Chi
nese laborers, Governor Taft expressed
the hope that there would be no necessity
for it, 1t would undoubtedly aid. he said,
in the development of the Island of Min
danao, where the population was scant,
but in Luzon and other thickly populated
islands. he hoped that a motive for labor
would be given so as to encourage the
Filipino to work. and make him more
efficient than he now is.
Chinese immigration.
The effect of unrestricted Chinese i'm
migration would be, he thought. the abb
sorption by the Chinese of all the small
avenues of trade. Just what effect it
would have on the labor problem it was
a little more difficult to say.
II was a matter of individual judgment
whether the competition which it would
create would not induce the Filipino
laborer to dol better than he now does.
Chinese immigration was not now pro-
hibited by law, but by military orders.
Questioned by Mr.. Carmack, Governor
Taft admitted that there was, among the
Filipinos. some apprehension of their
being exploited by the Americans. Much
Of that feeling had been got up by the
insurrectionists.
Fond of the Filipino.
The course of the Commission" Gov
ernor Taft went on. has been one of
sympathetic effort TO help them. | am
exceedingly fond of quite number of
Filipinos with whom l have come in in
innate reIationE.,s | love the whole peo-
ple without being blind to their very Sc
rious defects, many OF which are due to
their environment. social and political,
for 800 years and | hope that with diff
ferent environment, social and political,
many of those defects can be eradicated."
Coming to the subject of the anti-sedi-
tion statute of the Philippines. which was
referred TO in the Senate last week and
again Yesterday Mr.. Patterson asked
whether Senator Hoars speech on that
subject could be circulated in the islands
without the person circulating it being
subject to the penalties provided in the
statute.
The chairman, Mr.. Lodge, said that that
was hardly a fair question.
Mr. UaIe-When we come to consider
that statute and the necessity for it and
the question OF its application that en-
auiry may be made.
FIFTY Per Cent No Help.
Referring to the pending Philippine tar
in bill. Governor Taft repeated what he
had said before, that reduction OF 75
per cent in the Dingley tariff in Philip
pine products would be great aid, but
that a reduction Of so per cent would not
he any substantial benefit.