Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-11
TAFT ON ISLANDS EXPENSES
Says Estimate Must Iscluds Considerable
Outlay Tor sOhsOl Buildings.
ILLls OF rpE rHnIrpNl sALARIEs
Claims CommissiOners Receive Fiji
teen Thousand Dollars, but Car
save Very Little Owing to
Cost OF Entertaining.

WASHINGTON. Feb. 10.-In continuing
HE statement concerning conditions In the
Philippine Islands before the senate COM
mittee on the Philippines today Governor
Taft said that the estimate for preliminary
expenses In those Islands must include a
considerable outlay for school buildings.
1t was necessary. he said. TO make SAL
aries from 20 to 2b, per cent higher than In
the United States. In this connection SEN
ator 'CuIbersont made inquiries as to the
salaries and allowances OF the commission
ers OF the, archipelago. "Is each of the
commissioner paid s2o,O0o2" he asked.
NO was the reply. when we first
went out the commissioner we're each paid
$780, 900 and the chairman $12. 900. and in
addition there vas an allowance of $500
for EXPENSES making the total s15.6oO and
ST. 800, respectively, When l was APP
pointed civil governor I was allowed $4,000
for my legislative duties and SIS 900 for my
duties as an executive. making $40. 900. The
other commissioners were allowed $1,000 for
their legislative services and 10000 for
their executive duties. making $4,000, ali
In gold"
"Is each allowed a private secretary"
YES"
"And you also have a large clerical
force?"- as ~,
"You would think so II you should step
into our Offices, you would also get an idea
OF the necessity for such a force"
what other allowances are nader"
None, except that l am allowed, as gov
ePnoF, to live in the Malacanan, the cid
governor generals palace"
IFS II an extensive placer"
Rather. It Gusts me sl25 in gold per
month to. light it and ! pay $4,000 q year
out OF my own pocket for servant hire.
There are fourteen ponies In the stable,
eight Of which l own. and l also keep three
carriages. The grounds are extensive. but
they are lighted by the city Of Manila, as
any other park would be-.
Are any other members OF the commits
sion provided with residences?
wouId Prefer 90 Rent a Residence.
They are not. All OF them pay rent
aud / can assure you that l would much
prefer 20 pay mine to being required 10
live at Maiacanan and keep up that estab-
lishmenta II I may be allowed a word
personal l would say that Of my si7. SOC
salary last year l had only 1900 left al
the end OF the year. and ! am sure that
n my Illness had not prevented my enter
tanning to a desirable extent there would
have been nothing left Of the $4,000 now
paid. and General Wright and Judge Ide
have assured me they could save nothing
There is much entertaining necessary and
Z the cost Of everything As greater than II
Washington. Indeed, money goes so fast
there that II seems TO melt. There are
no perquisites or allowances other thar
thoss ] have mentioned"
The governor added that the commission
had had nothing to do with fixing th'
salaries Of their own members, that havinl
been done IN Washington. but he said thai
II was impossible to secure the services
OF competent men for responsible positions
without paying better salaries than are
paid here. = ts v
Senator cermsek reverted to some Of