The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1902-02-15
AFFAIRS N THE PHILIPPINES
TAFT PRESENTS HIS VERSION.
Hia. Testimony ON the Trade aAa
the ssaate CoRaatttse-Ths FriaFs
Receive FroH 30 60 80 Per Cems
ON Loans.


his narrative before the senate com
mittes oa the Philippines. Governor
Taft reverted TO his former testimony
tor the purpose Of introducing n cable
gram he had received from Acting
Governor Wright urging = reduction
In the tAFiff on Philippine articles
imported into the United States from
the Philippines. lie said this cable
gram was in response TO an inquiry
from himself as Ia the effect Of u re
duction Of 60 per cent. The reply al
Acting Governor Wright Ia as follows
"ManilA.-The public session VI sug
ar and tobacco interests favor u re
duetioh Of 10 per cent al least. A re
dacuon of ~ per cent leaves tArti
almost pFOhibitiVe. Sugar prices yer,
low. European markets very dull Oh
account of over production and low
price. Beet sugar planters here have
Loaf heavily on machinery and othei
wise. Sugar cultivation lie In . baa
condition. Memorials received fron
sugar growers association of SegrOs
and PanAy ask for free trade for this
reason: Think a reduction u rs pcl
cent on sugar and tobacco would b.
q measure Of relief and have excellent
political effect"
Senaior RANiihs questioned Govern
OF TAft concerning the holdings u Ii,
friArn, The governor said he though
tho general opinion a. To their weaili
and holdings had been greatly eHAE
EefAIsd lie did not believe, for il
stance. IhAh they had three fourth,
Of The property ounrd In the cities
ThAt houcYrf. the religious order
have ready cash ~as true. As "a
evidenced By the fac, that they MAXI
Loans. lie instAhcea case In ~htcl
the falaTs bad advanced nohcy 10 pro-
mote Garner IN hemp which after
uafd failed because u irregularities
uh tho part u the manager
Governor Taft aAia the l'hliippln,
government IL DESTROYS Of purchasing
tho Maniia property held b. the ffiaSl
and that IL would also be desirable {,
secufs shSir holdings u agricultural
lands IN cobertiun With the l0anlna
Of money by The friArs. Senator iyodE,
aakrd about the ncccssity Tor 4 bank
lnG Ian and the wi,nraa replied thai
such a iaw Ia badly arcded
senator Proctor Askcd where the
fslara had secured money with vhiol
u purchase their lands. ABd this in
aairy led Governor Taft 10 say tia
The fec Tor marriages funerals. chris,
sHtnEs. etc are 10 b. complained 81
These charges. hs said. bad led mar
couples TO Two together ,illsi,iy. bu
that In most eases the obligation.
TAKEN wrrr observed
Again referring 20 the financial H.
iSr~ata 81 the Philippines UovsrRo
Taft said that intSr~At rates arc A.
hiEh a. from 20 10 90 per rrnl and iha
II IL very accessory that there shout
hs authority Tor granting franchise
TO financial concerns which ~oald -
duCa tho inirrus, charges As TO coin
age. Governor Taft said that u 10 dc
airahl0 that tho gold dollar should b,
established al a basis lie atao adyo
exchanEeablo for gold and tho part
assured by tho United States This
he said. 10 tho plan OF the commission
and he believed Il wise. This pia,
embraces the coinage - Thiilppln,
p~eo and tho circulation uf this coin
no thought should lie confined to th'
isiands lilo thought that unieAs u,
commission waa authorised To MAX,
token money thore would be- trouble
~ u must bo borne In mind that III,
Philippine administration ia not a.
strong a. that ~ an established nation
Referring to tho suggestion that TINT
ID States money should ba issued
Governor Taft aAid that n this wa,
done u would have the effect ~ IN
crcasinE tho value of the pcso 10 n,
extent Of 80 per cent and this would
anaettie transactions. This plan ais,
would have the effect uf raising the
price Of wages and disturbing business
relations.
Taking M another point Of the ad
mlnlStrstion. Governor Taft advocated
the right uf appeal In certain cases u
the supreme court Of the United
sta,ca. especially such cases a. would
involve the relationship OF church
lands TO the government This h.
thought necessary because % the prob
ability Of prejudice on the part Of fhc
local courta
lie urged the granting of power t.
the commission to give franchises fol
steam and electric railroads and lIEh,
plants and also made an argument foi
authority TO create n bonded debt Of
s4.O00.0O0 for local improvements 10
Manila. II IL. he said. especially dc
sirablo that there should be electric
lines that country, because OF the
dlii,culty Of getting about in q tropical
climate. He thought no franchise
should be perpetual.
He would also have a wider margin
given IN the matter OF cutting timber
There Ia magnificent timber through
out the islands and Il would be bene-
fetal to take much Of Il out The
quantity which can be taken out now
by one concern IL limited to i00, 900
cubic feet. He suggested that there
had been some public sensltiveness
on this point because OF the interests
Of the lumber and development com
pany. In reply to Senator Culbertson.
Governor Taft said that he would not