The Washington times., 1902-03-14
FILIPINOS vs.. CHINESE
As AGRICULTURISTS
Prof. Barrows Believes the
Natives the Better Farmers.
Adept in Handling Machiney-Thought
of Absolute Independence Decreasing
Adherence to Civil Government.

The testimony of David P. Barrows.
chief of the bureau of non Christian tribes
in the Philippines. was continued yester-
day before the Senate Philippine Com
mittee.
Respecting the quality of labor in the
archipelago, Mr.. Barrows said:
MY observation has been that the Fill
pino is the only agriculturist l have
never seen Cinnamon working very much
in the sun or in the fields in the islands
They do some hard manual work as por-
ters.
Skillful in Handling Machinery.
Il think that the Filipinos can do the
agricultural work. The most trying part
of it can be relieved by the application
of machinery; and they are very skillful
in the handling of machinery.
As to the probability OF Filipino labor
being imported into the United States,
Mr.. Barrows thought there was no danger
whatever in that direction. 1t was pos
sible, he said. that there might be COM
petition between American and Filipipo
labor in the manufacture of cigars in the
islands, He thought it probable that
American capitalists working lands in the
islands would ask for Chinese or Japanese
labor.
Flattering Reports of Natives.
He was hopeful that the Filipino would
prove a fairly reliable and the most avail
able source OF labor. The reports from
the army quartermasters, and particularly
from the pony corral, where several hun
dred were employed, were very fiattering
to the fidelity and efficiency of the Fill
pinos.
Senator Allison enquired as to the sue
cess of the governments already estab-
lished in the northern parts OF Luzon
Mr.. Barrows replied that the municipal
governments and the provincial govern
ments had been established only six
months when he was there. but, consider
ing the short time and the difficulties,
they were working very creditably. Those
FilipinoS who were entrusted with office
were apparently acting the best they
could.
In reply to questions as to the intellec-
tual capacity OF the Filipinos. Mr.. Bar
rows said:
Il never exnect to see the day when the
Filipino can govern. l see no immediate
prospect of it. If we retire. the islands
will break up into groups, and the people
will fall down in their political grade"
In the course of explanations and de-
scriptons as to the wild tribes. the chair
man, Senator Lodge, asked whether those
wild tribes had anything in the way of
political aspirations. The answer was:
Well Disposed Toward Americans.
Nothing whatever. They are very well
disposed toward the Americans"
He was asked by Senator Burrows as
to why. considering their industry. they
were denominated wild tribes, and the re-
ply was:
Because of their practice as head
hunters. They must have taken a head
before they are admitted as members of
the tribe
Senator Dietrich-In your travels
through the islands, did you find any evil
dences that the American soldiers had
perpetrated any cruelty on the natives?
Mr.. Barrows-I found very little evil
dences of ii. | think | have met two
persons whose word l would trust who
professed to have seen the water cure
Senator Dietrich - Administered by
whom?
Mr.. Barrows--I think by little scout
ing party-usually native scouts.
Senator Culberson directed attention TO
the reconcentrado orders of General Bell
and those of Weyler. but Mr.. Barrows de-
clined to give an opinion on that subject.