The Washington times., 1902-10-30
Special Commissioner jerks,
Who Investigated Orien-
tai Possessions of England
and Holland, Reports
Favors Gold Standard and
Recommends Importation
of Labor-Land Tenure
an Important Question

an Important Question
According to the report of jeremiah
". jerks, special commissioner of the
War Department. appointed to look into
the conditions existing in the insular
dependencies of England and Holland in
the Orient. the United States has made
more rapid strides toward self-govern-
ment in the Philippines than has either
of the two European powers named in
their own possessions.
Mr. jerks was appointed commissioner
because Of belief held by the War De-
rartment and the Philippine Commis-
zion that the experiences OF England and
Holland in their Oriental dependencies.
in which the conditions were quite sim
ilar to those in the Philippines. would
be suggestive and helpful in preparing
suitable legislation for the latter His
report, which is quite lengthy. and which
specifically discusses currency. labor.
local taxation. and native police. was
made PUBIC last night.
For Natives Benefit.
The report opens with brief discus
sion OF the attitude OF the countries in
question toward their colonies and de-
tendencies. and their methods of gov
ernment. with the apparent results 1t
is the opinion of the writer that how
ever seifishly in earlier days these coun-
tries have treated their colonies, at pres
ent they intend in the main to govern
them for the benefit of the natives
themselves. In certain instances the
England and Holland hold merely a
protectorate over naive chiefs. whom
however, they advise continually through
English or Dutch residents living at
their courts.
Attention is especially called to the fact
that much interference on the part of
the home authorities in the details of
the government of the dependencies is
harmful, and that those colonies have
progressed most rapidly in which the
English or Dutch rulers have been
given by their home governments the
freest hand in administration.
Favors Gold Standard.
Although recognizing that a silver
standard may be best in certain coun-
tries, as. for example, Sumatra and the
Federated Malay States. the conclusion
is reached that for the Philippines itpis
much bettei to adopt the fixed rate of
exchange with gold. as recognized by
the Philippine Commission, while en-
couraging the use of silver as currency
as much as possible.
The special reasons given are that If
the silver standard continues to depre-
ciate, those who gain from its depre-
ciation will be the exporting houses
chiefly English and German, although in
part American; while the native Fill
pinos who grow hemp. sugar, tobacco,
ETC.. on their plantations will be the
losers. Inasmuch as the chief purpose
OF the Government is to protect Filipino
laborers and producers rather than
American or foreign business men who
are better able to look after themselves
1t is considered unwise to adopt legisla-
ton which would seem to discriminate
in favor OF the latter
Moreover, the fixed rate of exchange
with gold would remove many of the
difficulties of the Philippine government,
which has intended to pay its employees
fY fpnt 4 a1v
courage commerce with the United
States rather than with silver-standard
countries.
In the Oriental countries visited, with
the exception of Java. there is dearth
OF efficient common labor The re-
developed by the native Malays or Bur-
mans. and in most of the countries it
has been found best to import coolies.
Importation of Labor.
In practically all cases II has been |
found that this importation of coolie la
Dor under somewhat careful restrictions |
regarding its employment has been to
the benefit not merely of the employers |
and Burmans as well. Without the
importation OF labor capital would not
have come into the country. On the |
other hand, with the influx of capital |
and the consequent. somewhat rapid de- |
velopment OF the country, there has
been 3 great increase In the demand |
for products raised by the natives and |
likewise an increased demand for the |
kind Of work that these somewhat in
dolent people prefer.
In Java. on the other hand. where
there is plenty of labor for the devel-
opnent of the country II has been
thought best by the government to
guard the unsophisticated Javanese, es-
pecially in the country villages, against
the tempting inducements of the willy
Chinese trader and peddler.
With this experience In mind, the re-
port recommends that employers of
|abor be permitted to introduce Chinese
aborers into the Philippines under con-
.ract for a period OF not over three
Years In each individual instance. The
Employer. it is thought, should give
,onds fo- the proper care of the Chinese.
or their employment in the ways indi-
,ated in the contract. for their safe
1