Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1903-03-04
APPEAL FOR The FlLlPiNOS
President Asks Senate to Pass the
Philippines Tariff Bill.
Ho Fears That Starvation VIII I,csul,
iro" Doiny-Dcscrih~, Inc Despor-
a;c situation In the Islnnds

Washington -. C. President Eoosr-
volt sent Il message TO the Senate
strongly urging the passage of the
Philippine Tariff bill The President
begins the message Ivy saying:
II have just received cable from
Governor TAFT which runs rs follows:
Necessity for passage House Tariff
bill most urgent. The conditions of
productive industry AND business con
sderably worse than in November. tho
date of last report. and growing worse
each month. Some revival in sugar
ana tobacco prices, due to expectation
Of tariff law
The interests of Filipinos in sugar
ana tobacco extensive. and failure of
Dlli VIII be blow in face of those inter
eSts. Number of tobacco factories will
have to close. ana many sugar hacjen-
das will be put up for sale Mt Il sacrifice
II the bill will not pass. Customs re-
ceipts have fallen off this month one
third showing decrease OF purchasing
power of islands Geueral busiuess
staEnant. All political parties. includ-
ing labor unions, most str, nuous in ne
tition for tariff bill. Effect of its fail
ure very discouraging'
"Nice Governor Luke Wright in.
dorses in the strongest manner all thai
Governor Taft has said, and states thar
ne mas the SraVeSt apprehension rs to
'he damage that may come to the ISL
andS If there is not substantial rpduc-
ton in the tariff levied against Philjp-
pine goods coming into the United
States. very earnestly ask that this
matte receive the Immediate attention
ot Congress. ana that the relief praved
for be granted"
The President then reviews the ca
lhmlticS which have bcfallen the Phil
lpplne people. Including the rinderncst
which destroyed ninety Per cent of tho
carib >os. the Filipino cattle. a pccu-
liar Oriental horse disease which be-
came epidemic, further Gripping trans
portation. and the damage To the rice
crop 10y locusts. The President con
tinues:
There Is imminent danger of famine
| III the islands. Congress is in course of
generously appropriating $4,000. 900 TO
meet the immediate needs. hut the in
dlSpensable and pro-eminent need is the
reSur ection of productive industry
IRON the proStratiun into which il has
been thrown by the causes above emu
meratCd
II ask action i'll the tariff matter not
'i''' wv SNdiiullOint OF WiSn
governmental policy. but as Il measure
OF humanity in response 80 an aDpcal
10 which this great peoplc should not
cloSc lis cars. W. have assumed re
sponS'biliticS toward tlir Philnpinc Isl.
nndS which We are in honor bound 10
1ulhH. We have tlc specific duty of
taking every measure in orr power TO
sec 10 their prosperity.
"lhe first and most important stcn
IN this direction has been accom-
pushed ny til" joint action of the mill.
'ary and civil authorities in securinc.
peace and civil government. The wis
dom OF Congress at the present session
has provided for them n stable cur-
rency. and lis spirit of humane liberal
lty ana justice toward them will no
shown in the appropriation now sub-
Stantially agreed uDon Of $4,000 600 to
meet The pressing immediate necessities
nut there remains IL vital need that one
thing further shall he done.
The ca'amiticS which have hcralIen
tilcm as above enumerated could have
been aNertcd by no human wisdom
ihey cannot he completely repairtd.
| but the suffering can he greatly allie.
waited ana permanent basis of futuro
prosperity assured if the economic reln-
tons Of the islands with the United
states are put upon n satisfactory bo.
sis"