Waterbury Democrat., 1903-01-05
PHILIPPINE REPORTS
Governor Taft and the Com-
 mission on the Islands.
LADR0NISN IS THE GREAT BANE.
Not a Shot Fired by American so1- diers Since JuIy-A Stable Curren- . cy Needed-Finpinos Pleased
 With Present Government.

 cy Needed-FiHpinos Pleased
 With Present Government.
 WASHINGTON, Jan. 5.-The annual report of the Philippine commission and a separate report by Governor w. H. Taft, made public at the war de- part1nent, gives review of the results of the years work of the commission and contain recommendations for legis- lative action by congress deemed es- sential to the welfare of the islands.
 After reciting a history of the estab- lishment of civil government through out the various provinces Governor Taft in his report says it has not been definitely determined what shall be done with respect to Mindanao, where, he says, hospitality to the Americans does not extend beyond the Lake La nao Moros. The governor is of opinion that it may be possible to induce the sultan of Jolo to part with some of the rights he claims to the Jolo group and thus obviate many obstacle encoun- tered. The Moros, he says, do not un- derstand popular government and do not desire it, preferring control by dat 
 says, "control by dattos may cease. For the present, however, 1t is neces- sary only to provide a paternal, strong but sympathetic government for these followers of Mohammed."
 Governor Taft tells of the conditions that have made it necessary for the is- lands to purchase about $1b,0o0,0O0 worth of food on which to live and of the effects war has had upon agricul- ture, almost the only source of wealth In the islands. The greatest blow to agriculture, he says is the destruction of about 90 per cent of the water buff falo, on which the cultivation of rice is almost wholly dependent. After speak Governor Taft says:
 "The bane of Philippine civilization In the past was ladronism, and the present conditions are most favorable for it's growth and maintenance. It is not certain whether in the depressed state of agriculture, with the tempta- tion to ladronism, that the constabu- lary will be able without the assist ance of the military to stamp it out. It Were there temptations to az riculture, were there prosperous condi- tions in the country, it would not be a troublesome matter to deal with, bat when want and famine are staring people in the face the life of the free booter forms to the desperado and the weak a very great attra ction. The natural discontent with the govern nlent when suffering is at hand, pro- noted as 1t has been by the cholera re- strictions and the high prices of rice and other commodities which have been greatly enhanced by the deprecia- / ton of silver, might we'll have caused new breaking out of the insurrection, md in my judgment it speaks wonders for the ease with which this country may be governed in normal times that we have comparatively so little disor- der since the surrender of the insurgent arms in April" >--
 Since the civil government was com oletely established in the Filipino prov lnces throughout the archipelago in July of last year, the governor says, an American soldier has not been called on once to fire a gun, the country having been policed by the constabulary, a force of 5000 or 5000 men.
 Ut may be-" says Governor Taft, "that as the conditions grow worse, for they are likely to do so before they grow better, 1t may be necessary in province like Cavite, where ladronism seems inbred in the people, to proclaim martial law and even to call in the military finally to suppress it. but it is still hoped this may be avoided"
 Governor Taft says the figures show that for the year ended June 30, 1902, the imports, exclusive of quartermas- ter's stores, of all goods were $41, ,00O,- 900, while the exports were about $27,- 100000. He says capital has seemed to be timid in coming to the Philip pines, but adds, Ut has come in a small way in various branches so that the aggregate is very considerable The governor points out among other ills from which the country is suffering that of f1uctuating currency. On the subject of labor he speaks of the need of making temporary provision such as is recommended by the full commits sion
 The Philippine commission in it's an- nual report says at the outset:
 '"The insurrection as an organized at tempt to subvert the authority of the United States in these islands is en- tirely at an end and, the whole of the Christian Filipino population with the exception of few thousand persons in the Moro country in isolated towns are enjoying civil government. Much re- mains to be done in perfecting civil government, in marshaling> the forces of law and order against lawlessness and disturbances and in teaching the people of the Philippines not only that they have rights under the law, but also that they cannot hope to enjoy such rights unless they acquire cour- age and independence sufficient to as- sert them against attempts by their fellow Filipinos to perpetuate the sys- tenn of 'caciqueism,' or liberaliy trans lated, 'bossism.'
 "The Filipino people of the better'