The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-06-09
Says There is Little Real
 Hunger in Islands
PEOPLE PROVIDE FOR FAMINE
Large Purchase of Rice Broke Corner and Kept Down Price-Will Import 10000 carabao-Daneer
 of Rhlnderpest.

Washington. June s-The war depart ment today made public report received from Governor Taft replying to state ments made by Lieutenant General Miles after his visit to the islands last year. The report Is dated at Banguest and says.
 'I am in receipt of reference from the chief of bureau of insular affairs and the adjutant general of the army of an excerpt from the report from the lieu tenant general of the army relating to the conditions of agriculture in the archipel- aso and the means of avoiding probable famine and in accordance with the drec- ton in the reference, l have the honor to make the following comment
 Little Real Famine.
 That there Is a shortage in the islands of the usual food supply is undoubtedly true, but I have been surprised to find thus far how little real famine or hunger there is have not received a single call from single provincial governor for rice for free distribution in the entire archl- pelago. In the Province of Batangas, Captain Boughton, in managing the so- called war famine fund, has made a very small gratuitious distribution of rice not exceeding more than 5000 worth.
 'The action of the commission in di- recting a proclamation by the civil gov ornor calling upon the people everywhere to plant corn, camets or sweet potatoes, rice and other quick growing products, had very wide influence in stirring up the people to provide against the coming of famine It is true that an unexampled drought in the islands has prevented this planting from being as productive as 1t otherwise would have been and that the locusts too, have interfered with Some of the crops, but on the whole I have been greatly surprised to find the suffer ing so much less than we expected 1t to be. Eh
 Tt may be that In May. June or July we shall have calls for aid but I ,nink that we shall be able promptly to re- spond to them, especially now that mill lions of dollars has been appropriated for the purpose The most serious feature of the situation is the loss of the cattle from rhinderpest. It is not feasible to bring cattle into the islands without making sure that they will not catch the rhinderpest after coming here and die from the disease, as the fields of the islands are infected. It is necessary therefore that all cattle brought here shall be immunzed by having a serum lUJecIeu Into lnelT NelnS WHICH Bndu render them immune
 Contract for 10000 Carabao.
 We have made a contract for the de- livery of 10000 carabao in the island with permanent immunization The price is to be $S8, Mexican. There are to be brought from the Yang Tsi valley in China. Our insular purchasing agent together with cattle export of the agricultural bu- reau, is now visiting the various ports of the Orient with a view to making fur ther contracts. l am unable to see that the government transports could be made useful to use either in the transportation of rice or of cattle. We can charter steam CTS adapted to our purchases al perhaps one-fourth or one-fifth of the cost of op- erating the transports as proposed by the lieutenant general of the army We can purchase rice in the Orient at a much cheaper price than we can bring corn or wheat from the United States. The rice which we can thus bring to save the people from starvation Is the food which they are used to eating; whereas, they would have to be taught to eat wheat. 1t is exceedingly important that we shall not pauperize the people of these islands by unnecessary gratutious distri- button of rice
 Heavy Expenditure for Rice. In anticipation of a corner in rice, we made a purchase of rice involving the expenditure of about $S00,O00 gold. We succeeded in breaking the corner and keeping down the price and should the price advance. we may have to do the same thing. We have sold the rice In various part of the archipelago nearly at cost whenever the merchants in that neighborhood insisted on forcing the price beyond what was reasonable. We have on hand some fifty thousand piouls Q3715 pounds to the piouD of Bangkok rice which Is the best In the market and we have recently disposed of 100000 pious of what is called Calcutta rice, which was fixed in the contract of sale. If we are able to sell the carabao in the pro- vinces at $90 Mexican, 1t will be a great boon to the people, especially if we do not require a deposit of more than 70 per cent of the cost price and allow a credit of six months for the payment of the balance.
 q think generally, the statement of facts in the report of the lieutenant general Is correct, so Tar at least as the dreadful depression in agriculture by reason of the loss of the cattle Is con- cerned. The remedy which he suggests by the use of the government trans ports. however I don't concur in. The danger from famine has not been as great as I supposed 1t was and the lieu- tenant-general was justified in suppos- ing it was from the reports which he | heard.
 In any event with the funds provided l by Congress now, I feel confident that the Philippine government is in po-