The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-02-28
Bees CONGRESS.
President Roosevelt Sends a
Message to Senate.
Pleads for the Passage of Phil
ippine Tariff Bill.
IN NAME OF JUSTICE
As Well as Humanity, He Urges
Action.
Quotes Cablegram Received
from Gov. Taft.

Washington, Feb 2S.-The president
has sent the following message to the
senate:
I have Just received a cable from Gov
ernor. Taft which runs as follows.
Necessity for passage of house tariff
bill most urgent. The conditions of
productive industry and business consid.
erably worse than IN November. the date
Of last report. and growing worse each
month. Some revival in sugar and to-
bacco prices due to expectation of tariff
law The interests of Filipfnos in sugar
and tobacco extensive and failure Of bill
viii be blow in the face of these inter-
ests. Number Of tobacco factories win
have to close and many sugar haciendas
viii be put I'D for sale at a sacrifice if
the bill viii not pass Customs re-
ceipts nave fallen of this month one
third, showing decrease OF purchasing
power of islands General business stag
nant All political parties. including Ia
Dor unions. most strenuous in petition
for tariff bill. Effect of its failure very
discouraging"
Vice Governor Luke Wright endorses
in the strongest manner all that Gov
ernor Taft has said. and states he has
the gravest apprehension as to the dam
age that may come TO the islands il
there is not substantial reduction in
the tariff levied against Philippine
goods coming into the United States.
very earnestly ask that this matter re-
ceive the immediate attention Of con-
gress. and that the relief prayed for be
granted
As congress knows. a series of calami-
ties have befallen the Philippine people
Just as they were emerging from near
iy SIX years of deV6stat ting warfare with
the accompanying destruction of pro-
TaETfE and FtTG hrn4 king n bonds
Of social order and the habits of peace
fuI industry there occurred an epidemic
OF rlnderpesJ which destroyed 80 per
cent of the CariboOS the Philippine cat
tie leaving the people without draft ami
mails to till the lands or to aid in the
ordinary work of farm and village life
The extent Of the disaster can be seen
from the fact that the surviving carl
/ ue- At the same time necuiiar ori6n-
tai horse disease became epidemic furth
er crippling sportation. The rice
crop. already reduced by various causes
to but fourth of its ordinary size has
been damaged by locusts SO that the
price of rice has nearly doubled
Under these circumstances there is
. imminent danger of a famine in the
Islands. Congress is In course of gen
erOusly appropriaUng $ 900 GOO to meet
the needs; but Of indispensable and pre-
eminent need is the resurrection of pro-
ductIve industry from the prosfrariOn
causes above enumerated. I ask action
in the tariff matter not merely from the
standpoint OF wise governmental policy.
but measure of buna nifty in re-
sponse to an appeal to which this great
( people should not close its ears. We
have assumed responsibility toward the
Philippine Islands which we are in honor
bound to fulfill. We have the specific
duty of taking every measure in our
power to see to their prosperity The
first and most important step in this di-
rectiOn has been accomplished by the
joint action of the military and civil
authority in securing peace and civil
government. The wisdom of congress
at the present session has provided for
them stable currency and IFS spirit of
humane liberaIity and justice toward
them VIII be shown in the appropriation
now substantially agreed upon of three
million to meet tlle pressing immediate
necessities, but there remains a vital
need that one thing further shall be
done The caiamities which have be-
fallen them as above enumerated could
have been averted by no human wis
( dom They cannot be completely repair
ed but the suffering can be greatly al
( levIated and a permanent basis Of fu-
4 ture prosperity assured If the economic
/ relations of the islands with the United
I States are put upon a satisfactory basis.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT
White House