The Savannah morning news., 1903-01-21
AGUINALD0 SPEAKS
FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE PHILIP
PINE ISLANDS.
HE PLEADS FOR A BIG BANK.
RELIEVES II OFFERS A REMEDY
FOR DISTRESSES.

secretary Root Sent n Petition from
Congress-ROOt Considered it Good
CorrObOrative Testimony of His
own statement of Conditions in
the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Wants
S2O.OOO.OOO in Cash and SSO,OOO,OO0
Guaranteed for His Bank.
Washington, Jan. 20.-Secretary Root
to-day transmitted to the Senate and
House copies of a petition received by
him. through Gov. Taft, from Agui-
naldo, the late Filipino leader. The
petition is a remarkable presentation
of the conditions now existing in the
Philippines, and Secretary Root has
tened to send it to Congress. because
it went a long way toward supporting
the statements he had made to the
committee of that body and also dem
onstrating the necessity for prompt
and exhaustive action on the part of
Congress to prevent disaster and dis
tress in the archipelago,
Secretary Roots letter of transmit
tai was very short, simply reciting the
character of the document and allud-
ing to the picturesque and graphic
manner in which Aguinaldo had de-
scribed the conditions in the Philip
pines. The Secretary attached par
ticular Importance to Aguinaldos pro-
fession of desire to do everything in
his power to aid the Americans in
carrying out relief measures and de-
veloping the islands. The petition
says in part:
Impressed by CaIamities.
Profoundly impressed by the sor-
rows and calamities which aff1ict my
people, and bearing in mind the good
intentions which have inspired the acts
of the civil commission, have taken
heart to present project of purely eco
nomc character, which, in my opinion,
would remedy, if not completely, at
least in great part, the precarious sit
uation in which we all find ourselves.
Il propose to the honorable civil
commission to obtain from Congress a
United States treasury loan of $4,000,
600, gold in cash, and also a credit of
ScUsUUUUOU, S0Iu, WHICH Will guarantee
the issue of paper to serve as money in
the islands. This sum shall be used
for the development and improvement
OF Philippine agriculture, and shall be
paid within twenty years, the payments
being made in three installments.
When the loan and credit were ap-
proved and the above mentioned sum
here in the Philippines, a bank would
DC opened which could be called United
States American Agricultural Philip
pine Bank and which should be I'M
der the inspection and supervision of
United States authorities.
May Call Him a Dreamer.
After the civil commission had die
tdted the proper regulations and es-
tablished all the necessary safeguards
for the security and stability of the
bank, the bank would begin to operate,
making available for the agriculturists
such sums as they should ask for, in
compliance with the necessary formali-
ties, at an annual maximum interest of
per cent, payable semi-annually.
In case Filipinos should wish to
acquire the bank by making of it
Joint stock company, without otherwise
altering its organizations and methods,
the government would concede to them
the title, without prejudice to its right
TO require payment of the amounts in
CURED by the foundation of said bank
or other necessary expenses.
1t may be that when this project
is known l shall be called an enthusi-
asst and a dreamer, and it will be said
that l ought not to involve myself in
matters that force me out of the re-
tired life which 1 have intended to
follow since my Imprisonment, and
which, as believe, nothing that have
done has broken into until the pres
ent time. But the contemplation of
the bitter misfortune which Cypress
the suffering people. exhausted by evils
and calamities without number, obliges
me to leave my retirement to fulfil
what l believe to be my duty Re-
spectfully,
Emilio Aguinaldo RAINY"