The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-11-23
MORE AMERICAN
VESSELS WANTED
Bulk of Trade In Philippines
Now Handled by British
Ships.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Nov. 22.-The
development of the Philippine islands
during the last year, together with
review of the pending questions of
Importance relating to the archipelago,
is contained in the annual report Of
Col. Clarence R. Edwards, chief of the
bureau of insular affairs of the war de-
partment made public today.
The accomplishment of greatest I'M
portance to the islands during the year
has been the successful launching OF
the new fiscal system. By Jan. next,
the new system will be in complete
operation. The new circulating me-
dunn consists of 100000 pesos and
fractional silver coins and 100000
pesos in paper money. To establish the
new system. and purchase the silver
coinage, the, issues of bonds were made
of $4,000, 900 each, both of which were
sold at premium. The proceeds of
the sale Of these bonds were deposited
and drew interest at the. rate OF 3R
per cent so that the government ac-
tually made money by going into debt.
Col. Edwards emphasizes the neces-
sity of a reduction of the Dingley
tariff rates for the encoura cement of
trade between the United States and
the Philippines There is an active de-
sire on the part of Philippine CONNER
cial interests, he says, for tariff con-
cesSionS, and the report states that the
same desire has also been evinced by
the same interests in this country.
The chief exports of the islands to the
United States are sugar, tobacco, hemp
and copra. The latter two commodities
are already on the free LIST
Aside from the tariff question, the
matter of most serious moment for
the future is the enforcement of the
congressional act requiring the carry
ing trade between the United States
and the Philippines as well as the
coastwise trade of the islands to be
confined strictly to vessels carrying the
American flag after July l next. At
the present time Philippine commerce
is carried on British ships to the ex-
tent of SO per cent of the foreign trade
Of the islands Other foreign vessels
carried practically the remainder Of
this commerce leaving only 8 per cent
to American vessels. A fleet of at least
eighteen American ships is being con-
structed and the prediction is made
that despite the apprehensions now
felt, American ships will be ready to
take the place of foreign vessels with
out seriously mountaineering the ship
ping interests. The enforcement of
this act however with reference to the
coastwise trade presents a much more
difficult problenl.1 - 40 A,a.5ss17
Few American Ships.
There are .new(4,125 vessels engaged
in the coaStWisei tnade9of the islands.
Of this number only % are American
ships. With the whole number of ships
now participating in this trade the
tonnage is said to be- entirely made
quate, and the passenger service is
wretched. 1t is suggested that the
building of light draught vessels to
participate in this carrying business
presents a splendid opportunity for
the profitable investment of American
capitalists, and the uncertainty as to
probable future congressional action
on this subject is asserted to be the
reason why no steps are taken to sup
ply the coming imperative demand for
American built ships.
Col. Edwards calls attention to what
he terms "the second stage of devel-
opment for the Philippine government
as evidenced by the great work Of
the law Office of his bureau during
the past year. The change from a
military to a civil government in the
islands has developed many intricate
and interesting questions of law. A
number of cases involving claims ag
gregating large sums are now pending
in the United States court of claims,
while other questions are before the
circuit courts of this country. The re-
covery Of import and export duties col
lected under the military regime forms
the basis for most of the claims. One
of the questions of most interest pre-
scented is that of the right Of the presi-
dent of the United States to exercise
the power of legislat ton in the Philip
pines prior to the establishment of a
civil government.
Philippine history, as contained in a
vast collection of insurgent war records
now in possession of the bureau is a
work involving painstaking discrimina-
tons, but promises to add much of
permanent interest to the literature Of
the islands. The education of Filipino
youths in this country for the purpose
of making them the future teachers
of the native schools of the islands has
begun under an act passed last sum-
mer by the insular government. Nine
ty-eight young Filipfnos are now on
their way to, this country for that
purpose. They will attend the gram
mar schools of Southern California
during the winter, and In the spring
be distributed through the middle West
and eastern portion of the United
States for further instruction.
MINISTER drops DEAD