Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1903-03-03
Senate Passes Qualifications Bill and
Then Displaces the Statehood Bill
with Aldrich Financial Measure-
House Works Under Special Rules
Naval Bill Sent to Conference.

The Philippine tariff bill provides
for reduction of the American tariff
on all products coming from the
Philippines amounting to IS per cent.
The message is as follows:
II have just received cable from
Gov. Taft, which runs as follows: Ne
cessity for passage house tariff most
urgent. The conditions of productive
industry and business considerably |
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 Filipinos in
sugar and tobacco extensive, and fail
ure of bill will be blow in the face of
those interests. Number of tobacco
factories will have to close and many
sugar haciendas will be put up for sale
at a sacrifice if the bill will not pass.
Customs receipts have fallen off this
month one-third, showing decrease of
purchasing power of the islands. Cen
eral business stagnant. All political
parties, including labor unions, most
strenuous in petition for tariff bill. Eff
feet of its failure very discouraging.'
'vice Gov. Luke Wright endorses in
the strongest manner all that Gov.
Taft has said, and states that he has
the gravest apprehension as to the
damage that may come to the islands
If there is not substantial reduction
in the tariff levied against Philippine
goods coming into the United States.
Urges Congress to Act.
ST very earnestly ask that this mat
ter receive the immediate attention of
congress, and that the relief prayed for
be granted. AS congress knows, a
series of calamities have befallen the
Philippine people. Just as they were
emerging from nearly six years of
devastating warfare, with the accom-
panying destruction of property and
the breaking up of the bonds of social
order and the habits of peacefulindus-
try, there occurred an epidemic of
rinderpest which destroyed 90 per cent.
of the carabous, the Philippine cattle,
leaving the people without draft
animals 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
caribeus have increased over ten-fold
IN value. At the same time peculiar
oriental horse disease became epidem-
ic, further crippling transportation.
The rice crop, already reduced by va
rious causes to but fourth of its ordi-
nary size, has been damaged by locusts,
so that the price of rice has nearly
doubled.
Urgent Needs in the Islands.
"Under these circumstances there
is imminent danger of famine in the
islands. Congress is in course of gen.
erously appropriating $3000,O00 to
meet the immediate needs, but indis-
pensible and preeminentneed is the res
direction of productive industry from
the prostration into which it has been
thrown by the causes above enumer-
ated. ask action in the tariff matter,
not merely from the standpoint of wise
governmental policy, but as measure
of humanity in response to an appeal
to which this great people should not
close its ears. We have assumed re-
sponsibilities 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 direction
has been accomplished by the joint
action of the military and civil authori-
ties in securing peace and civil govern
ment. The wisdom of congress at the
present session has provided for them
a stable currency, and its spirit of hui
name liberality and justice toward
them will be shown in the appropria-
ton now substantially agreed upon of
100000, to meet the pressing imme-
date necessities, but there remains
vital need that one thing further shall
be done. The calamities which have
befallen them as above enumerated
could have been averted by no human
wisdom. They cannot be completely
repaired, but the suffering can be
greatly alleviated and permanent ba-
SIS OF future prosperity assured if the
economic relations of the islands with
the United States are put upon salts
factory basis.
i THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
"White House, Feb. ~, 1903"
'
Fortincations Dill Passed.
Washington, March 2.-The senate
Saturday passed the Notifications ap-
preparation bill. Senator Aldrich
moved to take up the financial bill
known as the Aldrich bill. The mo-
ZION prevailed, Al to II. The effect
OF the vote besides putting the bill
before the senate is to displace the
statehood bill as the unfinished bust
ness.
House Working Under Special Ru1es
Washington, March Binder the
special rules adopted Friday the
speaker of the house Saturday laid
before the house the naval appropria-
ton bill with senate amendments and
upon roll call and by vote of 243
to the amendments were disagreed
to and the bill was sent to confer
ence. The speaker appointed the fol-
lowing conferees: Messrs. Foss Gll.),
Dayton CIV. Va.) and Tate (Ga.l
Mr. Wagner (Pa.) called up the con-
ference report upon the bill to amend
the railroads safety appliance act.
He declined to make any arrange
ment about time for debate and after
. brief explanation demanded the
previous question. The rull WIS raifsd |