Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1903-03-06
SPECIAL MESSAGE TO senate
GIVES CONTENTS or CABLE DIS.
PATCH FROM GOV. TAFT.
He Urges Passage Of Tariff Silicon
ditlons In Philippines Worse Than
Last MISUNDERSTANDING Worse
Vice Governor Wright Indorses His
Request-caIamities of All Kinds.


sent the following message to the SEN
ate:
II have just received cable from
Governor Taft which runs as follows:
The necessity for passage of the tariff
bill is most urgent. The conditions OF
productive industry 'and business are
considerably worse than in November,
the date of last report, and growing
worse each month. Some revival in
sugar and tobacco prices due to ex-
pectation of tariff law. The interests
of Filipinos in sugar and tobacco are
extensive and failure of the bill will be
blow in the face of those interests.
number of tobacco factories will
have to close and many sugar hacien-
das will be put up for sale at sacri-
fee If the bill does not pass. Customs
receipts have fallen off this month one
third, showing decrease of purchasing
power of the islands. General business
stagnant. All political parties, includ-
ing labor unions. most strenuous in
petition for tariff bill. Effect of its
failure very discouraging.
Endorsed by Wright.
:":Vice Governor Luke e. Wright in
dorses in the strongest manner AL that
Governor Taft has SAID, and states that
he has the gravest apprehension as to
the damage that may come to the isl
ands if there is not a substantial re-
auction in the tariff levied against
Philippine goods coming into the Unit
ed States. / very earnestly ask that
this matter receive the immediate at
tention of congress and that the relief
prayed for be granted.
Series of caIamities.
'As congress knows, series Of ca
lamities have befallen the Philippine
people. Just as they were emerging
from nearly six years of devastating
warfare, with the accompanying de-
struction of property and the breaking
up of the bonds of social order and the
habits of peaceful industry, there oc-
Cured an epidemic of rinderpest which
destroyed 80 per cent of the cariboos,
the Philippine cattle, leaving the peo-
pie 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 cariboos have
increased over tenfold in value. At
the same time peculiar oriental horse
disease became epidemic, further Grip
ping transportation. The rice crop,
already reduced by various causes to
but fourth of its original size, has
been damaged by locusts, so that the
price of rice has nearly doubled.
Famine Danger.
Under these circumstances there is
imminent danger of a famine in the
islands. Congress is in the course of
generously appropriating 100000 to
meet the immediate needs; but of in
dispensable and preeminent need is the
resurrection of productive industry
from the prostration into which 1t has
been thrown by the causes above emu
merated. l ask action in the tariff
matter not merely from the standpoint
of wise governmental policy, but as
a measure of humanity in response to
an appeal to which this great people
should not close its ears.
Responsibilities to Fulfil.
I'VE have assumed responsibilities
toward the Philippine islands which we
are in honor bound to fulfil. We have
the specific duty of taking every meas
ure in our power to see to their pros
perity. The first and most important
step in this direction has been accom-
plished by the joint action of the mill
tary and civil authorities in securing
peace and civil government. The wis.
dom OF congress at the present ses.
sion has provided for them a stable
government; but there remains vital
need that one thing further shall be
done. The calamities which have be-
fallen them as above enumerated could
have been avoided by no human wis
dom. They can not be completely re-
paired. but their suffering can be great
ly alleviated and a permanent basis of
future prosperity assured If the econ
omic relations of the islands with the
United States are put upon satisfac-
tory basis.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
white House, Washington, d. CT