Evening journal., 1903-01-05
OUTLOOK BAD
i'm PHILIPPINES
Governor Taft Says That
Wanf and Famine Threaten
tEhe People There
WARS lEFFEGI ON AGRICULTURE


Wash Nngton, Jan. 5.-The annual re.
port Off the Philippine commission. /
and a s#parate report by Governor W.
II. Taft made public at the war de-
yesterday, gives review OF
the rest#ts of the years work OF the
committee and contain recommenda.
tions 70 #legislative action by congress
deemed Essential to the welfare of the
islands
After #ecting q history of the estab
lishmenW OF civil government through
out the various provinces, Governor
Taft in is report says It has not been
dehnitel# determined what shall bel
done wi respect to Mindanao, whore.
he says hostility to the Americans
does ntW extend beyond the Lake
Lanao oros. The Moros, he says. do
not und krstand popular government
and do not desire Il. preferring control
by dattks. Possibly far in the fu-
ture," NJ says, control by dattos may
cease. For the present, however, It
is necessary TO provide a paternal
strong. Ibut sympathetic government
for thesb followers OF Mohammed"
Governor Taft tells OF the conditions
that hake made it necessary for the
islands to purchase about $15.OO0,0O0
worth df food on which to live, and
of the effects war has had upon agri-
culture. almost the only source OF
wealth in the islands The greatest
blow TO agriculture. he says. Is the
destruction OF about 80 per cent. of
the water buffalo, on which the culti
walton OF rice is almost wholly de-
pendent After speaking OF the raw
ages OF Asiatc cholera, Governor Taft
says: "The bane of Philippine civil.
zation IN the past was ladronism. and
the present conditions are most favor
able for its growth and maintenance
Were there temptations to agriculture.
weVe there prosperous conditions in
the>country. a would not be a trou-
blesome matter TO deal with. but when
want and famine are staring people in
the face. the life OF the freebooter
forms to the desperate and the weak a
very great attraction"
The ladrones OF Iloilo are charac-
terized as an organized band of cattle
thieves. They are being rapidly
stamped out. Governor Taft says that
unless carabao can be replaced, or
other methods Of agriculture substi-
tuted which will prevent these animals
being indispensable hereafter, the fu-
ture for several years has gloomy
outlook
Governor Taft says that the figures
show that for the year ended June 80,
1902. the imports. exclusive Of the
Quartermaster's stores. OF all goods
were Sal 900 600. while the exports
yero about $27.000.O00. He says that
capital has seemed to be timid In com
ing to The Philippines. but adds: 1T
has conhe in a small way In various
branches. so that the aggregate is
very considerable"
The governor points out among 9TH
er Ills from which the country Is suf-
fefing that OF a fuctuating currency.
Touching on the organization Of labor
unions. the governor says that n prop
erly directed the movement may give
to the iaboring classes a sense Of the
dignity of labor and OF their inde
pcndence.
The Philippine commission makes
the following recommendations to
congress: The establishment Of a gold
standard in the islands; reduction OF
Is per cent. OF the Dingley rates on
goods imported into the United States:
an amendment TO the Philippine act
so that the government can lease to
an individual or corporation not more
than $4,000 acres; that all Philippine
bonds shall be free from all taxation
In the United States, and an amend
ment 10 the Chinese exclusion act by
which a fixed number of skilled China
men can be admitted. on the bond OF
the employer that for every Chinaman
employed he will employ Filipino
apprentice, and that he shall pay a
head tax not exceeding $50, the China
man 10 be REFINED within fve years.