New-York tribune., 1903-02-28
MISERY In PHILIPPINES.
APPEAL BY PRESIDENT.
He Urges the Senate to Pass the
Tariff Reduction Bill.
TBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE


Washington. Feb. 27.-Ir a brief message. sig
nificant because of it's vivid picture of the dis
tress existing in the Philippines and joined with
a dispatch from Governor Taft, setting forth the
desperation of the situation President Roose-
welt. after consultation with his Cabinet at
the meeting to-day. appealed to the Senate to
act on the Philippine Tariff bill, which has al
ready passed the House. After recounting the
conditions existing in the islands the President
clearly sets forth his belief that action on this
measure is necessary. not alone matter Of
governmental policy but rather as a question Of
national honor. The message. which was de-
livered late this afternoon, follows:
I have Just received cable from Governor
Taft. which runs as follows.
Necessity for passage House Tariff bill most
urgent. The conditions of productive industry
and business considerably worse than in No
Vember the date of last report. and growing
worse each month. Some revival in sugar and
tobacco prices, due to expectation of tariff law
The interests os FilpinOs in sugar and tobacco
extensive and failure of bill will be blow in face
of those interests Number OF tobacco factories
will have close. and many sugar haciendas
will be put up TOR sale at a sacrifice If the bill
Will not pass Customs receipts have fallen off
this month one-third showing decrease of pur-
chasing power of islands General business
stagnant- All political parties. including labor
unions, n1ost strenuous in petition for tariff bill.
Effect of its failure very diSCOura ginG
ViCe-CSOvernOr Luke Wright indorses in the
strongest manner all that Governor Taft has
said. and states that he has the graVeSt
hension TO TIE damage that may come 90 the
Islands If there is not substantial reduction in
the tariff levied against Philippine goods com
ing into the United States / very earnestly
ask that this ma tier receive the immediate at
tention of Congress. a-d that the relief prayed
for be granted
As Congress krows . series of caIamities have
befalen the Philippi people Just they
were emerging from nearly SIX years OF devas-
tating warfare. with the accompanying de-
stTuCtion of property and the breaking UP Of
the bonds OF social order and the habits OF
peaceful industry. there occurred an epidemic of
rinderpest which destroyed 30 per cent of the
carabaos (the Filipino Cattle). leaving the peo-
pie without draught 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 Carabaos have in-
creased over tenfold in value. At the time
a peculiar Oriental horse disease became cpl
demic further Crippling transportation The
rice crop already reduced bv various causes to
but fourth of its ordinary size. has been dam
aged by 1ocusts. so that the price Of rice has
nearly doubled
Under these circumstances there is immnent
danger of famine in the islands. Congress is in
course of generously appropriating S3,OOOOOO
meet the immediate needs; but the indis-
pensable and pre-emInent need is the resurrec-
tion of productive industry from the prostraton
into which it has been thrown by the causes
/ ask action in the tariff matter not merely
from the standpoint of wise governmental poll
lev but as a measure of humanity in response
to an appeal to which this great people should
close its ears We have assumed RESPONSE
bilities toward the Philippine Islands which
specific duty of taking every measure in our
power to to their prosperity The first and
important step in this direction has been
accomplished by the joint action of the military
and civil authorities in securing peace and civil
government.
The wisdom of Congress at the present ses-
sion has provided for them a stable currency.
and it's spirit OF humane liberality and justice
toward them will be shown in the appropriation.
substantially agreed upon, of 100000 to
meet the pressing immediate necessities. but
there remains vital need that one thing
further shall be done. The calamities which
have befaIlen them. as above enumerated could
have been averted by no human wisdom. They
cannot be completely repaired. but the suffering
can be greatly aleviated and a permanent basis
of future prosperity assured if the economic re-
latiOnS or the islands with the United States are
put upon satisfactory basis.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
White House. Feb. -, 1908.
Senator Lodge is working increasingly to Sc
cure the passage of the Philippine Tariff bill.
but has thus far met with little encouragement.
II is evident that a majority of the Senate would
be glad TO vote for the measure if the Oppor-
tunity were given but Mr.. Lodge is confronted
with the anomalous situation of large ma
iority of Republicans favoring freer trade re-
I,tions but opposed by a small coterie of Dem
ocrats who fear that some OF their constituents
NAV he robbed of a portion of the benefits Of
the Dnglev schedules. Senators Patterson and
Teller are unCompromisingiy opposed 70 the
measure They fear that the Philippine sugar
industry may at some future time develop 10 a
noint where il will be able TO compete with their
beet sugar producing constituents. and. fright
a,ed into rigidity of purpose for this chimera
they assert their determination to talk the meas
IRE TO death if its further consideration is un-
dertaken With less than four legislative days
remaining and two appropriation bills still TO
he considered bv the Senate the enactment OF