Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1903-03-05
A SPECIAL MESSAGE.
The President Urges the Passage
Of a Philippine Tariff Bill.
A CABLECRAN RECEIVED FROM TAFT,
The President Draws Attention 10 tho Ga
lamities That Have Taken Place In the
Philippines and the Policy Pursued
By the United States.

by the United states.
Washington, Feb. 2s.-The presi-
dent late yesterday afternoon sent
the following message TO the senate:
II have just received cable from
Gov. Taft which runs as follows:
Necessity for passage house tar
iff bill most urgent. The conditions
Of, productive industry and business
considerably worse than in Novem-
Der, the date of last report. and
growing worse each month. Some re-
vival in sugar, tobacco prices due to
expectation Of tariff law. The inter-
ests Of Filipinos in sugar and to-
bacco extensive and failure Of bill
will be blow in the face Of those in
terests. Number Of tobacco facto-
ries will have to close II the bill will
not pass. Customs receipts have
fallen Oft this month one-third, show
ing decrease of purchasing power of
islands. General business stagnant.
All political parties, including labor
unions, most strenuous in petition
for tariff bill. Effect Of its failure
very discouraging.'
"Vice Gov. Luke Wright indorses 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
IL there is not a substantial reduction
| in the tariff levied against Philip
pine goods coming into the United
States. l very earnestly ask that
| this matter receive the immediate at
tention of congress and that the re-
lief prayed for be granted.
"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 break
ing up Of the bonds Of social order
and the habits Of peaceful industry,
there occurred an epidemic OF rinder-
pest which destroyed 90 per cent. OF
the caribous, the Philippine cattle,
leaving the people without draugnt
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 sur
wing caribous have increased over
tenfold in value. At the same time
a peculiar oriental horse disease be-
came epidemic, further Gripping
TRANSPORTATION. The rice crop, al
ready reduced by various causes TO
but fourth of its ordinary size, has
been damaged by locusts so that the
price of rice has nearly doubled.
"Under these circumstances there
is imminent danger Of famine In the
islands. Congress Ii in course OF gen
erously appropriating $s,ooo,ooo 70
meet the Immediate needs; but OF In
dispensible and pre-eminent need IL
the resurrection Of productive In
dustry from the prostration into
which It has been thrown by the
causes above enumerated. ! ask ac'
ton in the tariff matter not merely
from the standpoint of wise govern.
mental policy, but as q measure OF
humanity in response to an appeal
to which this great people should
NOT crosse It's ears. we nave assumed
RESPONSIBILITIES toward the Phihp'
nine islands which we are in honor
hound to fulfill. We have the spe'
cific duty of taking every measure
in our power to see to their pros,
nerity. The first and most important
step in this, direction has been &C
complished by the joint action OF tne
military and civil authorities In Sc
curing peace and civil government
The wisdom of congress at the pres
emit session has provided for them
stable currency and its spirit OF hu
name liberality and justice towarc
them win be shown in the appropria
dion now substantially agreed uPoi
Of 100000 to meet the pressing
!. Immediate necessities; but there re
mains a vital need that one thing fur
tber shall be done. The calamine'
which have befallen them, as allow
enumerated, could have been averte'
nv no human wisdom. They canno
he completely repaired; but the SUI
ferine can be greatly alleviated AM
a permanent basis Of future pros
r.r,tv assured II the economic rela