The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-03-03
LOWER TARIFF BARS
Roosevelt Appeals in Behalf
of FiIipinos.
Pass the House Tariff Bill This Means a flood
of Filipino Sugar and Tobacco
Here.
(By the Associated Press.)

Washington, p. c., Feb. 27.-The Presi-
dent, late this afternoon sent the fol-
lowing message to the Senate:
Il have just received a cable from
Governor Taft which runs as follows:
Necessity for passage House tariff
bill most urgent. The conditions of pro-
ductiye industry and business consid-
erably worse than in November, the date
OF last report, and growing worse each
month. Some revival in sugar, tobacco
prices due to expectations Of tariff law.
The interests of Filipinos in sugar and
tobacco extensive and failure of bill will
blow in face of these interests. Number
CT tobacco factories will have to close
up 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
or purchasing power of islands. General
business stagnant. All political parties
including labor unions most strenuous in
petition for tariff bill. Effect of its fail
ure very discouraging.'
"Vice-Governor Luke Wright endorses
in the strongest manner all that Gov
ernOr 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 a substantial reduction in
tariff levied against Philippine goods
coming into the United States. l very
earnestly ask that this matter receive
the immediate attention Of Congress and
that the relief prayed for be granted.
LAS Congress knows, a series of ca
lamities have b~efallen the Philippine peo-
PIE. Just as they were emerging from
roar1U SiY yoorS of 1aJo Ct"t iuO Wa faro
with the accompanying destruction of
property and breaking UP Of the bonds
of social order and the habits of peace
full industry, there occurred an epidemic
of rinderpeSt which destroyed 90 per
cent of the carabaos, the Filipino cattle,
leaving the people without draft animals
to till the lands Or to aid in the ordinary
work of farm and village life. The ex-
tent of the disaster can be seen from the
fact that the surviving carabaos have
increased over ten fold in value. At the
same time a peculiar Oriental horse dis
ease became epidemic, further Gripping
transportation. The rice crop. already
reduced by various causes, to but a
fourth of its ordinary size. has been
damaged by locusts, SO that the price Of
rice has nearly doubled.
"In these circumstances there is i'm
minent danger of famine in the islands.
Congress is in course Of generously APP
propriating SO, 0OO, 900 to meet the i'm
mediate needs, but the indispensable and
pre-eminent need is the resurrection of
the productive industry from the prosta-
tion into which it has been thown by
the causes above enumerated. Action in
the tariff matter not merely from the
standpoint of wise governmental policy.
is a measur of humanity in response
to an appeal to which this great people
should not close its ears. We have as
sumed responsibilities towards the Phil
ippines 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. 3 = =
The calamities which have befallen
them as above enumerated could not
have been averted by human wisdom.
They annot be completely repaired, but
the suffering can be greatly alleviateG
and a permanent basis of future pros
perity assured if the economic relations
of the islands with the United States
are put upon a satisfactory basis.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
White House, February q, 1903"