Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-19
Col. Edwards of the Insular
Bureau Talks.
LEGISLATION ENACTED
WHAT CONGRESS HAS DONE FOR
THOSE PEOPLE.
He Tells Interestingly Of the Benefits
Thus Far Bestowed and What
Remains to Be Done.

upon MIN OeVOlVeu tne
tant duty of arranging for the execution of
the legislation enacted in behalf of the peo-
pie of the Philippine Islands.
During a lapse In his work today Colonel
Edwards talked in an interesting manner
to n Star reporter in regard to what Con-
gress had done for the Philippines and
what remained to be done.
The Instructions of President Mckinley
to the Philippine Commission. dated April
7. 19O0,'' said he, lis destined to become a
historical state paper, which for lofty pur-
pose and wide grasp of duty and obligation
has perhaps never been surpassed. 1t con-
cludes with the statement:
AS high and sacred an obligation rests
upon the government OF the United States
to give protection for property and life,
civil and religious freedom. and WISE firm
and unselfish guidance in the paths of
peace and prosperity to all the people of
the Philippine Islands / charge this COM
mission to labor for the full performance
of this obligation which concerns the honor
and conscience of their country, in the firm
hope that through their labors all the in
habitants of the Philippine Islands may
come to look back with gratitude to the
day when God gave victory to American
arms at Manila and set their land under
the sovereignty and the protection Of the
people of the United States
These sentiments found echo In the con-
science of the people, and it was along the
lines thus marked out by our good Presi-
dent. that the Philippine commission be-
gan to develop an insular system of gov
eminent.
First Act Of Congress.
ut was soon found, as indeed was to be
expected that Congress would have to ex-
press itself on important questions relative
to the welfare of the islands, and some
measure of the spirit of the Presidents in
structions descended upon both Houses,
and as a result the first session of the
Fifty-seventh Congress approved the tariff
act enacted by the commission. which
provided an income for the insular govern
ment, and later in the session passed the
act providing for the administration ofthe
affairs of civil government in which was
included bill of rights, a system of land
entries. mining regulation, and provision
for the election and organization of Phil
ippine legislature, ratifying and confirming
what had been done. and thus leaving the
foundation intact for creating a govern
ment from the ground up.
These were mighty strides along the road
toward self-government, and the latter
received the Presidents approval July /,
1902. he Immediately Issued the Fourth
of July of the same year his amnesty proc
lamation to the Filipinos in insurrection
against the authority of the United States
When the second short session of
Congress assembled in December there were
other Philippine questions demanding at
tention. In view of the many important
matters that were pressing for consldera-
ton. the Secretary of War did not feel at
all sanguine that the various measures
of vital Importance would gain legislative
relief in the few number of days remain
Ing to Congress, and, therefore. when one
sums up what Congress did for the Phil
ippines even though the important tariff
measure failed, one must realize that
much for the benefit of the F'ilipinos was
accomplished, in spite of the short session
and the fact that virtually all legislation
was by unanimous consent.
THE monetary system of the islands was
almost In state of chaos. There was In
circulation Spanish coin. Filipino pesos
Mexican dollars silver from other coun-
tries of the orient and currency of the
United States. Silver was constantly fuc-
tuating in price with a downward ten
dency. The official rate of exchange had
to be changed frequently. and yet the gov
eminent and its employees were the losers
The Coinage Act.
ITO remedy this condition An act to es-
tablish a standard of value and to provide
for coinage system in the Philippine
Islands was passed. which had for its
object to fix constant and stable ratio
between the currency of the United States
and that of the islands, a system just
about to be put in operation and by an
ticipation has so met the Endorsement of
other silver countries that Mexico is max
lis eHOTt 10 introduce a SlInllar SyS
TEN, and commission is now at work
to bring all stlver-using countries to a
similar basis. The act was approved March
2 1903. ard in two months dies were pre-
pared and pesos, subsidiary coins, both
silver and copper. were coined Sand ready
for shipment to Manila
In conformity with the above act, tenn
porary certificates of Indebtedness were
prepared, engraved printed and sold for
the purchase of bullion from which to
make the coin. Furthermore silver certifi-
Gates, as provided for in the act are also
well under way and will reach Manila in
a short time The passage of the act
and the expedition with which it's pro-
visions have been complied with have had
an excellent effect upon the people In the
Philippines, and 1t Is hoped that their past
experience will soon become but
memory.
THE people of the United States have
never been deaf to the cries of suffering
and distress. They reached out generous
hands to the starving victims of the Cuban
revolution. they FASTENED to the relief of
those whose homes were destroyed by the
hurricane in Porto Rico. and when 1t be-
came known that the rinderpest had de-
stroyed the carabao. the farm animal of
the Filpinos. that surra had decimated
their horses, that the locusts had ravaged
their growing crops and that the cholera
was claiming victims Congress Included
the following paragraph In the sundry civil
bill:
e For the relief OF distress In the Philip
pine Islands. to be expended under the
direction and in the discretion of the
Philippine government. in such proportions
as they may deem wise. in the direct pur-
chase and distribution or sale of farm
implements. farm animals. supplies and
necessaries of life. and through the en-
pioyment of labor In the construction of
government wagon roads and other public
works. to be Immediately available, three
million dollars. And the governor of the
Philippines shall submit to the Secretary
of War statement of all expenditures
hereunder '-
Under the provision of this act the gov
eminent OF the Philippine Islands has ar
ranged to import caraboas. to be distrbut-
ed. at cost. among the agriculturists of the
islands. so that the fallow fields might be
cultivated: rice was imported In large GUAM
titles and sold at cost for the maintenance
OF those who had no other means of sup
port. and employment will be given to
others upon public works. especially roads
of general utility that would be of perma-
nent value In the development of the
islands. 1t was generous act for the
benefit of a needy people. and its results
will go far toward healing the wounds
caused by the unfortunate insurrection
This appropriation was not made for the
purpose OF promoting gratitude, or to pur-
chase loyalty, but because the representa-
uves of the American people are never deaf
TO appeals of suffering. and there has been
no protest against this tangible evidence