Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1903-01-15
GOV. TAFT'S REPORT
WHAT THE UNITED STATES HAS
DONE IN THE PHILIPPINES.
SOME URGENT RECOMMENDATIONS
Legislation Need, to Provide Stable
Currency, Tariff Modification and
Land Laws-Aeks Congress
to Act.

Washington.-The annual report of
the Philippine commission and a
separate report of Governor w. H.
Taft, made public at the war depart.
ment, gives a review of the resources
of the years work of the commission
and contains recommendations for the
legislative action by congress deemed
essential to the welfare of the islands.
Since the civil government was COM
pletely established in the Philippine
provinces throughout the archipelago
on July of last year, the governor
says an American soldier has not
been called on once to fire a gun, the
country having been policed by the
constabulary, force of 5000 or 5000
men.
Governor Taft says the figures show
that for the year ended June 30, 1902,
the imports, exclusive of quarter
masters stores, of all goods were
SAL 100000, while the exports were
about $27 100000. He says capital has
seemed to be timid in coming to the
Philippines, but ut has come in a
small way in various branches, so that
the aggregate Is very considerable"
The governor points out among
other ills from which the country is
suffering that of fluctuation in cur
rency. Touching on the organization
of labor unions, the governor says that
if properly directed the movement
may give to the laboring classes
sense of the dignity of labor and of
their independence. He regards the
objection made by the Filipinos to the
introduction of Chinese into the is
lands to be logical and justified.
The commission concludes with the
following recommendation which are
respectfully urged on the attention of
congress:
First-The establishment of a gold
standard in the islands, and of bank
ing corporations empowered to issue
circulating bank notes under proper
safeguards.
Second-The reduction of at least
70 per cent of the Dingley rates OF
duty upon goods imported into the
United States from the Philippines.
Third-An amendment of the Phil
ippines act so that the addition limit
upon lands which may be sold to or be
held by individuals or corporations
from the public domain shall be in
cluded to $4,000 acres or in the alter.
native so that the government shall
be given the power to lease for sixty
years upon competitive biddings from
the public lands aggregating in any
individual or corporate leasee not
more than 10000. 1t says that legisla-
ton is necessary to development of
the islands and as the government
offering 65,000,000 out of 70000,000
acres in the archipelago there is no
danger Of concentration Of ownership
in individuals or corporations.
Fourth-That the Philippines act
may be amended by repeating the linn.
ittation which forbids an individual
or corporation from holding an inter-
est in more than one mining claim.
Fifth-That all bonds issued by the
insular government under the au-
thority Of the Philippines act shall be
free from state, county and municipal
taxation in the United States
Sixth-That an amendment be made
to the Chinese exclusion act giving
the power of the government by law
to admit fixed and limited number Of
Cinnamon into the Philippine islands
who are certified to be skilled labor
ers, on the bond of the employer that
for every Chinese skilled laborer en-
ployed he will employ Filipino APP
prentice and that he will return the
Chinese skilled laborer thus intro
duced within five years after his adj
mission to the country, and that he
shall pay head tax Of not exceeding
$50 for each Chinaman so admitted to
the insular government to meet the
expenses of the enforcement of these
The commission thinks
unlimited admission of Chinese would
be unwise.