Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-01-05
THE PHILIPPINES.
Report of the Commission and
One by Gov. Taft.
Latter Gives Comprehensive State
ment Of Conditions in Islands.
The Things Done and the Things Need
ed to Be Done.

Washington, Jan. 4.-The annual re-
port of the Philippine commission and
a separate report by Gov. w. H. Taft,
made public at the war department, to-
day, gives a review of the results of the
years work of the commission and con-
tain recommendation for legislative
action by Congress deemed essential to
the welfare of the islands.
After reciting a history of the estab-
lishment. of civil government through
out the various provinces, Gov. Taft in
his report says it has not been def
nitely determined what shall be done
with respect to Mindanao, where he
says hostility to the Americans does
not extend beyond the Lake Lano Mo-
ros. The governor is of the opinion
that it may be possible to induce the
Sultan of Jolo to part with some OF the
rights he claims to the Jolo group and
thus obviate many obstacles now en-
countered. The Moros, he says, do not
understand popular government and do
not desire it, prefering control by dat
tos. Possibly far in the future, he
says, control by dattos may cease.
For the present, however, it is neces-
sary only to provide a paternal, strong
but sympathetic government for these
followers of Mohammed.'
Gov Taft tells of the conditions that
have made it necessary for the island
to purchase about $15,000,000 worth of
food on which to live and of the effects
war has had upon agriculture, almost
the only source of wealth in the islands.
The greatest blow to agriculture, he
says, is the destruction of about 80 per
cent of the water buffalo on which
the cultivation of every acre is almost
wholly dependent.
After speaking of the ravages of
Asiatic cholera, Gov. Taft says:
The bane of Philippine civilization
in the past was ladronism, and the
present conditions are most favorable
for it's growth and maintenance. 1t is
not certain whether in the depressed
state of agriculture, with the tempta-
ton to ladronism. that the constabu-
larry will be able without the assistance
of the military to stamp it out. Were
there temptations to agriculture, were
there prosperous conditions in the
country, it would not be a trouble
some matter to deal with. but when
want and famine are staring people in
the face the life of the freebooter forms
to the desperate and the weak a very
great attraction. The natural discn-
tent with the government when suffer-
ing is at hand promoted as it has been
by the cholera restrictions and the high
price of rice and other commodities
which have been greatly enhanced by
the depreciation of silver, might well
have caused a new breaking out in the
insurrection and, in my judgment, it
speaks wonders for the ease with which
this country may be governed in nor
nal times. that we have had compare
lively so little disorder since the sur
render of the insurgent arms in April.
Since the civil government was COM
pletely established in the Filipino prov
inces throughout the archipelago in
July of last year, the governor says an
American soldier has not been called on
once to fire a gun, the country having
been polced by the constabulary, a
force of five or six thousand men.
1T may be-" says Gov. Taft, that
as the conditions grow worse-for they
are likely to do so before they grow
better-it will be necessary in a pro-
vince like Cavite, where ladronism
martial law and even to call in the
military finally to suppress it, but it is
still hoped this may be avoided"
The ladrones of Iloilo are character
lied as an organized band of cattle
thieves. They are being rapidly stamp
ed out. Gov. Taft says that unless wa
ter buffaloes can be replaced or other
methods of agriculture substituted
which will prevent these animals being
| indispensable hereafter, the future for
several years has a gloomy outlook.
The depressed condition of agricul-
| ture and the tendency to ladronism in
| the Tagalog and in some of the Visayan
provinces does not apply to those pro-
vinces where hemp is the chief pro-
duct. "They are wealthy and prosper
Gus" the report says, land while their
food costs them more than it need to
| they have money enough with which
| to make improvements; schoolhouses
are being built roads are lying con-
structions; neutrality-suspicious. and
of other kinds-is being introduced and
(Copf;nnod on no oa