The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-02-28
TARIFF BARS
Roosevelt Appeals in Behalf
of Filipinos.
Pass the House Tariff BiIl---This Means Flood
Of Filipino Sugar and Tobacco
Here.
(By the Associated Press. }

Washington, d. c., Feb. 27.-The Presi-
dent, late this afternoon sent the fol-
lowing message to the Senate:
Il have Just received cable from
Governor Taft which runs as follows:
Necessity for passage House tariff
bill most urgent. The conditions of pro-
ductive 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
Of 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. ustoms 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
rt tition for tariff bill. Effect of its fail
ure very discouraging.'
"Vice- Governor Luke Wright endorses
in the strongest manner all that Gov
crnor 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. | 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
lamties have befallen the Philippine peo-
PIE. Just as they were emerging from
nearly six years of devastating warfare,
with the accompanying destruction of
property and breaking up of the bonds
of social order and the habits of peace
ful industry, there occurred an epidemic
of rinderpest which destroyed 80 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 cX-
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 crippling
transportation The rice crop, already
reduced by various causes, to but a
fourth of its ordinary size, has been
damaged by lOculS, 50 tHdl LhS PAlNc VI
rice has nearly doubled.
I'm these circumstances there is I'M
minent danger of famine in the Islands
Congress is in course of generously ap-
propriating $4,000 600 to meet the I'M
mediate needs but the Indispensable and
pre-eminent need is the resurrection o.
the productive industry from the prosta-
tion into which ii has been thown BY
the causes above enumerated Action II
the tariff matter not merely from thf
standpoint of wise governmental policy
is q measure 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 homo
bound to fulfill. We have the specific
duty of taking every measure in oul
power to sec TO their prosperity.
.sThe calamities which have befaller
them as above enumerated could mo-
have been averted by human wisdom
They cannot be completely repaired, bu
the suffering can be greatly alleviate
and permanent basis of future pros
peritv assured if the economic relation
of the islands with the United States
are put upon satisfactory basis.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT,
"White House, February p. 1903.
- sg. III