New-York tribune., 1903-01-05

Taft Describes Tayiag Conditions
an Different Pro11nces.

mission. and contain recommendations for leg
sslstive action l'y Congress deen1ed essential 20
the welfare Of the islands
After reciting a history Of The esta blishment
Of civil government through the various PROV
incss Governor Taft in his report says it has
not been definitely determined what shall he
done with respect 10 MiRdanso where. he says
hostility TO the Americans does not extend be
vond the Lake I-aTso Noros The Governor is of
opinion that il may be possible 10 induce the
Sultan Of Jolo 10 part with Of the rights he
claims 10 the Jolo group. and thus obviate many
obstacles now encountered. The Moros. he says
DO not understand popular government. and DO
not desire it. preferring control by dattos. Pos
sibly far in the future" he says. control by
dattos may cease For the present, however,
q Is necessary only 10 provide a paternai.
strong but sympathetic government for these
followers Of Mahonet.
Governor Taft tells OF the conditions that have
mace il necessary for the islands TO purchase
about S15.0eo.ooo worth nf food. which 10
live and Of the effects has had upon ag
-icult:lre. almost the only source OF wealth in
The islands The greatest blow TO agriculture.
H. says. is the destruction of about 9o per cent
Ct The water buffalo. on which the cultivation
Of rice is almost wholly dependent After
speaking Of the ravages Of Asiatic cholera Gov
ernor Taft says.
n
--aS Iad-orisr1 and the present conditions are
most favorable for its growth and maintenance
] Is not certain whether in the depressed stare
~ agriculture with the temptations 10 Ia
dronisru. the cons1a bulary will be able With
cut the assistance Of the military 10 stamp u
out Were there temptations 10 asT1-
culture were there prosperous conditions in the
co1u1rv il would not be troublesome matter
TO deal with. but when want and famine are
staring people IN the face the life OF the free
flooter forms 70 the desperate and the weak
great attraction The natural discontent VIII VIII
a-ir,r- &c AZ he ne o.
NOTED as il has been by the cholera restrictions
and the high prices Of rice and other common
ries which have been greatly enhanced by the
depreciation Of silver. might wen nave caused
new breaking out or the insrrrectlon- ano, III
r7y judgment il speaks wenoers Tor me ease
with which this country may be governed. II
normal tirres that have comparatively so
1irrIe disorder since the surrender q the tnsur-
gent arms. IT Aprli-
since th. civil government was completely
established in the Filipino provinces through the
archfpelago in July Of last year the Governor
SAYS an American soldier has not been called on
once to fire gun. the country having been
r,olfced by the oonstabuiary q force Of five thou
sand or SIX thousand men.
PREVALENCE OF LADRoNIsM-
80 h. saws Governor Taft. that as the
conditions grow voTse-for they are hkel5 10 DO
zo heeo-e they grow better-it viii be necessary
IN rro,-ince like Cavite, where ladronisTn seems
5nb-e5 il the people. 10 proclaim martial law
and even 10 call ia the military finally TO sup
7.ress Il but it is still hoped this may De
zvoided-"
The ladrones OF Iloilo are characterized as al
organized band Of cattle thieves They are
being RAPIDLY stamped out Governor Taft says
nat unless oarabao can be replaced, or other
methods Of agriculture substituted which VIII
7,re17ent these animals being indispensable here
aftsr. the future for several years has gloomy
outlook.
The depressed condition Of agriculture and the
tendency 10 1adrorisrn il the Tagalog and III
some of the visayan provinces DO not apply 10
-bcze provinces where hemp Is The chief product
The report says:
They are wealthy and prosperous and : ME
their food costs thez, more man = = T,zte
sr-1-oze,nentz Schoolhouses are being built,
roads are being constructed Ileili:lsr 71a5
cultural and OF other klndsS peins III
md there l. every evidence O. = forward move
-0ent Throughout the rice and IaEalog
provinces however, we ralst expect disturb
rces from time 10 time from ladrones ard their
assistants the EaIipunan Socle5ies tiI
~ ,z-t7oe there Is before Us & year Of the hard
.ssr kind of work. relieving the people from Ire
hardship and suffering Likely L follow the iall-
75re Of the rice crop and il sITTress-LlE ladron-
ism and other disturbances c2e % ecoi'0ll-e
distress.
Governor Taft SAYS the figures show that for
the year ended June 60 1902. the imports eXclU-
sive Of ouarterrnasters' stores, OF ali goods were
S41000.Oeo while the exports were about ST
.Yea0eo He saws capital has seemed to be ti1nld
IN coming 10 the Philippines, but adds; 1T has
come in small way in various branches. 50 that
the aggregate is very considera BILE
NEED FOR CURRENCY CHANGES
The Governor points out among other ills from
which The country is suffering that OF huctuat-
.nz currency on the subject OF labor he speaks
OF the need of making temporary provision. such
as is recommended by the full commission
Touching On the organization Of labor unions
The Governor says that IL properly directed the
movement may give 10 the laboring classes
sense Of the dignity Of labor and Of their indie
z,endence He regards the objection made by the
F-iIipiros TO the unlimited Introduction OF Chi
1ese into the islands be logical and justified
and SAYS;
Ano-her plase or the labor question which
yzCae ror seem to have had its proper weight
-z-1rl7 The merchants of Manila in their demand
for the admission OF Chinese coolies Is the great
obstacle which such policy would present 10
the opening by the United States OF its markets
70 Philippine products
There is in the city Of Manila real estate and
improvements assesss bic for taxation amounting
= 81 o05 1870 while there is non-assessa ble real
:,2Q Of which S13. 80. ISIS IS public property and
SF21J794 Is church property. exempt under
the law Governor Taft commends TO the com
mission the benefits that might accrue from the
ssts blishrnent in rhe islands Of postal savings
hanks
independent Filipino Catholic Church. and says
the commission has stated that II would take no
part in religious controversies
THE COMMISSIONS VIEWS
The Philippine Commission. in its annual
port which is the third it has made. says at the