The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1903-03-06
PLEADS FOR PHILIPPINES.
President Roosevelt Sends Special
Message to Congress Urging
Reduction of Tariff.
TAFT REPORTS THERE is GREAT NEED.
Relief Legislation Asked on the
Ground of Duty and in Cause OF
Philanthropy Business Interests
of Islands at Low Ebb and Rev
enues Growing Smaller.

Washington, Feb. 2s.-President
Roosevelt sent to the senate yester-
day a special message urging in
strong terms the passage by that
body of the Philippine tariff bill.
which has been passed by the house
and 10Y languishes in the senate.
The president took his action after a
full discussion of the subject at a
meeting of the cabinet. The Philip
pine tariff bill provides for a reduc-
ton of the American tariff on all
products coming from the Philippines
amounting to IS per cent. The mes
sage is as follows:
II have just received a cable from
Gov. Taft which runs as follows:
Necessity for passage house tariff
bill most urgent. The conditions of
productive industry and business
considerably worse than in Novem-
Der, the date of last report, and
growing worse each month. Number
of tobacco factories will have to
close, and many sugar haciendas will
be put up for sale at a sacrifice if the
bill does not pass. Customs receipts
have fallen off this month one-third,
showing decrease of purchasing pow
err of islands. General business stag
nant.'
"Vice Gov. Luke Wright indorses
in the strongest manner all that
Gov. Taft has said.
Urges Congress to Act.
II very earnestly ask that this
matter receive the immediate atten-
ton of congress and that the. relief
prayed for be granted. AS congress
knows, a series of calamities have
befallen the Philippine people. Just
as they were emerging from nearly
six years of devastating warfare,
with the accompanying destruction
of property and the breaking up of
the bonds of social order and the
habits of peaceful industry, there oc-
Cured an epidemic of rinderpest
which destroyed 90 per cent. of the
%caribous, the Philippine cattle. leav-
ing the people without draft animals
to till the lands or to aid in the or
binary work of farm and village life.
Danger Of Famine.
"Cnder these circumstances there
is imminent danger of a famine in
the islands. Congress is in curse
of generously appropriating $3,Oo0,-
600 to meet the immediate needs, but
the indispensable and preeminent
need is the resurrection of produc-
tive industry from the prostration
into which it has been thrown by the
above enumerated.
II ask action in the tariff matter
not merely from the standpoint of
wise governmental policy, but as a
of humanity in response to
an appeal to which this great people
should not close its ears.
Relief Already Given.
"The first and most important step
in this direction has been accom-
plished by the joint action of the
military and civil authorities in Sc
peace and civil government.
The. wisdom of congress at the pres
ent session has provided for them
stable currency, and it's spirit of hui
name liberality and justice toward
them will be shown in the appropria-
ton now substantially agreed upon
of $4,000 900 to meet the pressing i'm
mediate necessities, but there re-
mains vital need that. one thing fur
Their shall be done.
"The calamities which have be-
fallen them as above enumerated
could have been averted by no human
wisdom. They cannot be completely
repaired, but the suffering can be
alleviated and a permanent
basis Of future prosperity assured if /
he economic relations of the islands 1
the United States are put upon
satisfactory basis.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
"White House, Feb. %, 1903"