The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-01-05
WANT EXISTS IN
PHILIPPINES
Serious Conditions Confront PEG.
pie on the Islands.
OFFICIAL REPORTS MADE
BLOW AIMED AT SILVER AND
FOR BIG SYNDICATE.

Washington Jan. 4-'The annual re-
port Of the Philippine commission and
separate report by Governor Taft.
made public at the war department to-
Gay, give review of the results dur
Ing the years work of the commission.
and contain recommendations for leg
lslative action by congress deemed es-
sential ia the welfare of the islands
After reCiting a history of the estab-
hshment Of civil government through
out various provinces, Governor Taft
says il has not been definitely deter
mined what shall be done with respect
To M1ndanaO- where, he says. hostility
TO the Americans does not extend be
yOnd Lake Lanao MCros. The COVER
nor is of the opinion that it may be
possible to induce the sultan of Jolo
10 part with some of the rights he
claims to the JOlo group and thus OBJ
viate many obstacles now encountered
The MOros. he says, do not understand
popular government and DO not desire
1t, preferTing control by the dattOs
Possibly far in the future he SAYS,
control by the dattOS may cease. For
the present, however, it is necessary
only to provide a strong but sympa-
thetic government for these followers
of Mohammed."
Governor Taft tells of the conditions
that have made the islands purchase
about $4,000 600 worth OF food and of
the effects war has had on agriculture
almost the only source of wealth in the
islands. The greatest blow to agrf-
culture, he says. is the destruction of
about 90 per cent of water buffalo on
which the cultivation of rice is almost
wholly dependent.
Menace in Ladrones.
After speaking of the ravages of
Asiatic cholera, Governor Taft says:
The bane of Philippine civilization
in the past was ladrOnism and the pres
ent conditions are most favorable for
its growth and maintenance. It is not
certain whether in the depressed state
of agriculture, with the temptation to
ladronism, that the cOnstabUlary will
be able without the assistance of the
military to stamp it out.
Were there prosperous conditions in
the country il would not be 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 Natural dis
content with the government when 5uf-
terinS is at hand, promoted as it is by
cholera restrictions and the high price
or rice and other commodities, which
have been greatly enhanced by the de-
probation Of silver, might well have
caused q new outbreak Of the inSur-
rectiOn, and in my judgment it speaks
wonders for the ease with which this
country may be governed in normal
times that we have had comparatively
so little disorder since the surrender of
the insurgent arms in April"
Since the civil government was COM
pletely established in the Philippine
provinces 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 coun-
try having been policed by the con-
stabulary, a force of 5000 or 5000 men.
Martial Law Not Unlikely.
1T may be-" says Governor Taft,
that as the conditions grow worse,
for they are likely to do so before they
grow better, it will be necessary in a
province like Cavite. where ladronism
seems inbred In the people. to proclaim
martial law and even TO call on the
military to suppress it, but il is still
hoped that this may be avoided"
The depressed condition of agricul-
ture and the tendency to ladTonism in
the Tagalog and in some Of the Visay-
an provinces does not apply to those
provinces where hemp is the chief prod
uct.
They are wealthy and prosperous"
the report says, and while their food
costs them more than it used to, they
nave money enough with which TO
make improvements. School houses are
being built, roads are being construct
ed: machinery, agricultural and other
kinds. is being introduced, and there
is every evidence of a forward move
ment.
Through the rice and Tagalog PROV
inces. however. we must expect dis |
turbances from time TO time from Ia
drones and their assistants. the Kati- /
punan societies"
Says Capital Seems Timid.
Governor Taft says the figures show 1
that for the year ended June 80, 1902. /
the imports. exclusive of qua rtermas-
ter's stores Of all goods. were 81 900. 600. /
while the exports were about $27, COG. 600. /
He says capital has seemed timid in /
coming TO the Philippines, but 'it has /
come in a small way in various /
branches, so that the aggregate is very /
considerable"
The governor points out that among
other ills from which the country is