The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-06-10
TAFT ANSWERS GEN. MILES.
FOLLY TO IMPORT CATTLE AND
WHEAT, He SAYS.
lie Can Get Rice. which the People Arc
Used To, and Cattle Must BE Made
In,mune--Iias Famine situation We'll
I'm Hand-HOw He Broke a Corner.


in Hand-HOw He Broke a Corner.
WASHINGTON, June 9-Secretary Root has
laid before the President a letter from Gov.
Taft replying to certain criticisms made BY
Gen. Miles in regal I'd to the sale of rice to
the natives of the Philippines. Gov Taft
also discusses general conditions In the
Philippines as reported upon by Gen. Miles.
The letter says in part
THAT there is shortage in the islands
Of the usual food supply is undoubtedly
true, but have been surprised to find thus
far how little real famine or hunger there
has been have not received single
call from a single Provincial Governor Tor
rice for free distribution in the entire arch
ipelago In the Province OF Batangas,
Capt Boughton, who is managing the So
called war famine fund. the history OF which
has been already officially reported to you;
has made a very small gratultous dis,
tribution Of rice, not exceeding. l should
think, 81 900 worth.
THE action of the commission in direct
ing a proclamation by the Civil Governor,
calling upon the people everywhere to plant
corn. camotes or sweet potatoes, rice ana
other quickly growing food products had
a very wide influence in stirring up the peo-
pie to provide against the coming OF lam
me.
Gov. Taft says that it is true that an UNI
exalnpled drought in the islands has pre-
vented this planting from being as pro-
ductive as it otherwise would have been;
and that the locusts, too. have nterfered
with some of the crops. but on the whole he
has been greatly surprised to find the suffer-
ing SO much less than the commission ex-
pected. He thinks that. although calls for
aid may come in during the. summer, the
Philippine Government will be able 10 re-
spond promptly to them, especially IN view oS
of the appropriation by Congress of So 900 900
Gen. Miles recommended in his report
that cattle be imported into the Philippines
on the hoof and that the army transports
be used to carry wheat and other food
supplies to the Philippines for the suffering
natives.
Gov Taft saws that it is not feasible to
bring cattle into the islands without making
sure that they will not catch the rinder-
pest and die from the disease ne
explains that it is necessary that all cattle
brought into the islands have serum IN
iected into their veins which Will render
them immune for three or four months.
A contract for 10000 carabao to be brought
from the Yang' Sc Valley in China and prop
erly iInmunized has already been made
Gov. Taft says he is unable to see how the
a. steamboats, adapted to Philippine pur-
ap,as can be chartered at perhaps one
Fourth or one-fifth the cost OF operating
transports. He says
ave have some twelve or fourteen coast
guard vessels which can transport rice
Quickly to any part of the archipelago.
and we can purchase rice in the Orient at
a much cheaper price than we can bring
corn or wheat from the United States.
The rice which we can thus bring to save
the people from starvation is the food
which they are used to eating; whereas
they would have to be taught to eat wheat.
1t is exceedingly important that we shall
not pauperze the people Of these islands
hv an unnecessary Rratuitous distribution
Of rice. In anticipation Of corner in rice
we made purchase Of rice involving the
expenditure OF about ssOO.OOO gold, We
succeeded in breaking the corner and
keeping down the price Of rice, and should
the price Of rice advance again. we may
have to do the same thing.
I've have sold the rice in various parts OF
the archipelago nearly ar cost whenever
the merchants in that ne ghborhlood insisted
forcing the PSe ban n wns'
fifty thousand piculs Gs71s pounds to the
picu) of Bangkok rice, which is the. best in
the market and we have recently disposed
of 100000 piculs Of what is called Calcutta
superior famine rice, to BE- sold through
out the archipelago at moderate price
which was fixed in the contract Of sale
If more than the rice we have on hand Is
needed for the purpose OF feeding starvinhe
market and distribute it without the use
of the Government transports.
THE price at which wa have contracted
for the purchase of the first 10000 cattle /.
$50 Mexican. delivered in Manila, com
pletely ;mmunized. If we are able to sci
the carabao in the province at 800 Mexican
it will be a great boon to the people, espe
cially if we do not require a deposit o.
moro than so per cent. Of the cost price ant
allow credit of six months for the pay
rnent of the balance.
Il think generally the statement Of facts
in the report of the Lieutenant General Il
correct. so far at least as the dreadful de
preston in agriculture by reason Of thu
loss Of the cattle is concerned. The remed,
which he suggests by the use of the Gov
eminent transports, however, l do no
concur in The danger from famine hal
rot been as great as I supposed it was
and the Lieutenant-Generalw was justifiet
in supposing it was from the reports which
he heard In any event, with the fund
provided bv Congress now feel confden
that the Philippine Government is in
position to meet any emergency OF thi
kind which may arise