The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-05
Hemp Provinces Are Prosperous and
Peaceful, but Military Power May
he Needed in Other Parts.
UNSTABLE CURRENCY STANDARD
ALSO BLAMED FOR A LARGE POR-
TION OF THE TROUBLE.
Commercial Statistics for the Fiscal
Year-Timidity of Capital Toward
Philippine Investments.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 4-The annual re-
port of the Philippine commission and
separate report by Governor W. III. Taft,
made public at the War Department to-
day, give a review of the ults of the
years work of the commission and contain
recommendations for legislative action by
Congress deemed essential to the welfare
of the islands.
After reciting a history of the establish
ment of civil government throughout the
various provinces, Governor Taft, in his
report, says it has not been definitely de-
termined what shall be done with respect
to Mindanao where, he says hostility to
the Americans does not extend beyond the
lake Lanao Moros. The Governor is of
the opinion that 1t may be possible to in
duce the Sultan of Jolo to part with some
of the rights he claims to the Jolo group
and thus obviate many obstacles now en-
countered. The Moros. he says. do not un-
derstand popular government and do not
desire it. preferring control by dattos.
Possibly far in the future" he says, CON
troll by dattos may cease. For the present,
however, it is necessary only to provide
paternal. strong, but sympathetic govern
ment for these followers of Mohammed."
have made it necessary for the islands to
purchase about s15.0O0.O00 worth of food on
which to live. and of the effects war has
had upon agriculture. almost the only
source of wealth in the islands. The great
est blow to agriculture. he says. Is the de-
struction of about 90 per cent. of the water
buffalo. on which the cultivation of rice is
almost wholly dependent. After speaking
of the ravages of Asiatic cholera, Governor
Taft says:
THE bane of Philippine civilization in
the past was ladronsm and the present
conditions are most favorable for it's
growth and maintenance. 1t is not certain
whether in the depressed state of agricul-
ture, with the temptations to ladronism,
that the constabulary will be able without
the assistance of the military to stamp 1t
out. Were there temptations to agricul-
ture, were there prosperous conditions In
the country, ii would not be a troublesome
matter to deal with, but when want and
famine are staring people in the face the
life of the freebooter forms to the desper-
ate and the weak very great attraction
The natural discomfort with the govern
ment when suffering is at hand, promoted
as it is by cholera restrictions and the
high prices of rice and other commodities
which have been greatly enhanced by the
depreciation of silver. might well have
caused new breaking out of the insurrec-
ton. and in my judgment it speaks won
ders for the ease with which this country
may be governed in normal times that we
have comparatively so little disorder since
the surrender of the insurgent arms in
April"
Since the civil government was complete
ly established in the Filipino 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 country having been policed by
the constabulary, a force of 5000 or 5000
men.
1T may be-" says Governor Taft, that
as the conditions grow worse-for they are
likely to do so before they grow better
ii will be necessary in a province like
Cavite, where ladronism seems inbred in
the people, to proclaim martial law and
even to call in the military finally to sup
press it, but 1t is still hoped this may be
avoided
The ladrones of Iloilo are characterized
as an organized band of cattle thieves
They are being rapidly stamped out Gov.
| Taft says that unless carabao can be re-
substituted which will prevent these ami
mails being indispensable hereafter the fu-
ture for several years has a gloomy out
! look.
The depressed condition of agriculture
| and the tendency TO ladronism in the
! Tagalog and in some of the Visayan prov
inces does not apply to those provinces
where hemp is the chief product. "They
| are wealthy and prosperous, the report
| says land while their food costs them
more than Ii used TO they have money
Schoolhouses are being built. roads are
| being constructed. machincry-agricul-
tural and other kinds-is being introduced
and there is every evidence of forward
| and Tagalog provinces, however we must
/ expect disturbances from time to time
/ from ladrones and their assistants, the
Katipunan societies. On the whole.
there is before 2 year of the hardest
| kind of work relieving the people from the
/ hardship and suffering likely to follow the
failure of the rice crop and in suppressing
ladronism and other disturbances due to
| economic dist sss
! Governor Taft says the figures show that.
for the year ended June 80 1902 the i'm
ports, exclusive OF quartermasters stores
/ of all goods. were Sil.000000, while the ex-
ports were about s27.0O0,00O. He says capi-
tai has seemed TO be timid} in coming to
the Philippines, but adds: 1T has come
| i'm a small way in various branches so that
| the aggregatS is very considerable"
CURRENCY AND LABOR
The Governor points out among other ills
from which the country is suffering that of
| fiuctuating currency. On the subject of
I labor he speaks of the need of making tenn
porary provision such as is recommended
by the full commission. Touching on the
organization of labor unions the Governor
says that If properly directed the movemen,
| may give to the laboring classes a sense
OF the dignity of labor and of their inde-
pendence. He regards the objection made
| by the Filipinos to the unlimited introduc-
| ton OF Chinese into the islands to be logical
| and justified. and says: Another phase OF
| the labor question which does not seem 10
have had its proper weight with the mer-