Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-28
TO AID THE FILIPINOS
PRESIDENT SENDS A MESSAGE TO
CONGRESS.
Urges the Passage Of the House Tariff
Bill-Distress of tina
Islands.

The President late yesterday afternoon
sent the following message to the Senate:
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 November. the date of last report,
and growing worse each month. Some re-
vival in sugar, tobacco prices due to ex-
pectation of tariff law. The interests OF
Filipinos in sugar and tobacco extensive,
and failure of bill will be blow in face Of
those interests. Number of tobacco fac
tories will have to close and many sugar
haciendas will be put up for sale at sac
rif1ce If the bill will not pass. Customs
receipts have fallen off this month one
third, showing decrease Of purchasing
power OF islands. General business stag
nant. All political parties. including labor
unions, most strenuous in petition for tariff
bill. Effect Of its failure very discourage
ing
Endorsed by Gen. Wright.
"Vice Governor Luke Wright indorses in
the strongest manner all that Gov. Taft
has said. and states that he has the grav-
est apprehension as to the damage that
may come to the islands If there is not q
substantial reduction in tariff levied against
Philippine goods coming into the United
States. very earnestly ask that this mat
Ter IcCelNe Tie lIlul6uldle dllGUllOn OIL SOu-
gress and that the relief prayed for be
granted.
LAS Congress knows. a series of calaml-
ties have befallen the Philippine people.
Just as they were emerging from nearly
six years of devastating warfare with tho
accompanying destruction Of property and
breaking up Of the bonds of social order
and the habits of peaceful industry, there
occurred an epidemic of rinderpest, which
destroyed 80 per cent of the carabaos. the
Filipino cattle, leaving the people without
draft animals to till the lands or to aid
in the ordinary work of farm and village
life. The extent of the disaster can be
seen from the fact that the surviving cara
baos have increased over ten-fold in value.
At the same time peculiar oriental horse
disease became epidemic further Gripping
transportation. The rice crop. already re-
duced by various causes to but a fourth
of its ordinary size. has been damaged by
locusts, so that the price of rice has nearly
doubled
Danger Of Famine.
Under these circumstances there is Inn
minent danger Of famine in the islands.
Congress is in course of generously APP
propriating 50, 100000 to meet the immedi-
ate needs; but the indispensable and pre-
eminent need is the resurrection Of pro-
ductive industry from the prost-atIon into
which 1t has been thrown by the causes
above enumerated.
II ask action in the tariff matter, not
merely from the STANDPOINT OF wise gov
ernmental policy, but as measure of hu-
mainly in response to an appeal to which
this great people should not close its ears.
We have assumed responsibilities toward
the Philippine Islands which we are in
honor bound to fulfill. We have the spe-
cific duty of taking every measure in our
power to see to their prosperity. The first
and most important step in this direction
has been accomplished by the joint ac-
ton of the military and civil authorities in
securing peace and civil government The
wisdom Of Congress at the present session
has provided for them a stable currency
and its spirit of humane liberaiity and jus
tice toward them win be shown in tho
appropriation now substantially agreed
upon OF $3,000.O00 to meet the pressing i'm
mediate necessities, but there remains q
vital need that one thing further shall lie
done. The calamities which have befaIiea
them as above enumerated could have besn
ayerted by no human wisdom. They can
not be completely repaired. but the suffer-
ing can be greatly alleviated and q pcrma-
nent basis of future prosperity assured If
the economic relations of the islands with
the United States are put upon a satisfac-
tory basis.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
white House. February n. 1908"