New-York tribune., 1904-10-17
UP TO DATE LEGISLATION.
Modern Methods IN american Id
HiHistratiOH of Philippine affairs.
IFRoM THE TRIBUNE BrREaU.I

~
Washington. Oct 16-The tnstitution Of an
entirely new economic regime in the Philippines.
made necessary by the meretriciOusness OF tho
Spanish system gives promise OF aflording th,
F1ipinos singular advantages. including many
not enjoyed by this country. With tho
advantage Of American experience extend
Ing over two hundred pears. the reDressn-
tatives Of this country in the Philippines
are avoiding errors and fnstituting cus-
toms which had their value been known
and appreciated in the United States two hun
dred years ago, would have saved the people os
this nation untold millions OF dollars.
One Of the most practical and effective re-
suits of American control OF the Philippines has
Just been reported to the Bureau OF InsJlar At
fairs Instead OF dispOsing of the vast forest
resources Of the archipelago by outright sale 70
private individuals at ridiculOUsIy low prices
the Philippine Bureau OF Forestry has deviss-
system OF taxation whereby the lumuerIns1
get twenty year leases. emitting them 20 cut the
timber by paying to the government graduated
tax by the cubic metre Nor is wOnton destruc-
tion OF the forests permitted for all trees which
have arrived at maturity are marked by the
government foresters and a heavy penalty is
imposed on those who cut any others. BY this
method the reproductive capacity OF the forests
Is carefully preserved Only the mature timber
is removed. and the remainder is so cared for
as to insure constant production and a large and
perpetual income To the government. and ono
that must steadily increase as a growing uop-
uIation Increases the demand for and enhances
the value Of the lumber.
When this system was first instituted the tax
imposed was uniform. irrespective OF location
but it was soon found that proximity TO market
resulted in such radical differences that only thu
more available forests were being utilized. This
difficulty has. however been Obviated by the
latest regulations which assess graduated tax.
The provinces in which trees may be cut have
been divided into two classes, IA and "B.''
being classified by their proximity 20 market
The tax on the respective varieties OF trees IS
also graduated according 70 the commercial
value or the lumber In class a. the tax be-
gins at pesos a cubic metre for the most VAL
liable group and diminishes until I pesos a
cubic metre is reached. the tax on the last VAL
uable group In class 81 the tax varies from
30 pesos a cubic metre for the most valuable
group to 80 peso for the least valuable
Under this system lumber IS being taken 0uc
IN all parts Of the archipelago. POsssssOrs OF
Veloptng even the more remote parts OF the arch
ipelagO scientific cutting is increasing instead OF
destroying the value OF the forests. and there Is
everS indication that the Philippine forests viii
afford a perpetual and constantly increasing
source OF revenue
A glance at the lumber statistics OF this coun-
try affords striking evidence OF the value which
such system. instituted in the nations youth.
would have proved TO the United States: a sys-
TEN which. instead OF denuding the vast pri-
stantly productive and annually more valuabIe.
and would have converted them into one OF the
most valuable assets OF the government OF the
present day.