The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-24
COY OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
TRUE PICTURE OF CONDITIONS
IN THE PHILIPPINES.
The Story OF the "student OF Conditions
There" quoted by Parker shown to
he Not Only Unjust and Untrue. but In
Some Instances "the verlest Nonsense"


mission, and the reply of the latter, ex-
plain themselves:
WAsHlNGToS, Oct. 20. 1904.
TO WRIGHT. Manila.
The Democratic candidate for President
on the 18th of the present month, In q public
address. said: But two classes OF our people
cnn hope to be benefited by our holding the
Philippinesthe class which Is always hunt
ing for special Government privileges. and
the class which seeks to make OF ONCE hold
ing means of livelihood. The latter class
in the Philippines comprises some officials OF
whom a student Of conditions there recently
said; or the character OF many In ONCE too
little cannot be said. At the best they have
been inefficient. at the worst dishonest cor
rupt and despotic. The islands seem to
have succeeded In getting the very dregs OF
our people
He also said THE situation in the Philip
pines to-day Ia 80 terrible that 1T passes the
comprehension OF our people at home. Agri-
culturally the country is for the time ruined.
Land is going out OF cultivation; the popu-
lation is III fed. and in some places unable to
get work. The country ia overburdened
with taxation disease is prevalent. farm
animals died, towns in many places in ruins.
whole districts In the hands of ladrones.
the price of products poor and unremunera-
tive. Public opinion has not free expression,
newspapers are bought up or are brow
beaten into silence; men of influence who
criticise the commission are ostracized.
the plays produced in the theatres are CEN
sored. there Is not an organ OF expression
of the popular voice that is not controlled.
In private life men are subject to a complete.
far reaching, thorough system OF espionage.
Detectives appear in the guise of servants.
and the oath Of a single one is enough to de-
stroy mans reputation. property, or even
life itself"
Your comment as Civil Governor upon this
statement of conditions in the Islands is
requested. TAFT.
Gov. Wright's reply follows:
GOV. wRIoHrs REPLY.
Received P. NJ, Oct. %.
Secretary OF War. Washington:
With reference to your telegram OF the
2Oth, quoting recent utterances OF Judge
Parker upon the administration and
conditions here and requesting statement
OF facts relating thereto, report as follows;
First. The statement that any con-
siderable number of officials have proven
corrupt, inefficient or despotic does grave
Injustice to a body Of handwriting self
respecting Americans, whose character
and service will compare favorably with
those of employees Of the Federal or State
governments. While there have been a
number OF defaults by subordinates, they
are few az compared with the whole, and
have been promptly detected and punished.
Total defaults since July, 1901, beginning
Of civil government, SIS, $3.50. No ultimate
loss. Government protected by insurance.
We have comprehensive civil service law.
rigidly enforced, under which the antece-
dents and qualifications OF employees are
scrutinized. The defaulters, with few eI-
ceptions, were appointed during the dis
turbed conditions prior to the Inauguration
OF the law. Complaints OF oppressive acts
are exceptional and are promptly investi-
gated and corrected. The relations between
the American officials and the Filipinos are,
as a rule, cordial
Second. Nothing warranting the state
ment that towns are in ruins, farms are
going out of cultivation, people i'll fed,
unable to get work and the country ruined
agriculturally. Towns are in same state
as before the instruction, save a few
burned by insurgents, which have been
rebuilt and reoccuped. Towns generally
populated as before. Sanitary conditions
greatly improved, demand for labor gen.
orally equals and in some cases exceeds
supply and AT increased wages.
In 1901 and 1902 epidemics of surra and
rinderpest destroyed probably 70 per cent
Of the animals used in agriculture, causing
a reduced area OF cultivated land and con-
siderable distress, which the commission
relieved by inaugurating public works
through aid generously extended by Con-
gress. Have succeeded by incubation in
checking rinderpest. The localities most
seriouly affected have drawn from those
where disease did not prevail, and this.
together with animals imported and natural
nAI ntn tnnr CO
that at the present there is under cutiva-
ton nearly all the lands heretofore Guilt
waited.
During the fiscal year ending June 30
1904 exports we're $50 '22s.l27; imports,
with the previous year because Of the de-
crease in copra and sugar crops due TO
phenomenally small rainfall in certain
sections and to the plague of locusts in
others.
or expectations, s2i ,7s4, 800 was hemp;
of importations $ll,54s,sl4 Yves rice, the
principal food of the people. The present
crop in all lines is exceptionally good ard
prices are remunerative and there IL not
any suffering from lack of food The en-
rollment in public schools in 1903 was
1874 POP and in 1904, 283,553.
Third-Taxation is not oppressive. Gus
toms duties averaged about Is per cent.
ad valorem is compared with rs per cent.
under the Spanish regime. Industrial
taxes are also less than the Spanish. The
receipts are honestly applied for the benefit
of the people,
Fourth-It is not true that there are whole
districts in the hands Of ladrones. There
have been occasional instances during the
last year Of depredations of ladrones, who
find concealment in remote mountain fast
nesses and raid isolated settlements of
natives and steal their carahaos, They
have been relentlessly pursued by the con-
stabulary and scouts who are natives
usually commanded by American officers.
AS result of this policy ladronism is
no longer popular or profitable: There
is at this time not single band Of ladroness
operating in the great islands Of Luzon and
in the Vizayan Islands, There are only four
or five ladrone leaders with few follow
ers. who occasionally give evidence Of life
by stealing carabaos or plundering remote
settlements. They pass most Of their time
endeavorng to dodge the constabulary.
There is no disorder or disposition to vio-
lence among the great mass of the people.
who are attending to their usual vocations.
Americans can and do 60 everywhere with
out danger or thought Of it.
In 1908 there were about 1900 American
troops in TIE islands This year there are