New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-30
PHILIPPINE NEEDS.

Secretary Taft in his annual report carefully
reviews the situation in the philippines anu
makes some recommendations which should re-
ceive the early attention of Congress when 1t
assemblies in December. The necessities OF the
islands have compelled the expenditure or large
sums on public works calculated to promote
prosperity and advance civilization The result
is an annual burden heavier in proportion to the
present wealth OF the Islands than that borne by
any English tropical colony The Secretary
wisely suggests that the Philippine government
be permitted hereafter 10 distribute the cost by
means of a bond Issue. These improvements
will develop the country. and if the payment for
them is deferred for a reasonable period it will
fall more justly on the benchciaries. Especially,
Ia view Of the depressed condition of trade, is it
unfair 10 assess the entire cost Of these perma-
pent betterments on the taxpayers of to-day.
Railway extension is greatly needed as an in
strument Of progress and enlightenment, and
Secretary Taft has given much consideration to
WAYS and means Of securing it. He discusses
the scheme Of land grants adopted TO encourage
our own Pacific railroads, but, as the value Of
such grants is difficult 10 estimate, he prefers a
government guarantee of a moderate interest on
investment for a reasonable period. This recon-
mendation is likely to provoke sharp differences
of opinion, but such a guarantee. with proper
safeguards for railroads really needed, would
DlOD2Dly entail no great Duidtil On blIt govern
ment II would be cheaper than government
railways. besides avoiding the dangers of scan
dals IN management
A third recommendation should be immed-
ately adopted, for it would simply correct what
seems TO have been a mere inadvertence in pre-
Tious legislation. The present tariff in the
Philippines was made by the Philippine Com
mission under authority Of the act of Congress
comforting legislative and other powers the
President and his appontees When the civil
government was organized Congress re-enacted
the law then in force in the Philippines. and in
so doing took from the local government the
power TO modify its own work. This was prob
ebly not foreseen. but. at any rate. 1t was I'M
wise. The local duties do not affect US except
remotely They are levied for local expenses.
Congress has not the information needed 10
regulate these duties. and they should he con-
frolled and modified as occasion arises by the
local authorities who originally made them A
law granting the general power Of making the
local tariffs to the Philippine Commission and,
after il is organized. 10 the Philippine Assembly
would remedy the present difficulty.
Then the tariff on Philippine imports into this
country is unreasonably high and operates as
harmful barrier 10 the development of commerce
and sympathy between the Americans and the
Fipinos. The Secretary renews the plea of
Secretary Root, Endorsed by Presidents McKin-
ley and Roosevelt, that the duties be greatly
lowered. He suggests that on sugar and to-
bacco % per cent Of the Dingley duties be levied
and that other Philippine goods come In free
AS sugar and tobacco are the only Philippine
products which could compete with aDv of our
own, there is 10 reason why this should NOT no
done. The proposed duties on sugar and To-
tcco also would be ample. and there is no pros-
pect that their production would be so stimu-
lated as 20 menace our own industry. Whatever
else is done about the tariff in the near fnture
these concessions TO the Philippines which tba
best judges consider necessary 10 their welfare
and the solution Of our prOblem should Of once