The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-10-24
Gov Wright Reports on the
 Philippine Situation 0TATrAATnTn ARINI ranIlI0
STATEMENTS MISLEADING
Says Press is Not Censored and Men of Influence Are Not Ostracised for critieising the
 Commission.

Washington, october 2.-The following telegram from Secretary of War Taft to Governor Wright of the Philippines was sent one day last week, and the answer received today:
 eTo ATr. Wright:
 "The democratic candidate for Presl- dent on the 18th of the present month. in a public address, said
 But two classes of our people can hope to be benefited by our holding the phillppines-the class which is always hunting for special government privileges and the class which seeks to make of office holding a means of lvlihoed- The latter class in the Philippines comprises some officials of whom a student of condi- lions there recently said: "Of the char acter of many in office too little cannot be said. At the best they have been in- efficient at the worst dishonest corrupt and despotic. The islands seem to have succeeded in getting the very dregs of our people,
 The Agricultural Situation. | f.He also said: The situation in the Philippines today is so terrible that It l passes the comprehension of our people at home Agriculture in the country is for the time ruined. Land is going out of eul- tivaton; the population is il-fed and in 1 some places unable to get work. The country is overburdened with taxation; disease Is prevalent; thes towns in many places in runs whole districts in the l hands of the ladrones, the price of pro- duets poor and nnremunerative. Public opinion has no free expression. news papers are bought up or are browbeaten into silence; men of influence who criti- else the commission are ostraeised; the plays produced in the theatre are cen bsored; there is not all organ of expression of the popular voice that is not controlled. In private life men are subject to com plete far-reaehing. thorough system or espionage Detectives appear in the guise of servants and the remark of a single one is enough Ia destroy a mans reputa- ton
 .sYour comment as civil governor upon this state of conditions in the islands IS requested. AT l.
 Reply to Governor Wright.
 The reply of Governor Wright was re- celyed here from Manila at l p. m tOc- tober 9 and was as follows:
 Manila, Secretary of War Washing ton-With reference to your telegram Of 2Oth quoting recent utteranees by Judge Parker upon administration and condl- tions here and requesting statement or facts relating thereto, l report as fol- l lows:
 First The statement that any consd- erabe number of officials have proven corrupt, inefficient or despotic does great | injustice to a body of hardworking, self l respecting Americans, whose character and service will compare favorably with l those of employees of the fedea or state governments. Whilst there have been | number of defaults by subordinates, they | are few as compared with the whole, and | have been promptly detected and pun ished Total defaults since July l. 1901. beginning civil government, $7s,559 No ultimate loss. Government protected by insurance. We have comprehensive civil service law, rigidy enforced, under which qualifications employees are serutinized l Defautees with few exceptions appointed during disturbed conditions prior to the | inauguration of the law. Complaints of 1 oppressive acts are promptly investigated and corrected. Relations between the American officials and Filpinos as a rule cordial.
 Regarding the Taxes.
 Second. Nothing warranting the state- | ment that towns are ruined; lands are | going out of cultivation; people ill-fed. unable to get work and country ruined agriculturally. Towns in same state as before insurrecton save few burned by insurrectionists, which have been rebuilt. Towns generally populated as before Sanitary conultions greatly improved de- mand for labor generally equals and In some cases exceeds supply at increased wages.
 Posts have destroyed probably 70 per cent of animals used in agriculture, caus- ing reduced cultivation and considerable distress which the commission relieved by inaugurating public works. through aid generally extended by congress, and nave succeeded by innoculation in check ing these pests. The localities most seri- ousy affected have drawn from those where disease did not prevail and this to- gether with animals imported has caused steady increase. so at present there are under cultivation nearly all lands hereto fore cultivated
 "rhe fiscal year ending June %, 1904. exports were ssO 226l25; imports, s83o. 22i- 250.
 Exports fell off as compared with pre- Vious years because or the disease in crops due to phenominaly small rainfall in certain sections and the plague locusts in others. Of exports s2i ,794 96O was hemp; of imports S15fs,sl4 was rice. the prn- cpal food of the people
 Prices are remuneratlVe and there is not now and will not he for the coming year suffering from lack of food. Enro- ment in public schools in 1903 was iS,2oa and in 1904. 26355S.
 Ladrones Under Control.
 .s Taxation is not oppressive. Customs duties average about IS per cent ad valorem as compared with 9 per cent under Spanish regime, Industrial taxes also less than spanish. Receipts honestly 1 applied for the benefit of the people.
 .4 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 resses and raid isolated settlements of natives and steal their carabaos. They have been relentlessly pursued by the con- stabulary and scouts who are natives usually commanded by an American of fieer As result of this policy ladron- ~->~---~~~-~~-~~~~-~s~~~-~~- (C1nffoted m GecOnd RaQe1