The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1904-10-25

Dlete, far-reaching, thorough system
of espionage. Detectives appear in the
guise of servants and the oath Of
single one is enough to destroy
mans reputation, property or even life
ITSELF"
your comment, as civil governor
upon this statement of conditions in
the islands is requested"
TAFT"
The following is the translation of
the governors reply, received this aft
ernoon:
Secretary of War, Washington.
With reference to your telegram of
goth, quoting recent utterances of
Judge Parker upon administration and
conditions here and requesting state
ments of facts relating thereto, l re-
port 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 hard
working, self respecting Americans,
whose character and service will COM
pare favorably with those of employees
Of the federal or state governments.
Whilst there have been a number of
defaults by subordinates, they are few
as compared with the whole, and have
been promptly detected and punished.
Total defaults since July 1901, begin
ming civil government $7S,559.36. No
n
by insurance. We have a comprehen-
sive civil service law, rigidly enforced,
under which antecedents and qualif-
cations of employees are scrutinized.
Defaulters with few exceptions, ap-
pointed during disturbed conditions,
prior to the Inauguration of the law.
Complaints of oppressive acts excep-
tional and promptly investigated and
corrected. Relations between the
American officials and Filipinos, as a
rule, cordial
Second. Nothing warranting the
statement that towns are in ruin,
lands are going out of cultivation;
people illfed, unable to get work and
country ruined agriculturally. Towns
in same state as before the insurrec-
ton, save few burned by insurgents,
which have been rebuilt, and reoccu-
pied. Towns generally populated as
before. Sanitary conditions greatly
improved, demand for labor generally
equals, and in some cases, exceeds
supply, and at increased wages.
In 1901 and 1902 epidemics of sur
ra and rinderpest destroyed probably
culture, causing reduced area cultivat-
ed land and considerable distress,
which commission relieved by inaug-
urating public works through aid gen.
erously extended by congress. Have
succeeded by inocculating in checking
riously affected have drawn from
those where disease did not prevail,
and this, together with animals i'm
ported, and natural increase, has caus-
ed steady increase, 80 that at present
there are under cultivation nearly all
lands heretofore cultivated.
During the fiscal year ending June
30, 1904, exports were $30,226, ,127; i'm
ports $33, ,221 $50. Exports fell of as
compared with previous year because
of decrease in cOpra and sugar crops
due to phenomenally small rainfall in
certain sections and to plague of 10
Gusts in others
"Of expectations. $21,794, $50 was
hemp; Of importations s11,54S,s14 was
rice, the principal food Of the people.
Present crop In all lines exceptionally
good, and prices remunerative, and
there is not now and will not be for
the coming year, any suffering from
lack of food
Enrolment public schools in 1903
was 1S4.202, and in 1904 263,55S.
Third. Taxation is not oppressive,
customs duties average about IS per
cent advalorem, as compared with 25
per cent under the Spanish regime.
Industrial taxes also less than Span
ish. Receipts honestly applied for the
benefit OF the people.
Fourth. 1t Ia not true that there
are whole districts in the hands Of
ladrones. There have been occasional
instances during the last year Of dep
relations Of ladrones. who find con-
cealment In remote mountain fast
ness and raid isolated settlements Of
natives. They have been relentlessly
pudsued by the constabulary and
scouts, who are natives usually com
manded by American officers. AS a
result Of this policy, ladronism is no
longer popular or profitable. There
is at this time not a single band OF
ladrones operating in the great is
land of Luzon and in Visayan Islands
there are only four or five ladrone
leaders with few followers who oc-
casionally give evidence of life by
stealing caraboOs or plundering re-
mote settlements. They. pass most of
their time endeavoring to dodge the
constabulary. There is no disorder
or disposition to violence among the