Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-18
TO IMPROVE ISLANDS
Plans for the Benefit of the
Philippines.
SEC'Y TAFT'S VIEWS
FAVORS THE PASSAGE OF THE
COOPER BILL BY THE SENATE.
Provision Made for q Bond Issue
Proposed Guarantee to Railways
Reduction of Tariff Duties.
BY VIM. E. CURTIS.

BY VIM. E. CURTIS.
Written for The Evening Star and the Chicago
Record Herald.
The election Of Roosevelt means a great
deal to the Philippine Islands. His i'm
mense majority is construed as public APP
prevail of the policy he has pursued there.
and what Judge Parker and Mr.. Bryan
were pleased to call "despotism' will con-
tinue indefinitely. All danger of independ-
ence has vanished for this generation, at
least. and probably for several genera
tions to come. While it would be a great
advantage to the United States and save
lot of bother and contention if we were to
withdraw entirely from the islands, as the
Boston ''anti-imperialsts' propose, 1t
would be the worst thing that could happen
to the people, for they would be annexed
to some less benevolent government, or re-
lapse into barbarism within few yes..s
The President, backed by every north.:YE
state in the Union, assumes ti.lt Provs-
dence has placed upon this nation tie
white mans burden" of caring for these
who not competent to care for theIn-
selves, and already Secretary TafE and las
assistants of the insular bureau of the WIZ
Department are making plans for their
benefit. I;
A2OpOSCo AALCA AdA LII kAoNO1llOhCSs
Secretary Taft sails for Panama in a feW
days, and will spend the intervening TING
in the preparation of his annual report and
recommendations to Congress, which will
be devoted almost exclusively to Philippine
matters. He will omit reference to the
Panama canal until his return from per-
sonal inspection of conditions there.
The Secretary will urge upon the Senate
the necessity of the immediate passage of
what is known as the Cooper Dill, winch
was passed by the House of Representa-
tives before adjournment last summer, and
has been favorably reported by the Senate
committee. This bill, among other things,
authorizes the government of the Islands to
issue per cent bonds to the extent OF
$40, 600, 600, for the purpose of building rail-
roads, highways, port and harbor works,
bridges, buildings for provincial and mu-
nicipal government court houses and other
public buildings 1t also authorizes any
municipality to issue bonds to an amount
not to exceed 10 per cent of the assessed
valuation of the property in such munich
pality, for the purpose of building sewers
and providing water supplies, municipal
buildings and other improvements.
1t also authorizes the Philippine gov
eminent to aid in the construction, main
tenance and operation of railroads, either
by guaranteeing bonds or by legislative
guarantee to individuals or corporations,
that the capital actually invested in con-
struction and equipment shall yield net
provided that the total annual pecuniary
liability of the government, whether in
bonds or guarantee shall never exceed a
million and a half dollars.
Eager to Build Railways.
Several corporations are eager to build
railways in the Philippines without guar
antee, but their plan is to pick out the
good places which are sure to yield large
revenues, whereas the President and Sec
rotary Taft are anxious to provide trans
portatiop facilities for districts that are
now practically inaccessible, and thus ex-
tend the cultivated agricultural area and
develop the timber and mineral resources.
IL they. should allow railway promoters
to cover only those portions of the is
lands which are certain to pay dividends
at once they believe that the develop
ment of the other districts would be re-
tarded. The lines of road that are needed
most are certain to be Improbable for
several years. 1t is proposed, therefore,
to grant two or three franchises covering
the entire Island of LuZon according to a
plan recommended by a commission of
engineers which investigated the subject
two years ago, including in each a streak
of fat as well as streak of lean. In this
way it is believed that the earnings from
the lines which pass through the thickly
populated districts will more than make
up the deficits in the earnings from those
which reach new sections of country,
pay fair net dividends upon the invest
ments. In order to encourage the adop-
ton OF such plan it is proposed to au-
thOriZe the insular government to guar
antee at least per cent on actual invest
ments, and several corporations are pre-
pared to undertake. the enterprises on
that basis.
1t is not believed there will be much op-
position to the bill in the Senate, particu-
larly after the people have testified in
such an unmistakable manner to their
confidence in the President and his ad-
ministratfon, and when it is SO apparent
that transportation facilities must be af-
forded before the material development
of the islands can be expected. AS l have
stated In previous letters several COM
panles have already been organized to
establlsh manufactures open coal mines
and take up other enterprises and thew
were only waiting to see the result of the
election and the new tariff which is pro-
posed for the Philippines
Proposed Philippine Tariff.
The proposed tariff has been printed on
parallel pages with the present tariff and
copies have been sent by Colonel Edwards
to persons interested for criticisms and
suggestions Several objections have al
ready been received, but, as the general
tendency in the revision has been toward a
reduction of duties, much satisfaction has
been expressed. 1t is intended to be tariff
for revenue as there is nothing in the Phil
ippl!leS 10 project. Inc rates or duties on
machinery, agricultural implements and
other articles absolutely necessary to ma
terial development are still too high, so
high as actually to impose a penalty upon
any attempt to improve opportunities Of
fered for investment For example: Any
man who has the courage to set up $4,000
plant of machinery for any purpose must
pay penalty Of 5000 or $40 600 to the gov
eminent in the way of duties for his enter
prise. Any man who imports labor-saving
machinery for his plantation, in order to
multiply the productive power of his en-
plOyes, must forfeit to the government an
amount equal to 10 or % per cent of his In
vestment.
Tax on Industrial Enterprise.
Under the proposed tariff no man can
make any improvements anywhere in the
Philippines: no man can open mine or put
up sawmfll or an oil crusher or any other
plant for the purpose of reducing the natu-
raj products to marketable form. without