The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-18
TAFT WORKING FUR
 MORE RAILROADS
Thinks Lines in the Philippines
 Would Pay Well
TALK OF ISLAND COINAGE
Says He Is Opposed to Having Con gress Build the Roads Because of Complications That
 Will Arise.

Washington, March 17-Secretary Taft continued his discussion of the Philippine matters today before the house committee on insular affairs. The Cooper bill amend ing the civil government act was the basis of discussion. In addition to the provisions, in this bill Secretary Taft sug gested an amendment to the coinage law, so as to authorize the Philippine treasury to issue silver certificates in denomina- lions of 2 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 50O and 1000 pesos instead of denominations of from to 10 pesos. The secretary advocated the re- peal of the tonnage tax on vessels ar irving at Manila to encourage the landing of large steamers from San Francisco, Hong Kong and Singapore.
 Taking up the railroad feature of the Cooper bill, which guarantees per cent on an investment of $4000O'O0o in railroads in the islands the Secretary sad he wis ited New York last week and had been assured by capitalists there that they would go into the enterprise if the gov ernment would insure a certain income on the investment.
 Previous Railroad History.
  ing in the English colonies, Secretary Taft said that in many instances the gov ernment had built these roads. 1T con gress wanted to build these roads, he said. the commission undoubtedly would undertake it. His own views, however. were against this policy on account or complications such as liability 10 eHl- ployes.
 The secretary said that when the Amer jeans took possession of the islands, there was one railroad on the island of Luzon, 12O miles in length. This road was built In A most substantial manner with large stations and |, useless apparatus. The spanish goverhment guaranteed per cent on an investment of 5000, GOO In the road.
 The insurgents destroyed bridges ana rolling stock
 The company has filed a claim for the recover of 8 per cent but the claim mas not been recognized.
 The commission has granted two iran chises, one for 34 miles from point just north of Manila, to the northward, and one of r miles from Manila to the foot hills to the eastward
 Consulted William vanhorn.
 Secretary Taft said Secretary Root had consulted Sir William Vanhorn or the Canadian Pacific, who is building rail- roals in Cuba, as to securing American capital for Philippine railroads MT. Van- horn suggested two engineers to make an original investigation, and the result or this work is given in a report which Sec retary Taft submitted to the committee A trunk line was suggested in the north of the islarhd of Luzon and also line in the southern end.
 Secretary Taft said he had talked to the president of the English company and believes 1t will sell out. It desired. however, to sell to a certain London banking house. This the secretary ob- | jected to.
 The projected road in the south of the island, Secretary Taft, believed, would pay from the beginning The total | mileage needed, he said, would be be- tween 700 and 800 miles, and s25,O00000 or | $50, GOO 900 would cover the total cost. A four. per cent burden on the Philippine treasury on this investment would be | about $17,000Ooo, and the secretary be- lieved that 1t could be paid without hard | ship.