Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-19
LABORfOF FILIPINOS
PRAISED BY THE COLLECTOR oB
CUSTOMS FOR THE ARCHIPELAGO.
Increased Commerce of the Islands
Last October the Best Month
for Exports.

The third special report OF the collector
of customs for the Philippine Islands. re-
viewing the work of his Office from Septem-
Der I. 1903. to September l. 1904 has been
received by the bureau of insular affairs.
War Department, and contains great deal
OF Interesting data relative to the COM
merce OF the Philippines.
The statement of the collector relative
to native labor Is of special interest I'm view
of the many contradictory reports that
have appeared on the subject. He says:
Native Labor.
''The question of labor In the Philippines
has ceased to be a critical one. Despite the
gloomy predictions of many thoroughly
sincere investigators and writer's on the
subject. the Filipino laborer has conclusive
~ demonstrated that he Is a practicable
and dependable element In the Industrial
development OF these islands. In the past
two years several immense enterprises
have been successfully carried solely
with the aid of Filipino laborers. All goods
arriving at or leaving the port of Manila
are handled by natives During the past
year the operation OF the customs Arrastre
plant has been entirely IN the hands OF ma
tive labor. including the steam tramway
and four large steam cranes
The Filipinos make good clerks, copy
lists, typewriters, subinspectors. and. In
some instances, excellent fiduciary officers
In the handling of cash, In subordinate po-
sitions, they have shown high degree or
accuracy and integrity. As marine officers
and engineers, especially In the latter posi-
ton, they have exhibited a skill, fidelity
and courage which entitle them to un-
stinted admiration
Philippine Commerce.
There are seven ports of entry. viz: MAJ
Mia Iloiin oh Jaio r,aI
bac and Bongao. The harbor works at Ma
Mia as originally planned are nearing COM
pletion and the construction of an addi-
tional breakwater. reaching out from the
shore of Pasay and making an absolutely
land-locked bay for shipping, has already
been begun. At the date of the report
there We're III coastwise ports and sub
ports In the Philippines and there were spe-
cial regulations for the commerce carried
in the small vessels in the Moro provinces.
The total cost for the collection OF the
Gus customs revenues: amounting to T.1sl,-
1885, was 500, 1852 or .0i26 per cent of
the whole amount. For the fiscal year
ended June 30. 1904. hemp to the value or
.591 was exported TO the United
States, on which refundabe duties to the
amount of s462 ,433 were collected while the
total refundable duty collected on hemp
since the passage of the act Of March =,
1902. has amounted to 1869. 1852.
Coastwise Trade.
The Importance OF the coastwIse or inter-
island trade may be seen from the fact
that in 1904 S,5aS coastwise vessels entered
and $50 cleared. the combined tonnage or
which was 1,797, 125 tons. During the same
period $50 foreign vessels entered and 954
cleared, whose combined tonnage amounted
to BIG 124 tons.
The latest advces from the islands show
that exports are increasing. October. 1904,
being the best month but one In the his
tory of the islands.