The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-01-24
GOVERNOR TAFT
FLYING THROUGH
Party Did Not larry Long in
San Francisco.
SITUATION IN PHILIPPINES
AMERICAN INVESTORS ARE
VERY SCARCE.

san Francisco. Ian. Eek Governor
William H. Taft Of the Philippines ar
rived here this morning on the steamer
Korea. He was accompanied by Mrs.
Taft, their two children, F. ". Carpen-
ter, his private secretary, and Carson
Taylor. secretary Of the Philippine St.
Louis commission. Immediately upon
arrival in the barber Governor Taft and
party were transferred TO the govern
ment tug Slocum, which proceeded
with all dispatch to the Oakland mole,
where the Atlantic express was held
I. in waiting to start the moment the dis
tinguished passenger was on board.
| In conversation with a representative
/ Of the Associated Press, commenting
upon the existing situation of affairs
/ in the Philippines, Governor Taft said
4 that conditions there were better than
ever before. and he doubted If greater
tranquility ever prevailed. even under
the Spanish administration.
Capital Is Timid.
we are now looking forward" he
said, "tO a period of great activity in
railroad building throughout the Isl
ands. English and Belgian capitalists
/ have so far controlled the field, but tie
people of the islands are anxious Tor
the introduction Of American capital,
which so far has not been forthcoming.
This may be due to the fact that it
lis too much occupied in other branches
of industry or perhaps investors in this
country are too afraid, lacking the eX-
perience Of English promoters in deal
ing with financial matters in the Orient.
zone American syndicate, headed by
a Mr.. Swift of Detroit, IS now engaged
in the construction Of electric railroads,
gridirouing the streets of Manila, with
the object IN view Of extensions which
will connect the suburban points.
Two new branch lines have just been
authorized By the government, one Of
lthirty-five miles and another OF thirty
lone miles, on the line Of the road now
trimming out for a distance Of 120 miles
from Manila an Dagupsn- This road
was originally built by the Spanish.
English Seeking Franchises.
English capitalists are now seeking
franchises in other directions, and Sec
, Rotary Root has had surveys IoF Two
ior three trunk lines, which ave al
ready been published, and for ), mich es-
Inmates have been asked.
: 'sThe greatest need Of the hour in the
, islands is railroads The opportunity
for their construction is not limited to
2 any particular island, although just
now they are confined to Luzor- EVER
I island in the group can support rail-
, iroad running for fifty miles along TIE
lcoast to handle supplies and country
lproduce. American capital, IT IS hOpeol
2 ! will appreciate this opportunity and
= secure the roads
The census viii be published IN &C
! toher next, and on that date, provided
the country is tranquil as at present
/ the government VIII authorize the cleo
Q ton of an assembly Of not less thar
> fifty nor more than 100 members.
Power Of Assembly.
'sFhis assembly win be a Legislative
. body-co-ordinat with the commission
- passing all enactments for the gov
= eminent of the territory. II VIII d
- provided however, that should the1
z fail at any time TO pass the necessar!
z appropriations the governor and treas
= urer viii have power to DO so. Tnis a.
= sembly Will also be regarded IN Int
4 light of an educational institution.
This viii give the present Phihppin
Ia commission two and a, half years NOR
IS in which to complete their arrange
Is iments for the government Of the island
IS and the fulnIlment Of what they ma,
= Iconsider necessary legislation
t, Cannot Govern Themselves.
Y In reply 10 a question whether IN
lFilfpinos were in condition 70 cover
themselves, he said that they certainI
4 were not at present, and to make a pre-
r dictfon on the subject would be lookin
:, too far ahead into the future.
- The reception given himself and VII
b by the mikado was fiattering in IN
extreme, and the imperial host lost u
st opportunity to express his warm FRIEND
y ship and sympathy with the Unite
q States ard friendly relations, he hope
would ever prevail between the Two ms
s. tons
in Before leaving Manila, the mikado d
tailed the japanese consul at That Gil
p to personally escort Governor TAFT an
= partv. which he did, fro mthat port
ut Nagasaki, and from thence 800 miles
he Toxic.
ID In regard to the trouble between "a
in na,, and Russia and the general slit
az alton which prevailed when he left, &
M ex-governor said that affairs locke
D. quite warlike. He had hopes, h0WeVe
IN that the crisis might yet be bridge
over and peace preserved. The mlka6
% was a man of force and tact, his caliD
If being shown by the high class OF a.
ne visers he had gathered around him.
-; No Political Significance.
IL NJ significance of political natur
said Ex-Governor Taft, need be
81 itached to the haste. with which he W
NJ travelling. Secretary Root had been q