Durango semi-weekly herald., 1904-09-22
ENDS STUDY OF ISLES.
william E. Curtis Sums up Condi-
tions and Needs Of the Phil
ippines.

!
ippines.
Continued from Saturdays issue.
In order to promote the develop
ment of these resources the tariff of
the United States should be amended
so as 10 admit into our ports free
of duty all the products OF the Phil
ippines. and the customs duties OF the
| Philippines should be abolished so
far as manufactured products of the
United States are concerned. II we
canot have free trade between the
United States and the Philippines
there should be at least an opportuni-
" for the Introduction here, without
the payment OF duty, of the machin-
cry and implements necessary for ag-
riculture and mining. numbering, rail
way building manufacturing and
other purposes that are absolutely
essential to prosperity. There are no
manufacturing Industries in the Phil.
ippines to be protected. and the gov
ernment could obtain many times
the revenues II collects in duties up
on implements and machinery by en-
couraging them.
on the other hand the United
States needs the sugar and tobacco of
the Philippines, and II Is not neces-
sary to place an import duty upon
them to protect those who produce
such staples at home. AS long as we
find necessary to buy s7O.000,0OO or
$50 100000 worth of sugar year
! nh hnr -. "A
$40 100000 or $12,000.O00 worth of to-
bacco from Cuba. Sumatra and else
where. we can AFFORD to furnish a
free market. AT present nearly all the
raw Philippine tobacco and more
than half the cigars and cigarettes go
to Spain, Austria is the next best
customer, while the remainder of the
exports are scattered among the coun-
tries of Asia. fqrom India to Japan
Very little goes to the United States
yet every year we buy In other parts
of the East indies several times as
much tobacco as is produced in the
enire Philippines.
With all the encouragement we
might give the planters here, with all
the capital that might be invested In
agricultural industry, 1t will be a cen
tury before the Philippine Islands
could produce enough Of either sugar
or tobacco to interfere with those
staples at home.
IL is also important that the col
lector of customes at Manila should
be "a man broad enough to interpret
and apply the laws for the encour-
/, agement rather than the embarrass-
ment of commerce and trade.
1t is equally important that there
should be modern hotel In Manila.
so that strangers who visits these Is
lands may be comfortable during
their stay, and carry away with them
"a pleasant impression when they
leave.
immigration should be encouraged
AT present very few of the proper
sort of people are coming in. If you
will examine the returns of the collec-
tor of customs you will discover that
"a ,136 persons arrived In these Islands
by sea during the last fiscal year, OF
whom 1925 were Americans. This
includes all travellers, tourists and
|
well as new settlers, and there is nc
way to tell how many OF them re
manned. Next In number to the Amer
leans were S,7S7 Chinese, all OF whom
were residents returning after TEN
porary absence, and liza were Fill
pinos. of whom the same may be said
1t Is estimated that about one-half oil
the Americans were additions to tht
permanent population, and judging
from the occupations reported mos
of them were laborers. The records
show 48f skilled laborers, 244 mer
chants. 299 teachers, 1872 clerks ant
accountants, SO engineers, So lawyers
46 doctors, 40 clergymen, "a actors
editors and / artist. There were tel
i hotelkeepers, seven farmers, sever
bankers and seven agents. These ar,
not encouraging figures. What the
islands need is more farmers. engi
neers and skilled laborers.
: The mos important and signifcan
feature OF the immigration statistics
is found in the column devoted to tn,
Japanese. They numbered l,123; 4.
were professional men, 1892 we're skill
ed laborers, 1856 were farmers and 40,
were laborers and Judging from sur
face indications they were valuabl,
acquisitions Unfortunately a larg,
. number OF them have returned t.
Japan since the beginning OF the wa
to serve in the army. because the.
are the most patriotic people In tn,
world, and will make any sacrifice TO
the good Of their country.