The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-08-12
Opium in the Philippines.

AsNAoNSA
country against the report Of the com
mittee appointed to make recommen-
dations regarding the opium traffic in
the Philippines, and so 1t is fair to
presume that it meets with approval.
The committee appointed year ago
to perform a similar service recon-
mended that the traffic be made a gov
eminent monopoly and sold to the
highest bidder, but public criticism
was so strong that the administration
was constrained to drop the matter.
The second committee was composed
Of Bishop Brent DR.. Albert and Major
Carter, president of the insular board
Of health. It's members spent much
time in Investigating the opium ques-
ton, travelling thru China, Burmah,
Siam and Japan, and their recon-
mendations are therefore entitled to
the profoundest respect. They follow
the first committee in recommending
that the traffic be made a government
monopoly, but the other features of
their report are new. They think that
at the end of three years the importa-
ton Of opium, except for medicinal
purposes, should be strictly prohibited,
that smokers licenses should be issued
only to persons over twenty-one, and
paign of education should be started
in the schools against opium, that free
government hospitals should be pro-
vided for all opium victims, and that
all Chinese who violate the law should
be promptly deported.
Thru some such policy as this, the
committee believes, will come the be-
ginning Of the end of the opium
curse. No question connected with
American occupation Of the Philip
pines has been more difficult of solu-
ton than this one, and none has re-
ceived: from American officials more
careful and thoro treatment. The
opium habit among Orientals is a
more terrible thing than the drink
that something besides high moraliz-
ing and finely spun theories must be
brought to bear upon it if permanent
ly good results are to be secured. It is
the idea of the committee that the
only way properly to control the traf-
| flcl and rob it at once Of some of its
worst features, is to make it a gov
eminent monopoly. Before the end
of the three-year period they think Me
monopoly will be generally Endorsed,
and the traffic be made responsive to
the regulations meanwhile to be put
into effect. If the-opium habit among
the Filipinos can be eradicated as the
result of American occupation, the
blood and treasure we have poured
out in the islands will not have been
poured out in vain. 1t is probable
that steps will be promptly taken by
the government to carry out the rec
concentrations of the committee.
| The latest British bluebook contains the
report Of Sir William Garstin, under sec
rotary Of public works in Egypt, upon the
basins of the Upper Nile, and dispatch
from Lord Cromer, the British minister
and consul general in Egypt, which says
the irrigation and railroad schemes sug.
/ gested by Sir William Garstin represent
: an estimated expenditure Of about $107,;
} 100000, Of which $65.oOo.ooo will be uset
J in the development Of the Soudan, an(
. about $40, 900 in the development O.
Egypt. The whole irrigation plan is baset
broadly on utilizing the White Nile fo
the benefit of Egypt and the Blue Nile TO
the benefit Of Soudan With results sucl
as this flowing from 1t, we see that Cor
don did not die in vain at Khartoum.