The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-08-13

is now dependent upon legislation by
congress. We need the active assist
ance of the Philippine government IN
the islands to secure the construction
of the railroads that are absolutely
necessary to the development of those
islands, which are absolutely necessary
to the elevation of the people and their
education.
IF the experience of the other colon
les in the world in railway construction
can teach anything il is that we may
not look for the construction of rail-
ways in the Philippines except through
governmental construction or aid. Now
it is very clear to me that the govern
mental construction will involve the
country in greatly more debt than the
mere guarantee of the income for a
certain number of years; that 1t Will
avoid the increase of the personnel of
the government and civil service TO
such a point as to make the govern
ment top heavy and subject its civil
service to great abuses and that IT VIII
secure to the government the energy
and the enterprise of private capital
and of that competition which has done
so much for the United States. The
bill which passed the house of represen-
tatives authorizes the Philippine gov
eminent through the commission to
guarantee the income not to exceed
per centum on the amount actually IN
vested in any railway for 80 years, but
also stipulates that provision must be
made in the contract of guaranty Dy
which there shall be secured to the gov
eminent ultimately the repayment OF
all the money paid under the guaranty
SHOULD the Philippine islands be
transferred to another government this
obligation could of course, by the
terms of the charter be imposed on
the new government and does not i'm
plicate or bind the United States in
any way beyond the time when its
relation to the Philippine government
shall cease. Secondly. the Philippine
islands need and will secure from con-
gress legislation which shall bring the
Philippine market within the tariff
wall and enable the Philippine farm
ers to sell in the rich market of the
United States the products of their far
distant islands. Third, we need the
authority to amend the tariff laws now
in force in the Philippine islands so
that the lessons of experience in the
actual operation of the tariff may be
taken advantage of, and the changes
made therein which shall admit to the
islands without the burden of tariff
those particular articles needed. espe-
cially in building up the country Rec
concentrations have been made by a
committee appointed by the govern
ment in the Philippine islands which
did not reach this country in time
to bring them before congress at its
last session, but it will be the duty
of the government to present the rec
concentrations of the commission at
the session which is to come
we so much depend upon con-
gressional action, we so much depend
for the future of the Philippine islands
upon the views of the American peo-
pie that there can not be any doubt
of the wisdom of the expenditure of
a large sum of money such as is here
invested in presenting to the Ameri-
can people the exact situation in the
island so far as that can be done by
exhibits of this character.
L congratulate Prof. Wilson, Mr.
Neiderlein and Senior Palermo on the
excellence of this exhibit congrat- !
ulate Colonel Edwards upon pt-ose
shoulders has fallen so mue,- of the
responsibility for its finar--.r1 manage
ment and arrangement; I congratulate
the whole corps of earnest, hardwork-
ing assistants, upon their work which
shows Ter itself. To the honorary
F1F@fno commission | have only to
;<CS that congratulate them on the
nne impression they have made in this
country and the assurance they have
given to the American people, of the