The Penn's Grove record., 1905-01-20
REPORT ON PHILIPPINES
Conditions as Set Forth in Official
Reports of Governor Taft.
Hope Even For the Reconsideration Of
Tariff Here on Product From the
Islands Urged Again.

Washington, D. C.-Secretary Taft
has submitted to the President the an
nual report of the Philippine Commits
sion, together with the separate re-
ports to the commission of the civil
Governor of the islands, and of the
heads of the four departments.
The Secretary, in a letter accompany
ing them. summarizes and brings out
the recommendations in the reports,
which, he says, show the great benefit
that has been conferred upon the ISL
ands by q continued state Of Tranquil.
ity.
Except in the wild, mountainous re-
gions of the UNEMPLOYED Island of Sa-
mar, and in the Moro region of the
| Rio Grande and Lake Lanao. in the
sparsely settled Island of Mindanao,
and in the Island of Jolo. conditions
as to tranquility and ladronism con
tinue to improve, and except in the
places mentioned agriculture and the
arts of peace are not at all interfered
with by lawless bands or depreda.
tons.
He says it is quite satisfactory to OBJ
serve the good effect of a settled pol
icy with respect to the civil service.
under a stringent civil service law, on
the personnel and efficiency of the ser
vice. Many of the Filipinos are learn
ing English. and applying for examin.
alton as English clerks.
The falling off in the Government
revenues has reduced the funds avail.
| 0hIn for 06IlnO tiOn VNnORa @lN 4nvK,. i
Government last year the amount ex.
pended did not exceed $1.200.0 OO. as
against $780, 900 the previous year.
Regarding the new coinage of the
islands the Secretary says that one of
the most satisfactory results of the
Governments transactions during the
year in the islands is the establishment
on a firm basis of the new coinage.
During the year the commission has
enacted an internal revenue law and
abolished the industrial taxes which
had come down from the Spanish
regime. The industrial taxes subject
ed all kinds of business, even the
smallest. to a license tax, and was
thought to work proportionately hard.
err on the smaller businesses than upon
large enterprises. The present bill
imposes a tax on the production of
liquor and alcohol, upon the manufac-
ture of cigars and cigarettes. and also
upon banking and corporations.
The improvement of Manila Harbor
has made good progress. The work of
constructing a temporary wharf at the
important port of Cebu has been com
pleted, and the improvement of the
harbor at Iloilo is in progress.
Regarding the tariff on the Philip.
pine products in the United States the
Secretary says:
"The reports of Governor Wright
and of Commissioner Worcester show,
what has appeared in the reports from
the islands since the American occu.
patton, the necessity for reducing the
tariff on Philippine products entering
the United States, in order that we
may give to the islands a market in
America. leading to a revival of bust.
ness in the islands,"
General Wood has a good word for
the Moros. ''With all their faults" he
says, ''they are brave and resolute, and
under good laws and an honest govern.
ment in time will give a good account
of themselves. He says the standing
of the American people among the ma.
tives of his province has been much in.
jured by the presence of a large, tough
class of Americans. "whose energies
have been principally expended in the
construction, maintenance and patron
age of rum shops. which outnumber
other American business establish.
ments."
Referring to the proposed bond issue
of $5.O00,000 for general improvements
the Secretary says that owing to a de-
felt this year it is very important that
the section of the bill which has passed
the House and Senate already author.
izing the issue of the bonds be enacted.
The Secretary further says that it is
likely the customs revenues during the
next six months will increase to their
normal amount, avoiding the POSSIBLE.
ity of a deficit.
In regard to the regulation of the
opium trade the Secretary says the
plan of the opium committee ought to
be adopted with one variation, and that
is instead of a Government monopoly
for three years a very high license be
instituted with sale of the drug only
to officially registered smokers and a
total prohibition of the sale of opium
after three years, except for medical
purposes.