The news & observer., 1905-12-06

/, 900 miles of railway by private corr
porations under the recent enabling
legislation Of the Congress. The trans
fer OF the friar lands, in accordance
with the contract made some two
years ago has been completely effect
ed, and the purchase money paid.
Provision has just been made by
statute for the speedy settlement in a
special proceeding in the Supreme
Court of controversies over the possess
sion and title of church buildings and
rectOries arising between the Roman
Catholic Church and schismatics
claiming under ancient municipalities.
Negotiations and hearings for the set
tlement of the amount due to the
Roman Catholic Church for rent and
occupation of churches and rectories
by the army of the United States
are in progress, and it is hoped a sat
isfactory conclusion may be submitted
to the Congress before the end Of the
session.
Tranquility has existed during the
past year throughout the Archipelago,
except in the province of Cavite, the
province of Batangas, and the pro-
vince Of Samar. and IN the Island or
Jolo among the Moros. The Jolo dis.
turbance was put an end to by several
sharp and shC1~ engagements, and
now peace prevails III the Moro pro-
vince. Cavite, the mother of ladrones
in the Spanish times, is so permeated
with the traditional sympathy Of the
people for ladronism as to make 1t diff
nCuIt TO stamp out the disease Bdtan.
gas was only disturbed by reason Of
the fugitive ladrOneS from Cavitc. S.
mar was thrown into disturbance by
the uneducated and parity savage peO-
pies living in the mountains VINO.
having been given by the municipal
code more power than they were able
to exercise diSCreCtly. elected munich
pal officers who abused their trusts,
compelled the people raising hemp to
sell at a much less price than il
was worth, ana by their abuses drove
their people into resistance to con-
tituted authority Cavite and Samar
are instances of reposing too much
confidence in the sclf-govern!ng power
of q people. The disturbances have ali
now been suppressed. and il is hoped
that with these lessons local govern
ments can be formed which viii secure
quiet and peace to the deserving in
habieants. The incident is another proof
of the fact that if there has been any
error as regards giving self-goVern-
ment in the Philippines it has been
in the direction of giving it too quick
~, not too slowly. A year from next
the islands viii be held. ON the Sln-
ity ana seif-rcstraint of his body much
will depend so far the future self
government of the islands is concern
ed.
The most encouraging feature of the
whole situation has been the very
great interest taken by the common
people in education and the great in
crease in the number of enrolled stu
dents in the public schools. The in
crease was from 800, 900 to half Il mil
lion pupils. The average attendance
is about seventy per cent. The only
limit upon the number of pupils seems
to be the capacity of the government
to furnish teachers and schOolhOuses.
The agricultural conditions OF. the
islands enforce more strongly than
ever the argument in favor of reducing
the tariff on the products of the
Philippine Islands entering the Unit
ed States. ] earnest recommend that
the tarim now imposed by the Dingley
bill upon the products of the Phil
ippine Islands be entirely removed, eX-
ccpt the tariff on sugar and tobacco.
and that the tariff be reduced to 25
per cent. of the present rates under
the Dingley Act; that after July /,
1909, the tariff upon tobacco and su-
gar produced in the Philippine Islands
be entirely removed. and that free
trade between the islands and the
United states alin the products of
each country then be provided by law.
A statute in force. enacted April 10,
1904. susDends the operation of the
coastwise laws of the United States
anon tAc trade between the Philippine
Islands and the United States until
July l, 1906. ]. earnestlv recommend
that this suspension be postponed until
July ] 1909. | think it of doubtful
utility to apply the coastWse laws to
the trade between the United States
and the Philippines under any cir
cumstances, because / am convinced
that il will DO no good whatever to
American Cotton ana Will only inter-
fere and be an obstacle to the trade
between the Philippines and the
United States but if the coaStWise
law must be thus applied. certainly il
ought not to have effect until free
trade is enjoyed between the people OF
the United States and the people OF
the Philippine Islands in their respec-
tive products.
[ do not anticipate that free trade
between the islands ana the United
States win produce Il revolution in the
sugar and tobacco production of the
Philippine Islands. SO primitive are
tho methods Of agriculture in the
Philippine Islands. SO slow IS capital
in going to the islands, 50 many diff
culties surround a large agricultural
enterprise in the islands, that it will De
many, many wears before the products
i'm these islands will have amy effect
whatever upon the markets Of the
United States The problem of labor
is also a formidable one with the sugar
and tobacco producers IN the islands.
The best friends of The Filipino peo-
pie and the people themselves are ut
tCrly opposed to the admission OF Chi
nese Coohe labor. Hence the only So
luton is Filipino labor, and this Will
take a long time The enactment OF a
law by the Congress of the United
States making provision for free trade
between the islands and the United
States, however. Will be of great i'm
portance from Il political and senti-
mental standpoint; and while its actual
benefit has doubtless been exaggerated
by the peonle of the islands, they will
accept this measure Of justice as an in
dication that the people of the United
States are anxious 10 aid the people of
the PhiiiDninc Islands III eVery way,
and especially in the agricultural de-
vclopment of their Archipelago. Il
will a.d tho Filioinos without injuring
interests in America.
Hawaii