Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1905-12-05
Presidents Message
CONTINUED from page g.

siHCc AHlcIlCuu nave
greatly reduced the amount OF agrl.
cultural products below what was pro-
1uced In Spanish times. The war.
the rinderpest, the locusts, the
drought, and the cholera have been
united as causes to prevent a return
OF the prosperity much needed In the
islands. The most serious Is the de-
structiOn by the rinderpest of more
than rs per cent Of the draft cattle.
because 1t will take several years OF
breeding to restore the necessary
number Of these Indispensable aids
to agriculture. The commission at.
tempted to supply by purchase from
adjoining countries the needed cattle,
tut the experiments made were un'
successful. Most of the cattle import
ed were unable to Withstand n
change of climate and the rigors OF
the voyage and died from other dis
eases than ~rinderpest.
The income of the Philippine gov
eminent has necessarily been reduced
nv reason OF the business and agri'
cultural depression in the islands, n
the government has been obliged to
exercise great economy to cut down
its expenses, to reduce salaries. ana
IN every way to avoid a deficit. 1t
has adopted an internal-revenue law,
imposing taxes on cigars, cigarettes,
and distilled liquors, and abolishing
the old Spanish industrial taxes. the
law has not operated as smoothly as
was hoped. and although its principle
Is undoubtedly correct, 1t may need
amendments for the purpose OF recon
CLING the people to its provisions.
The income derived from 1t has part
" made up for the reduction IN It's
customs revenue.
Thclc has been a marked increase
In the number Of Filipinos employed
in the civil service, and a correspond
ing decrease in the number OF Ameri'
cans. The government In every one
of its departments has been rendered
more efficient by elimination OF un-
desirable material and the promotion
of deserving public servants. ).
improvements Of harbors. roads ana
| bridges continue, although the cutting
down Of the rel forbids the ex-
penditure Of any great amount from
current income for these purposes.
STEERS are being taken, by advertise
ment for competitive bids, to secure
.he construction and maintenance OF
1000 miles of railway by private Q r
porations under the recent enaDllng
legislation OF the congress. Inc
transfer of the friar lands, In accord
ance with the contract made some
Two years ago, has been completely
effected, and the purchase money
paid. Provision has been made by
statute for the speedy settlement IN
a special proceeding in the supreme
court of controversies over the po-
session and title of church buildings
and r~ectories arising between the no
nan Catholic church and schismatlcs
! claiming under ancient municipalities.
| Negotiations and hearings for the
settlement of the amount due to the
Roman Catholic church for rent and
occupation of churches and rectories
nv the army of the United States are
IN progress, and 1t is hoped a salts
factory conclusion may be submitted
20 the congress before the n 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 OF
Jolo among the Moros. The Jolo
disturbance was put an end to by
several sharp and short engagements.
and now peace prevails in the Moro
province. Cavite, the mother OF Ia.
drones in the Spanish times, Is SO
permeated with the traditional SYM
pathy OF the people for ladronism as
to make 1t difficult to stamp out the
| disease. Batangas vas only disturbed
by reason Of the fugitive ladrones
from Cavite. Samar was thrown into
| disturbance by. the u~neducated and
partly savage peoples living in the
mountains, who, having been given
BY the municipal code more power
than they were able to exercise dis.
! creetly, elected municipal officers