The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-06

effectual remedy for thiS seate oA 1iiiis9 is to employ the minds and strengthen the moral fiber of the Indian women-the end to which the work of the held matroh is especially directed. 1 trust that the Congress will make It's appropriations Tor Indian day schools and field matrons as generous as may consist with the other pressing demands upon it's providence.
 The Philippines.
 During the last year the Philippine Is- lands have been slowly recovering from the series of disasters which, since Amer ican occupation, have greatly reduced the amount of agricultural products below what was produced in Spanish times. The war, the rinderpest. the locust, the drought, and the cholera have been unit ed as causes to prevent return or the prosperity much needed in the islands. The most serious is the destruction by the rinderpest of more than 10 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 ad- joining countries the needed cattle, but the Experiments made were unsuccessful. Most of the cattle imported were unable to withstand the change of climate and the rigors of the voyage and died from other diseases than rinderpest.
 The income of the Philippine govern ment has necessarily been reduced by reason of the business and agricultural depression in the islands, and the govern ment has been obliged to exercise great economy to cut down It's expenses, to re- duce salaries, and in every way to avoid a deficit. It has adopted an internal rev. enue law, imposing taxes on cigars, cigarettes, and distilled liquors, and abol- ishing the old Spanish industrial taxes. The law has not operated as smoothly as was hoped, and although It's principle is undoubtedly correct, it may need amend ments for the purpose of reconciling the people to its provisions. The income de- rived from it has partly made up for the reduction in customs revenue.
 There has been a marked increase in the number of Filipinos employed In the civil service, and a corresponding decrease in the number of Americans. The govern ment in every one of its departments has been rendered more efficient by elimina- ton of undesirable material and the pro- motion of deserving public servants.
 Improvements of harbors, roads and bridges continue although the cutting down of the revenue forbids the expen- allure of any great amount from current income for these purposes. Steps are being taken, by advertisements for com petitive bids, to secure the construction and maintenance of 1000 miles of railway by private corporations unuder the recent enabling legislation of the Congress. The transfer of the friar lands, in accordance with the contract made some two years ago. has been completely effected, 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 possession and title of church buildings and rectories arising between the Roman Catholic church and schismatics claim ing under ancient municipalities. Nego- tiations and hearings for the settlement 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 II is hoped a satisfactory 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 province 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 Tn the Moro province. Cavite, the mother of ladrones in the Spanish times, Is sc permeated with the traditional sympathy of the people for ladronism as to make it difficult to stamp out the disease Batangas was only disturbed by reason of the fugitive ladrones from Cavite. Samar was thrown into disturbance by the uneducated and partly savage peo- ples living in the mountains. who, having been given by the municipal code more power than they were able to exercise discreetly, elected municipal officers who abused their trusts, compelled the people raising hemp to sell it at much less price than 1t was worth, and by their abuses drove their people into resistance to constituted authority. Cavite and Sa- mar are instances of reposing too much confidence In the self-governing power oi n people. The disturbances have all now been suppressed, and 1t is hoped that with these lessons local governments can be formed which will secure quiet ans peace to the deserving inhabitants The incident is another proof of the fact thai if there has been any error as regards giving self-government in the Philippine! 1t has been in the direction of giving II too quickly, not too slowly. A year iron next April the first legislative assembly for the islands will be held. On the san ity and self-restraint of this body muct will depend so far as the future sell government of the islands is concerned.
 The most encouraging feature of thf
 
 interest taken by the common people IT education and the great increase in the number of enrolled students in the pub lie schools. The increase was from 300,' GOO to half a million pupils. The average attendance Is about 70 per cent. The only limit upon the number of pupils seems to be the capacity of the government to fur nish teachers and school houses.
 The agricultural conditions of the fs- 1o do qtrOnRIV than ever the argument in favor of reducing the tariff on the products of the Philippine Islands entering the United States. I earnestly recommend that the tariff now imposed by the Dingley bill upon the productsf oi the Philippine Islands be entirely re- moved. except the tariff on sugar and tobacco. and that that tariff be reduced to 9 per cent of the present rates under the Dingley act; that after July 1, 1909 the tariff upon tobacco and sugar pro- duced in the Philippine Islands be en- tirely removed, and that free trade be tween the islands and the United States in the products of each country then be provided for by law.
 A statute In force, enacted April 15 1904. suspends the operation of the coast wise laws of the United States upon the trade between the Philippine Islands and the United States until July 1, 1906. earnestly recommend that this suspension be postponed until July 1. 1909. I think 1t of doubtful utility to apply the coast wise laws to the trade between the Unit ed States and the Philippines under any circumstances, because I am convinced that 1t will do no good whatever to Amer ican bottoms, and will only interfere and be an obstacle to the trade between the Philippines and the United States; but fl the coastwise law must be thus applied certainly it ought not to have effect until free trade is enjoyed between the people of the United States and the people oi