Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-02-16

IL is certain 10 be defeated in the SEN
alto IL pressed this session. Secretary
Taft liz keenly disappointed over the out
look for his pet measure. He has work.
ed hard and conscientiously to convince
members of the ways and means com.
mittee that better tariff rates for tho
lHiipinos are not only an actual but n
moral necessity.
Representative Watson of Indiana, II
member of the ways and means COM
mittcc. said to-day that he favored grant
ing free trade to the Filipinos. The same
sentiment is shared by several other mein-
bcrs of the committee.
PHILIPPINES WILL HAVE RAIL-
ROAD SYSTEM.
The Philippines have secured one big
concession from the present Congress.
although its request for lower tariff rates
has fallen by the wayside. The Presi-
dent yesterday signed the law which
authorizes the Philippine commission to
guarantee interest on bonds issued to pay
for the construction of a trunk line rail-
road through the principal provinces OF
the archipelago.
Some disappointment Is expressed IN
administration circles bcca use certain big
railroad magnates Of this country arc
inclined to steer clear Of the Philippine
enterprise. 1t was hoped that Sir Will
liam Van Horne. who recently built a
railrond system in Cuba. would take
hold of the project in the archipelago.
He became Interested in the matter when
the proposition was first preached, but
has since indicated that ne does not care
to 20 ahead with It. However. ovcrtures
L. ~
other sources. SO that there seems little
doubt that experienced and responsible
ca pitalists will take advantage Of the
/ governments offer Tho war departing mt
has been informed that a company is be-
ing organized at Manila for the purpose
OF laying out the lines. while two or
three syndicatcs in this country have
signiicd their intention Of competing for
the contracts.
About 1.OD miles of railroad will DO
built. at an estimated cost Of something
like ssooOo.0OO The exact length Of the
system will depend entirely on the cost
of construction. Under the terms of the
law the Philippine government is TO b.
liable only for the interest on the bonds,
and the aggregate burden during any one
year shall not he more than s1aM,O0
There was some iugGlcry with the terms
of this provision in the Senate. which.
If it had not been discovered and cor
rccted would have left the question open
Of whether the government was liable
for the bonus and not the interest there
on. The bonds are to run for thirty
years. the limit of interest being per
cent. The war department officials say
they will bc able to dispose Of the bonds
lat or l-2 pcr cent. in which event
tho system may be extended Il trihe be-
You'd 100 miles. provided the estimate I'd
cost of construction is not exceeded
Tho Washington authorities are Optin-
istic over the prospects Of the proposed
road. They believe the Philippine gov
eminent will have to bear the burden
Of paying interest on the bonds only for
q short time. After the roads have been
completed IT is believed that 81 per cont.
of thom will he on O paying basis in a
brief period. AS the lines become more
prosperous the responsibilities of the local
government will be lesscned correspond
insly. 1t is believed that the entire lia d.
hility Of the government will ne wiped
out in len or fifteen years or. in other
words. that within that period the roads
Will he earning per cent. or more.
Abundant safeguards have been thrown
a bout tine management Of the proposed
alway system so as fully 10 protect
the Philippine government. In the first
place. the lines will be laid out so as
best to serve the interests of the people
in tho development of the resources of
the country. and not to further the ends
Of spectators and promoters Of land soil
ing schemes. TIL" Philippine government
will have two men on the board Of drec-
tors. who will supervise the books Of
tho company ard will he empowered to
ascertain tho exact amount of cash in
vested. Tho bonds will he issued on the
completion Of each section Of twenty
miles Of road.
cha irrlan Cooper of the committee on
nsular affairs Of the House. tho author
Of tho railroad bill. says that the peopIe
Of tho Philippines may we'll feel proud
NJ what they have accomplished in the
way of celf-snvernment under the guild.
ance Of the United States.
1.-THE islands are making their way"
said Mr.. Cooper. "Since We took them
under our protecting care the receipts
have moro than met the expenses. In
addition. the insular treasury paid our
over S2.Ci1.oO for tho improvem mt Of the
harbor of Manila. Another million was
expended for public highways $61O0nO in
putting down the cholera epidemic. near
~ sl,0nOIO for the st. Louis fair and
sis)000 for tho census. which We demand
cd should he takon. The islands arc do
ing so we'll. in fact, that it is an abso-
lutte certainty that We will never he
called on to assume any OF their indoht-
cdn. So"