The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-12-05
POINTS TO NEEDS
OF PHILIPPINES

hOOSSVelG i akeS ~ - Glle AGUOI duu
Tariff Problems Linked
with the Islands.
During the last year the Philippine
1 Islands have been slowly recovering
from the series Of disasters which,, since
& American occupation, have greatly re-
ucts below what was produced in Span
ish times. The war, the rinderpest, the
s locusts, the drought, and the cholera
have been united as causes to, prevent
return of the prosperity much needed
the destruction by the rinderpest of
more than rs per cent of the draft cat.
tie, because it will take several years
of breeding to restore the necessary
number of these Indispensable aids to
agriculture; The commission attempted
to supply by purchase from! adjoining
Il countries the needed cattle, but the ex-
periments 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 gov
eminent has been obliged to exercise
great economy to cut down its expenses,
! to reduce salaries, and in every way to
avoid deficit. It has adopted an
cigars, cigarets and distilled liquors,
and abolishing the old Spanish indus
4 trial taxes. The law has not operated
as smoothly as was hoped, and altho
its principle is undoubtedly correct, it
may need amendments for the purpose
of reconciling the people to its provi-
& sions. The income derived from it has
party made up for the reduction in Gus
b toms revenue.
There has been marked increase in
the number Of Filipinos employed in the
4 civil service, and a corresponding de-
crease in the number of Americans. The
government in every one Of its depart
by elimination of undesirable material
and the promotion Of deserving public
servants.
Internal Improvement.
improvements of harbors roads and
bridges continue, altho the cutting down
of the revenue forbids the expenditure
" of any great amount from current in
come for these purposes. Steps are
being taken, by advertisement for COM
petitive bids, to secure the construction
and maintenance Of 1000 miles of rail-
way by private corporations under the
recent enabling legislation of the con-
gress. The transfer Of the friar lands,
in accordance with the contract made
ly 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 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 by the army of
the United States are in progress, and
it is hoped a satisfactory conclusion
may be submitted to the congress be-
fore the end of the session.
Tranquility in Islands.
Tranquility has existed during the
past year thruout the archipelago, ex-
cept in the province Of Cavite, the
p pr Sane OF Batangas, and the PROVINCE
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 ladrones in the, Spanish
times, is SO permeated with the tradi-
tional sympathy Of the people for la
dronism as to make it difficult to stamp
out the disease. Batangas was only
ladrones. from Cavite. samar was
thrown into disturbance by the -uned-
ucated and partly savage peoples 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 a
much less price than it was worth, and
by their abuses drove their people into
resistance to constituted authority. Ca
yite and Samar are instances Of repos.
ing too much confidence in the self
governing power of people. The dis,
turbances have all now been suppressed
local governments can be formed which
will secure quiet and peace to the de-
serving inhabitants. The incident is
another proof Of the fact that if there
mas been any error as regards giving
self government in the Philippines, i
from next April the first Legislative
assembly for the islands will be held
On the sanity and self-restraint of this
body much will depend, 80 far as the
culture self-goVernment Of the islands
is concerned.
The most encouraging feature of ths
whole situation has been the very great
interest taken by the common people
-: IN education and the great increase in
the number Of enrolled students in the
public schools. The increase was from
d 100000 to half million pupils. The
average attendance is about 70 pe1
cent. The only limit upon the numbe,
OF pupils seems to be the capacity Of
the government to furnish teachers
and schoolhouses.
Philippine Tariff. -
The agricultural conditions Of the
islands enforce more strongly than eve,
the argument in favor Of reducing the
y tariff on the products Of the Philippine
islands entering the United States. !