Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-02

ever seen the Philippines, and 1t is scarcely
just or fair for any man to take the respon-
sibility of deciding what shall be done out
there unless he knows something about the
conditions that exist. 1t Is wicked to make
a political issue of the fortunes of q help
less people who have been intrusted to our
protection by an act of Providence, or to
seek to obtain political capital in framing
legislation for them. Senators and repre-
sentatives should not only consider it a duty
but privilege for all factions and parties
to join In the uplifting of9the people and the
development of the wealth with which ma
ture has endowed thenl-ia richer endow-
ment than has fallen to the lot of almost
any other people. congressman think too
much of the effect OF their votes upon their
own political interests, instead of upon the
people of the islands,
Since the election everybody in the Philip
pines has settled down. contented with the
outlook and satiSfiedfiwith the present sys-
TEN of government, which Is clumsy and
awkward, but the administration Is honest.
wise and patriotic and Is doing the best 1t
can. There is no better. ADLER or more dis
interested class OF men many branch of the
public service than thoseTnow In authority
in the Philippines; and while those who are
more familiar with conditions there believe
that Congress has already gone too far in
tntrusting authority to natives who are I'M
fitted by ignorance and lack of experience
to exeresesft, mo fatal mistake iEb that direc-
ton has been made, and the commission
fortunately holds the veto power which can
be exercised whenever necessary
Regarded as Mistake.
The proposed legislative assembly is also
believed to'-be "a mistake. 1t will be COM
posed Of men who are no more qualified for
legislation than the negroes who composed
the legislatures In the southern states
shortly after the war. The history Of those
bodies will. doubtless. be repeated. 1t
should be said, however. that 1t was 70
crafty ignorant but well-meaning public
sentiment In the United States that this in
sular Legislature was proposed. NO man
in the Philippines who owns property or
pays taxes, or has anything at stake wants
q native legislature. DiSiDtereSted men
who understand the character of the Fill
Pine consider It a dangerous experiment,
but they hope 1t will prove not calamity
The Manila papers are just now review
ing the progress of the year in material I'M
provement. which Is very gratifying ana
surprising to those who have not Kept pace
with what is going on there. Nearly S4,-
100000 has been expended in local improve
ments in 1904. and nearly S2,OoO,0oo upon
harbor, which will very soon make Manila
the finest port in the east. The contract
provides for a total expenditure OF about
81 ,000,0 900, which will give thirty-three feet
of water at mean low tide, and system
of docks and warehouses unsurpassed IN
Europe, Asia or America.
The street car system is nearly finished,
with forty-fiye miles of electric road; TWEEN
ty miles OF streets nave Deen Wiueiioo III
accordance with modern ideas and REQUIRE
ments; macadamized roads have been punt
to all the suburbs; a complete system OF
sewerage Is being given to city where
there have been no sewers before at cost
of $3,216.473 under the direction or Mr.
Fitzgerald, Boston engineer, and Wnen II
Is finished 1t will be sufficient for popuia-
ton of 44o,00o-about double the present
population.
new city hail. city hospital, veter-
mary hospital, three fire stations. two po-
lice stations, and crematories for the purn-
ing of garbage are being erected Inc
streets have been cleaned every day, when
Is great novelty for, the people or Mania.
One of the most notable improvements
are the new school houses, which are IN
tended as models to be initiated by other
cities in the islands: They Will be the
finest ever erected In the east. The plans
were drawn by William Walters. 5r., after
competition among all the Manila archl-
tects.
Improvements Contemplated.
Several other public. improvements Of
general and public nature are contemplated,
such as the extension of streets. the laying
out of parks, the enlargement of the water
supply, which Is good; but only sufhc1ent
for the present population, and the erection
of new and more csnyep,ent buildings for
several of the multnictpal departments;
These things however, cannot be paid
out of current REVENUES. which are
only sufficient to meet those have already
mentioned. and depesld cupon the issue OF
bonds authorized blythe Cooper bill.
Although the government did more build
ing and repairing ine 1904 than was ever
done before In Manila and the Islands,
there was decrease int private building
and a general suspension Of private enter
prise until after election. This was due to
the apprehension created by the self-gov-
eminent independents plank of the demo-
cratic national PLATFORM and fear lest
the so-called anti-imperiaiists should secure
change of policy. Q That fear penetrated
every quarter of st1ae archipelago and
affected every Interest," and industry. There
was falling off of s37S 7s8 in private build
Ing operations In Manila from the previous
year. People would not Invest money until
they knew what sort Of government they
were going to have. but the local news
papers ali agree that every apprehension is
dissipated and that boom has begun