New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1905-12-09
The PHILIPPINES,

Despite the series OF disasters
which have afflicted the Philippine
islands since the American oCcupa-
tion-the rinderpest. the lCcusts, and
the Neutrality-suspicious. are shown to
have steadily improved and tranquil
ity is now almost universal. The Fill
ipinos are beginning to realize the
benefits OF education, and a school at
tendance of 70 per cent is the result.
Referring to trade between the islands
and the United States, the message
says:
A statute In force. enacted April II, 1904.
suspeads the operation OF the coastwise laws
of the United States upon the trade between
the Philippine islands and the United States
until July L. 1906. | earnestly recommend that
this suspension be postponed until July l. 1893.
| think it of doubtful utility To apply the coast
wise laws to the trade between the United
States and the Philippines under any circum-
stances. because | am convinced that 1t will
do no good whatever to American bottoms and
Will only interfere and BE- obstacle to the
trade between the Philippines and the United
States: but II the cuastwis, law must be thus
applied. certainly it ought not TO have effect
until free trade is enjoyed between the peo
PIE of the United states and the people of the
Philippine islands in their respective products
| do not anticipate tat free trade between
the islands and the United States will produce
revolution In the sugGr and tobacco produc
ton Of the Philippine islands. So primitive
are the methods OF agriculture In the Philip
pine islands. slow is capital In going to the
islands. many difficulties surround large
agricultural enterprise in the islands. that it
will be many, many years before the products
Of those islands will have any effect whatever
upon the markets of the United States. The
problem Of labor il also formidable one with
the sugar and tobacco producers in the islands
The best friends of the Filipino people and the
people themselves are utterly opposed TO the
admission of Chinese coolie labor. Hence the
only solution Is the training of Filipino labor,
aud this will take long time. The enactment
Of law by the Congress of the United States
making provision for free trad" between the
islands and the United States, however. will be
Of great Importance FROM political and sent-
mental staudpoint; ard while its actual bru"-
fit has doubtless been exaggerated by the pCo-
PIE OF the islands, they viii accept this meas
IRE OF Justice as an indication that the people
OF the United States anxious to aid the reo-
pie of the Philippine islands in every way
and especially in the agricultural DEVELOPMENT
of their Archipelago. 1t wiz aid the Fiipinos
without injuring interests in America.
The President urges that immediate
steps be taken for the fertilization Of
Hawaii and the development of the
territory on traditional American
lines. Admission of Chinese labor
under statute restrictions Is con-
demned as leading to a status of ser
Witty which, the message declares.
lean soil. The President says: Our
aim must be to develop the territory
on the same basis of stable citizen
ship as exists on this continent"
Porto Rico.
Dealing with the affairs of Porto
REQ. the President says:
earnestly advocate the adoption of legsla-
ton which will explicitly confer American citi-
cnship on al! citizens of Porto Rico. There Is.
i'm my Judgment. for failure to do
this. The harbor Of San Juan should be dredged
and improved. The expenses Of the Federal
court of Porto Rico should be met from the
Federal treasury. and not from the Porto Rican
treasury. The elections in Porto Rico should
take place every four years. and the legsla-
ture should meet In session every two years.
The present form of government In Porto Rico.
which provides for the appointment by the
President of the members of the executive coun-
ell upper house of the legislature has proved
satisfactory and has inspired confidence In
property owners and investors. | do not deem
form in any material feature. The problems
and needs of the island industrial and COM
mercal rather than political.
Discussing the needs OF Alaska, tho
President recommends that the terri
tory be given an elective delegate
who will be able to speak with au-
of our country. The message con,
cludes:
Admission to Statehood.
I recommend that Indian Territory and Okla
homa be admitted State and that New
Mexico and Arizona be admitted as one State.
There IL no obligation upon us to treat ter
rtorial subdivisions which are matters of
venience only. as binding us on the question OF
admission to statehood Nothing has taken up
years than the question rs to the statehood to
be granted to the four Territories above men
toned, and after careful consideration OF all
that has been developed In the discussions of
the question I recommend that they be i'm
medlately admitted as two States. There Is
no Justification for further delay; and the ad-
visibility of making the four Territories into
two States has been clearly established.
In some of the Territories the legislative as
semblies issue licenses for gambling. The
the harmful results OF which obvious at Q
glance.
The Panama Canal.
The treaty between the United States and
the Republic OF Panama. under which the
construction Of the Panama canal made
possible. went into effect with its ratification
by the United States Senate on Feb. %, 1904.
The canal properties Of the French Canal Corn
pany were transferred to the United States ON
April 49, 1904. on payment Of $4ooooO0o to
that company On April l, 1905. the Commits
sion was reorEanized. and 1t now consists OF
Theodore p. shouts. chairman. Charles e. Ma
COON. BENJAMIN NJ Harrod. Rear-Admiral Nor
decai T. Endicott, Brig Ten. Peter c. Hams.
and Col Oswald II. Ernst John F.. Stevens
appointed chief engineer July ! last.
Active work in canal construction, mainly pre-
paratory. has been In progress for less than a
year and half. During that period two points
about the canal have ceased to be open to de-
bate. First, the question of route; the canal
Will be built the Isthmus Of Panama. Sec
ond. the question of feasibility; there
physical obstacles on this route that American
engineering skill Will not be able to overcome
without serious difficulty. that Will prevent
the completion OF the canal within reasona
able time and ut reasonable cost. This Ii
virtually the unanimous testimony Of the en-
gineers who have Investigated the matter for
the government.
The point which remains unsettled Is the
question of type. whether the canal shall be
one of several locks above level. or at sea
level with Il, single tide lock. On this point
hope to lay before the Congress at an early Gay
the findings Of the Advisory Board of Ameri-
and European Engineers. that at my invi-
tation have been considering the subject. to-
gether with the report Of the commission there
on; and such comments thereon or recommenda-
lions in reference thereto may seem neces-
sary.
What Is needed and without delay Is an
appropria tion by the Congress to meet the cur
The first appropriation Of $4,000. 900, out Of
the $135. 900. 900 authorized by the Spooner act
WAS made three years ago. II H. nearly ex-
hausted. There IL barely enough OF 1t remain
ing to carry the commission to the end Of the
year. Unless the Congress ehall appropriate
before that time all work must To ar
rest progress for any length of time now, when
matters are advancing satisfactorily. would
he deplorabe. There will be money with
which to meet payroll obligations and none
with which to meet bills coming due for
teriafs and supplies; and there will be democrat
ization OF the forces here and the isthmns.
npw working barmoniously and effectively.
IL there IL delay In granting emergency ap
propration. Estimates of the amount
sary will he found In the accompanying re-
mission.
Department Of State.
Neither Mt home nor abroad Is there a saf-
fcieut working force to do the business properly.
In many respects the system which WAS ade-
auate to the work of twenty Ave or ten.
yaarx avo "a iuadeuuatp uox and ah0uld ha