Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-28
TELLS Of ORIENT TRIP
Secretary Taft Gives an Inter
view.
EXTENSIVE ACCOU N T
MINUTE DETAILS OF JUNKET
THROUGH EAST.
Says Situation in Philippines is Not
as Satisfactory as Hoped
For.
EXTENSIVE ACCOUNT

A San Francisco dispatch last night
says: The Pacific Mail Steamship Com
pany's liner Korea, Capt. Feeder, arrived
today from the orient. beating the trans
Pacific record by several hours. Among
her passengers were Secretary of War
Taft and most of the members of the
party which left with him for the far
east on the Manchuria on July last.
The Korea sailed from Yokohama on
September II and came direct to this city,
emitting the usual stops at Honolulu Inc
best previous time for this passage was
made by the same vessel which held the
record of 10 days and 10 hours. On this
trip she has covered the distance IN a NJ
tie more than 10 days.
In an interview Secretary Taft says:
Reports coming from the Philippine
Islands seemed to indicate that ii would be
wise for the head of the War Department
to make visit of inspection to the ISLANDS
during the past summer, and his going win
a sufficient staff was thought to present
good opportunity to form party or con-
gressmen. senators and representatives 10
visit the islands as guests of the Phiiippine
government The Philippine government
was poor and was unable to do more than
arrange for the passage money of the con-
gressmen who would form part OF the
party. This did not include the sleeping
car accommodations or the meals along
the way, and. indeed, left the congressman
to defray from their own pockets by tar
the larger part of the actual travelling ex-
penses
1.-THE party as organized consisted of %
representatives and 7 senators. OF these,
10 were accompanied by their wives. In
addition Miss Roosevelt and her friends,
Miss Boafdman and Miss Mcmillan, were
of the party, and then number of other
persons. pleasant associates, Joined the
party. numbering about 90 people. and the
unofficial party about so more
Received in Japan.
Secretary Taft gave details about differ
ent stages of the journey, and then con-
tinued:
I'VE arrived in Yokohama on July "a and
were greatly surprised by the elaborate re-
ception which had been prepared for us by
the emperor. his cabinet ministers, the
governors of the provinces, the mayors OF
the towns and the japanese people. For
five days we were the guests of the gov
eminent and nothing could have exceeded
the kindness and enthusiastic manifesto
lions of the people which were shown to US.
1t was chiefly due to the presence of the
daughter of the President, to whom the
people wished TO show their gratitude for
his efforts for peace. We We're housed in
Toxic, and the whole of the official party,
fifty-three In number. lunched with the en-
peror and empress after each member had
had a personal audience with them. The
premier, Count hatSura. gave the WnOie
party banquet at the Hotel Imperial, and
the minister of gave a garden party at
the Arsenal Gardens. which added much
variety of interest. After the beautiful
luncheon and speeches which we made we
were given exhibition of famous wrest-
sling by the professional wrestiers of Japan.
We saw the champion wrestler, who was
said TO weigh somewhat more than 400
pounds.
I'm leaving Toxic we were given a popu-
lar farewell such as had never been seen in
Toxic before. The whole immense square
In front of the railroad station was crowded
with people shouting 'BanZain and extend
ing to us every evidence of good will and
friendship, and so along the line of the rail-
road on the special train, which was called
The Welcome Special
las we went from Yokohama and the
various towns way to Kyoto we
were greeted by the governors of the vari-
gus provinces and by the mayors of the
Various cities and by the councils until we
reached Kyoto where we spent more than
twenty-four hours as guests of the city and
We're given an opportunity to see the mar
Vicious manufactures and interesting places
of the Japanese capital From Kyoto we
went to Kobe, where took the steamer
through the inland sea to Nagasaki, and
there again we had a real japanese well
come and a midday festival.
The Party at Manila.
Proceeding on the Manchuria to Manila
we enjoyed a four days rest. We landed
..
whole party was taken care of by private
houses. as there were no hotels suitable.
This is one trouble In Manila, but the COM
mission, through the municipal council is
taking steps to secure the necessary capital
for the erection of a great hotel upon the
Luneta. looking out to the sea and occupy
Ing the most favorable position in the city
for comfort, beauty and prominence.
Most elaborate preparations had been
made for our reception in Manila, but we
q n1R la n has4d Of
", all OF the reception except the fiotilla of
boats, which met US in the harbor was post
poned until Monday morning. when we were
given an opportunity to see in the process
sion the progress which has been made in
civil government and in the business of the
islands. The procession was certainly most
Instructive and worthy the character of
the municipal organization of Manila. The
choice of the school organization and the
fire department of Manila showed that their
city was now, under American management
an excellent up-to-date city.
ut is still lacking an adequate water sup
ply and in the proper hygienic sewer sys-
tenn. but authority has been given by Com
gress to construct both. Plans have been
made and approved under the direction of
Desmond Fitzgerald. the famous municipal
engineer of Boston. for adding to the water
supply from very pure source in the
mountains, and for constructing a sewer
which Will carry off the sewage from Manila
In a way to avoid injury to the health of
the Inhabitants. Manila is so low being
level at any point, that 1t Is necessary to
run the sewage into reservoirs and pump 1t
out to sea.
Political Situation at Manila.
The Secretary referred in detail to some
OF the recent improvements at Manila. in
Guiding the breakwater. and continued:
THE political situation in some respects
was not so good as 1t ought to be- A wave
of ladronism has swept over the province
OF Cavite. and II has been found necessary
10 suspend the writ of habeas corpus in
the provinces of Cavite and Batangas The