Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-12-05

THE PHILIPPINES.
Conditions Generally Are Found to no
Satisfactory.


During the last year the Philippine
islands have been slowly recovering
from the series Of disasters which, since
American occupation. have greatly re-
duced the amount OF agricultural
products below what was produced
IN Spanish times. The war, the rinder-
pest the ocusts. the drought, and the
cholera have been united as causes
TO prevent the return Of prosperity
much needed In the Islands. The most
serious Is the destruction by the rinder-
pest OF more than rs per cent Of the
draft cattle, because It win take sew"
cIal yclrs Of breeding to restore the
necessary number of these Indispensable
aids to agriculture. The commission
attempted 20 supply by purchase from
adjoining countries the needed cattle,
but the experiments made Wet"
unsuccessful. Most OF the cat
tie imported were unable 70
withstand the change of climate ana
the rigors Of the voyage and died from
other diseases than rIuderpest.
The income Of the Philippine gov
eminent has necessarily been reduced
by rea son Of the business ana asTlcul-
tural depression IN the islands. and the
government has been Obliged 10 eHer-
else great economy. to cut down us eS-
pAusses. to reduce salaries. aud in
every way to avoid q deficit II has
adopted an internal-reYenue law, I'M
posing taxes on cigars, cigarettes AND
distilled liquors and abolishing the OLD
Spanish Industrial taxes, The law has
not operated, as smoothly as was
hoped, and although its principle Is
undoubtedly correct, II may need
a 70 ~ NJ
citing the people to its provisions. The
income derived from II has partly made
up FOR the reduction IN customs
revenue.
There hss been n marked increase
In the number OF Fllipinos employed IN
the civil service. and a corresponding
decrease In the number OF Americans
The government in every one OF Its
depa rtments has been rendered more
efficient by elimination Of undesirable
material and the promotion OF deserV-
Ing public servants
Improvements Of harbors, roads and
bridges continue. although the cutting
down Of the revenue forbids the ex-
penditure OF any great amount from
current income for these purposes
Steps are being taken by advertise
ment for competitive bids, 70 secure
the construction and maintenance Of
900 miles of railways by private corr
poration under the recent enabling leg
lation Of the Congress. The transfer
Of the friar lands, IN accordance with
the contract made some two years ago.
has been completely effected and the
purchase money paid. Provision has
just been made by statute for the
speedy settlement I'm special proceed
ing IN tho supreme court Of cOntro-
Versles over the possession and title
OF church buildings and rectories aris-
Ing between the Roman Catholic
church and schlsmatlcs claiming un-
der ancient municipalities. Negotla-
lions and hearings for the settlement
OF the amount due to the Roman Cath
olcs church for rent and occupa ton
OF churches and rectories by the army
Of the United States are in progress.
and IL is hoped a satisfactory conclu-
sion may be submitted to the Congress
before the end Of the session.
Tranquility has existed during the
past year throughout the archipelago,
except In the province OF Cnvite, the
province of Batangas. and the pro-
vince Of Samar. ana In the island OF
1olo among the Moros The Jolo dis
turbance was put TO end to by several
now peace prevails I'm the Moro pro-
vince Cavite. tho mother OF ladrones
In the Spanish times. is so permeated
with the traditional sympathy Of the
people OF ladronism as to make It diff
flcult TO stamp out the disease. Batan-
gas was only disturbed by reason of tho
fugitive ladrones from Cavite. samar
was thrown into disturbance by the
uneducated and partly savage peoples
living In the mountains. who. having
been given by the municipal code more
power than they were able 10 exercise
discreeuy. elected municipal officers
who abused their trusts, compelled the
people raising hemp TO sell IL at a much
less price than 1t was worth and by
their abuses drove their people into re-
sstance TO constituted authority. Ca
vlte and Sainar are instances Of repos-
ing too much confidence In the self
governing power Of people The dis
turbances have all now been sup
pressed, and It is hoped that with these
lessons local governments can be-
formed which will secure quiet and
peace to the deserving inhabitants.
The incident is another proof OF the
fact that II there has been any error
az regards giving self government in
the Philippines It has been in the d.
rectlon OF giving IL too quickly, not too
slowly A year from next April the
first legislative assembly for the ISL
ands VIII be held. on the sanity and
self-restraint OF this body much win
Continued on page 81