Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-07
URGED BY PRESIDENT
MESSAGE TO CONGRESS REGARD
ING PHILIPPINE. SURVEY. =

The President has sent the following
message to Congress:
ITO the Senate and House of Representa-.
tives:
circumstances have placed under the
control of this, government the Philippine
Archipelago. The islands of that group
present as many interesting and novel ques-
tons with respect to their ethnology
their fauna and fora, and their zoology and
mineral resources. as any region of the
world. .
AT my request the National Academy Of
Sciences appointed committee to consider
and report upon the desirability of institut-
ing scientific explorations of the Philippine
Islands. The report of this committee. to-
gether with the report of the board on sci
entific surveys of the Philippine Islands
including draft of a bill providing for SIT
veys of the Philippine islands which board
was appointed by me, after receiving the
report of.the committee appointed by the
National Academy of Sciences, with in
structions to prepare such estimates an6
make suggestions as might appear to II
pertinent in the circumstances. accompanies
this message.
1.-The scientific surveys which should be
undertaken go far beyond any surveys OF
explorations which, the government of the
Philippine Islands, however completely
self-supporting, cot1ld be expected to make
The surveys, while, OF course, beneficial to
the people of the Philippine Islands, should
be undertaken as ;a-national work for the
information not merely of the people of the
Philippine Islands, hut of the people OF
this country and oflths world
49, a ,,1n ASx1 al rnf
be a matter of. pride to the government OF
the United States fully to investigate and
to describe the entire region. So far as
may be convenient and practical the work
of this surveyishoulde be conducted in har-
mony with that Of the proper bureaus OF
the government OF the Philippines, but II
should not be under the control of the au-
thorities in the Philippine Islands, for It
should be undertaken as national work
and subject tn board to be appointed by
Congress or. the president. 70, :. -
THE plan transmitted recommends 81
multaneous surveys fni differtn branches of
research, orgapizeds on a cooperative sys
tenn. This wRuld t 4sn to completeness
more economical thaah, II the exploration
ganised: surveys have: ever yet been at
tempted anywhere, but the idea is In har-
mony with mo gdfleJ scientific and industrial
4 recommena., therefore, that provision
be made for the appointment of board OF
surveys to superintend the, national sur
veys and explorations to be made in the
Philippine Islands, and that appropriation
be made from time to time to meet. the nee
essary expenses of such investigation.
1T is not probable, that the survey would
be completed in a, less period than that OF
eight or ten years but it is, well that ii
should be begun in the near future. The
Philippine commission; and those respon-
sible for the Philippine. government are
properly anxious that this survey should
not be considered as an expense of that
government, buts should be carried on and
treated as national duty in the interests
Of science.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
'The White House, February Z, 1906