New-York tribune., 1905-06-26
ADVISES WITH MR.. SHON Is
SECRETARY TAFT SILENT.
Won't Discuss Panama, but Talks
ON Philippine Matters.

Secretary Taft was in town yesterday. He had
a conference the Manhattan Hotel with John f.
Wallace chief engineer of the Panama Canal; l.
P. Shonts. chairman of the Canal Commission. ana
William Nelson Cromwell counsel for the commits
sion but refused to make any statement as to What
had been discussed what results had been
reached The consultation lasted until 12:3o o'clock
At it's end Mr.. Taft said:
1 have nothing to say, except that have been in
consultation with Mr.. Cromwell. Mr.. Shonts ana
Canal.
HAS Mr. Wallace resigned his postion?" was
asked.
II can't tell you anything about that
Mr. shonts was hurrying away to reach his coun-
try house the Sound, and was equally uhcoh-
municative, referring all questions to Mr Iatt MI
Wallace left town soon as the conference was
over to spend the afternoon with his son on the
New-Jersey Coast. 1t said. however that ne
would be at the office of the Panama Commission
this morning.
A man in close touch with Mr.. Wallace said he
understood from him that there were good many
things to consider in connection with his so-called
resignation He did not think there would be any
immediate developments.
II was also said that there were many matters
calling for consultation with the authorltles mere
in connection with the engineering work Inc
President has ordered the board of consulting en-
gineers to meet September TO investigate anu
decide on the plans of the Canal Commission inns
may necessitate the presence of Mr. wallace mere
for time.
Secretary Taft left New-York yesterday noon for
New-Haven. where to-day he will deliver an ao-
dress to the graduates of the Yale Law School. He
accompanied far as Bridgeport oy L. T.
Shonts head of the Canal Commission. and was
busily engaged in discussing Isthmian affairs up TO
the time Mr. Shonts left the train.
TALKS ON PHILIPPINES
In discussing his approaching visit to the Philip
VIII q of The Tribune who was
on the train Mr.. Taft said:
While the newspapers anxious to know the
latest developments in the Panama question.
Pbilippne '' Islnnds am sorry that this
We owe to ourselves as nation ana 10 tie me- of
Strife / grant you-but debt, nevertheless An
to a junket in some Of papers, is ali that ap-
pears in the press these days You may resi- ;bIo a
results from this latest endeavor Of the Ph1ppine
government to gain in the @ g10a % narican W peope
should rather spend my summer as did last year.
There are four-yes, fve-mogt important, mat, mat
ters awaiting my arrival in the Phppines r wrsn
ing of the internal revenue laws now in force IN
about so per cent less than those in force in the
United States. they are new there. and owing to
bound work certain hardship upon the bnsi5
To Believe re however @ that with Certain
notifications. made necessary by the tfansitory
the revenue tax will aid. rather than hinder the
future DEVELOPMENT of the islands.
attention. and it is my intention to rec9mnehhe tha
insular forces on a proper basis, The, Filipnos
were anxious to have native army and one was
banded just what will be done in the matter
say, but it is not the least OF the questohs
Transportation is another important matter
nov in go operation with. the extensions which are
blamed win give Manila and its suburbs a system
T W taest nre anxious Ia5 to push this work rapidly
possible Bids are to be opened on e Of
railroad lines which will open up immense tracts
p Stevens, an expert in railway engineering, who
goes to the islands in the employ OF the lnsuIa,
ape accepted he will remain with the government
three years and supervise the construction OF the
CHURCH MATTERS TO SETTLE.
-rhero. ara also two church matters which must
be settled One is the claim Of the Roman Catholic
and converts during the Philippine campaign.
The other is the Dominican friar lands question:
The Dominican friars was recently in Washington
trying to settle the question There are eignt
as Governor General Wright has Informed me that
s aee 70 pTevent their being perfected we
to arrange method of compromise These
tentton. So you see that the trip will hardly be
the pleasure junket the general public imagines.
How about the tariff. Mr.. Taft? Do you expect
to convert the legislative members of the party
TO YOUR way of thinking"
THAT is another matter. In the party 1 have
both friends and opponents the tariff question
l hope, however. to show then the right side OF
the question The Filipinos feel that they bought
gold brick when the coastwise shipping laws
of the United States ordered extended to the
islands and is their wish that Congress so amend
the law to postpone its operations until 1t can
give most substantial reduction in the tariff now
in force between the Philippine Islands and the
limited States. l don't know just what can be
done in the matter, but 1t seems to me that the
construction and operation of the railroads VIII be
the opening wedge that eventually will result in a
and the United States. The Fili3nOs imi-
tative people. quick to appreciate the advantage OF
railroads will new desires, and q consequent
need for % the means T to graty fae Of the
people along Industrial lines. a greater output Of
larger market In the end. those interested in the
production and transportation of the rapldlly IN
enxious TO fight for levellins of the tariff
separating the islands from this, its natural
to fight against the tariff reforms. which we all
know are absolutely necessary to the welfare of
aid. and if It be granted there Will be no Philip
pine question to vex our anti friends IN the
future"
The possibility of his being candidate for Presi-
dent at the next election was suggested to Mr.
Taft. He said:
If you base any hope my being the nominee. The
against me- but guess they know where l stand
The train was entering the New-Haven station as
the Tribune representative mentioned Mr. Loomis.
then Mr. Bowen. and again Mr.. Wallace only to be
met with the sign of the closed eye.
II wish could tell you all you would like to
know but it is impossible and the Secretary Of
War assumed his martial irown. only to blossom in
a wreath of smiles he espied William Kneeland
Thompson awaiting him the platform. Hello
Eill!'' was his greeting to the well known justice.