The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-01-16
FILIPINOS ARE
PROGRESSING
Governor Wright Says Present
Conditions Are Satisfactory.
REPORT OF THE COMMISSION
INTRODUCTORY LETTER BY SEC
RETARY TAFT.
NAI AsHINGTON, Jan. 15.-secretary
w of War Taft has transmitted to

NAE AsoE1A-NO ION, jan l0.-SeCretary
w of War Taft has transmitted to
the president the annual report
OF the Philippines commission to-
Eether with the separate report of the
commission to the civil governor Of the
Islands and of the heads of the four
departments and the president trans
united them, with the secratary's let
ter, to congress.
The secretary says in his letter of
transmlttal to the president that the
reports SHOW the great benefit which
mas been conferred upon the islands
by a continued state of tranouilitv
Except in the wild mountainous regions
OF the uneXplored island of Samar and
~ the Moro region of the Rio C.raDda
and Lake Lanao districts in the
sparsely settled Island of MfDdanao
ana IN the Island of JolO, conditions
as 10 tranquility and ladronism he
says continue to improve. and except
III the places mentioned agriculture
and the arts of peace are not at all in
Jerfered with by lawless bands or
Expectations.
Civil Service Law Effective.
He says it is quite satisfactory to
observe the good effect of a settled
policy with respect to the civil service.
under stringent civil service law, on
the personnel and efficiency of the
service. Many. Of the FniDinoS are
animation as English clerks.
The secretary says that the falling
on IN the government revenues has re-
duced the funds available for reduc-
ton From the central government
last year the amount expended did not
exceed $1,000 600. as against 81 600 600
the previous year. He adds that with
out wasting money $1,000. coo a year in
the maintenance of the public schools
OF the Philippine islands could be
Hrnr u d NrH Il I
increased from 49, 900 10 263. 900 in one
year and there is demand for Ameri-
can teachers and Filipino teachers in
each province. The total expenditures
Tor education last year. including those
from Central provinces and munipical
governments was nearly $1,000. 600.
Philippine Coinage.
Regarding the new coinage OF the
islands the secretary says:
One Of the most satisfactory re-
suits of the governments transactions
DUNG the year in the islands is the
establishment in the islands of d new
coinaSe on firm bassis. The
Spanish Filipino coin and the Mexican
coin have been practically driven out
of the islands-the former by purchase
OF the government and re-cOinage into
the new coins, and the latter by legis-
lation hostile to, the importation and
circulation of Mexican dollars as we'll
as By a strong demand Tor il in the
other countries. The danger which
presents itself now is the rise in the
price of silver. which if it continues
may make the silver peso worth more
than 30 cents in gold, the present
standard value, and thus lead to the
melting up OF the new silver peso of
the Philippine government
Internal Revenue Law.
During the year the commission has
enacted an internal revenue law and
abolished the industrial taxes which
mad come down from the Spanish
regime The industrial taxes sub
Jected all kinds Of business. even the
smallest, to license tax. and was
thought to work proportionateIy
harder on the smaller business than
upon large enterprises. The present
OH imposes a tax on the production of
liquor and alcohol, upon the manufac-
ture OF cigars and cigarettes and also
upon banking and other corporal tons
These are new and while not heavy as
compared with the taxes imposed in
this country on the same subject mat
Ter are such departure from the
methods Of taxation in the Philippines
that they have given rise to consider
able criticism by members of the Fill
pino public and especially by persons
largely interested in the business
which is to pay the tax.
viii Provide an Income.
The internal revenue law has not
been in operation sufficient length of
time TO Justify criticism or praise of il.
If the hope Of the commission is real
lied it viii BILE them to relieve the
and the provinces from
lack Of income. from which during the
agricultural depression they have suf
fered. 1t viii also relieve the general
business OF the country from large
number OF small impOSitiOns which. i'm
1 In.a grcrr 20
but satisfaction from a relief in taxa
icn Is never equal in intensity to the
complaints of those who are subjected
TO new taxation. and the benefits of n
change cannot be weighed until the
whole public has been accustomed to
It.
The secretary says that the iuprova-
ment of Manila harbOr has made good
progress. The work at Cebu has been
completed and the Improvement of the
harbor at lloilo is in progress. A large |
part Of the 100000 voted by congress !
has been and is being expended i'm the
construction Of roads in the islands.
Tariff Question.
Regarding the tariff on Philippine |
products IN the United States the sec 1
rotary says:
THE reports of Governor yVrieb+ on, 4
Of Commissioner Worcester show what !
has appeared in the reports from the
Islands since the American OCCUPATION
ne necessity for reducing the tariff on
philippine products entering the Init
20 states in order that we might give
10 the islands market in America
eading 10 revival OF business i'm the
Stands. / have already mentioned this
So often that il is unnecessary to re-
peat what was said in my annual re-
,Ort."
Rebellious Moros.
OF the Moros Secretary Taft saws:
The report of Major General Wood
ln conditions in the Moro province is I
u much interest. The government act |
Vas framed with view to giving the
persons responsible for the Moro gov
.rnment great latitude in dealing with