The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-04-13
The President and the Philip
pines.

At the close Of his message to con-
gress on Dec. 5, 1904, the president said
in regard to the Philippines: "Every
measure taken concerning the islands
should be taken primarily with view
to their advantage. We should GER
tainly give them lower tariff rates on
their exports to the United States; if
this is not done it will be wrong to ex-
tend our shipping laws to them. = I
earnestly hope for the immediate enact
mentS into law Of the legislation now
pending to encourage American capital
to seek investment in the islands in
railroads, in factories, in plantations, in
numbering and mining"
During the period when the so-called
special friends of the Philippines in this
country were exploiting their affection,
their design seemed to be to keep
American capital from going into the
islands for investment, and to prevent
the Filipinos from receiving any benefit
whatever from the United States. Lat
terly, however, under more rational
and patriotic policy, the same indicated
by President Roosevelt in the
above quotation from his mes.
sage of last year, some reduc-
ton has been made in the duties on
Philippine sugar and tobacco imported
into the United States, our navigation
laws have been extended into the
islands, civil and political liberty has
been extended and everything which
has been done has possessed the merit
of being done primarily with view to
the advantage Of the Filipinos.
Notable among the benefits greatly
needed by the people of the islands. is
the development Of plans to encourage
railroad construction to bring remote
sections of the islands in juxtaposition
not only for the maintenance of law and
order and the protection of property
but for the enhancement of property
the Improvement Of business, distribu'
ton of money, and the employment OF
labor and the ntercommunicatlon OF
the people, with closer acquaintance and
increase Of knowledge.
Judge Taft, when governor Of the
islands, took a. deep interest in this sub
iect as vital to the welfare of the
archipelago, and sought to interest
American capital in such investment
when he returned from the Philippines
Latterly, his efforts have borne fruit
and number of railway men who cal
command capital have given their at
tention to the proposed lines in thu
island of Luzon, the most extensive Of
which is from Manila northward thru
5; the interior of the island to Apawai, OF
, the north coast, at the mouth Of tn
! Cagayan river. This road would b.
1876 miles long and is estimated to cos
$6,675,6O2. Another line is proposed
from Dagupan to Loaoag, 1853 miles, es
timated to cost $3,367 ,036, which woult
J pay fair interest on the investmen
J after the first year, if not Immediately
A line from Manila southwark to Batan
; gas is regarded as an excellent CONNER
: cial proposition, as it would run thr1
: the best agricultural district of tn
| island and would pay well from the tim
it is opened. ..
: =. The opening of transportation facilj
ties on the Philippine islands will neces
7 sarily lead to manifold commercial de
e velopment and the commercial move
ment will necessarily require very rad:
: cal modification of the hostile TART
. schedules, which still obstruct the free
dom of trade with the islands.