Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-12-05

"AANh VIII scIuIe uuieL ana peace 10
 the deserving inhabitants. The incl
 dent is another proof of the fact that
 if there has been any error as regards
 giving self government in the Philip
 pines it has been in the direction of
 giving it too quickly, not too slowly.
 A year from next April the first legis- lative assembly for the islands will be held. On the sanity and self restraint of this body much will depend so far as the future self government of the islands is concerned.
 The most encouraging feature of the whole situation has been the very great interest taken by the common people in education and the great increase in the number of enrolled students in the public schools. The increase was from 30O,000 to half million pupils. The average attendance is about 70 per cent. The only limit upon the number of pupils seems to be the capacity of the government to furnish teachers and schoolhouses.
 The agricultural conditions of the is lands enforce more strongly than ever the argument in favor of reducing the tariff on the products of the Philippine Islands entering the United States. earnestly recommend that the tariff now imposed by the DingIey bill upon the products of the Philippine Islands be entirely remoeed, except the tariff on sugar and tobacco, and that that tariff be reduced to % per cent of the present rates under the Dingley act; that after July l, 1909. the tariff upon tobacco and sugar produced in the Philippine Islands be entirely removed and that free trade between the islands and the United States in the products of each country then be provided for by law.
 A statute in force, enacted April 15, 1904, suspends the operation of the eoastwise laws of the United States upon the trade between the Philippine Islands and the United States until July l, 1906. I earnestly recommend that this suspension be postponed until July 1, 1909. I think it of doubtful utility to apply the coastwise laws to the trade between the United States and the Philippines under any circum- stances, because I am convinced that it will do no good whatever to Ameri- ran bottoms and will only interfere and he an obstacle to the trade be- tween the Philippines and the United States; but if the coastwise law must be thus applied. certainly it ought not to have effect until free trade is en- Joyed between the people of the United States and the people of the Philippine Islands in their respective products
 do not anticipate that free trade between the islands and the United States will produce revolution in the sugar and tobacco production of the Philippine Islands. So primitive are the methods of agriculture in the Phil lppine Islands. so slow is capital in go- ing to the islands, so many difficulties surround a large agricultural enter prise in the islands. that it will be many, many years before the products of those islands will have any effect whatever upon the markets of the United States. The problem of labor Is also formidable one with the sugar and tobacco producers in the islands. The best friends of the Filipino people and the people themselves are utterly opposed to the admission of Chinese cooly labor: hence the only solution is the training of Filipino labor, and this will take long time. The enactment of law by the congress of the United States making provision for free trade between the islands and the United States. however, will be of great impor- tance from a political and sentimental standpoint, and, while it's actual bene- fit has doubtless been exaggerated by the people of the islands, they will &C., cept this measure of justice as an indi- cation that the people of the United States are anxious 10 aid the people of the Philippine Islands in every way and especially fin the agricultural de- velopment of their archipelago. It will aid the Fillpinos without injuring in- terests in America.
 Hawaii.
 In my judgment, immediate steps should be taken for the fertilization of Hawaii. This is the most important point in the Pacific to fortify in order to conserve the interests of this coun- try. It would be hard to oyerstate the importance of this need. Hawaii is too heavily taxed. Laws should be enact ed setting aside for q period of. say, twenty years . per cent of the internal revenue and customs receipts from Ha- wall as a special fund to be expended in the islands for educational and pub lie buildings and for harbor improve ments and military and naval defenses. It cannot be too often repeated that our aim must be to develop the terri tory of Hawaii on traditional American lines. That territory has serious com mercial and industrial problems to reckon with. but no measure of relief . can be considered which looks to leg ! islation admitting Chinese and restrict ing them by statute to field labor and domestic service. The status of ser vility can never again be tolerated on American soil We cannot eoncede that . the proper solution of its problems Is special legislation admitting to Hawaii . a class Of laborers denied admission to the other states and territories. There 4 gre obstacles. and great obstacles. in .