Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-02
ence between their crude agricultural i'm
plements and thase employed by us.
Government Bureaus Merged.

There has been a consolidation of offices
under the island administration lately and
thirty-four bureaus have been merged into
twenty-five, with saving of $1,000, 600 an
nually in salaries.
The trouble over the friars' lands is being
gradually settled by the deciding of
haciendas to the government and the for
mer tenants are rule still living on the
land and gradually buying 1t from the gov
eminent as freehold instead of leasehold
property.
The new currency upon a gold basis has
. already taken the place of the old fiuctuat-
ing Mexican. pansh-Filipino, Chinese and
other foreign coins previously prevailing IN
the islands, and commercial contracts, I'M
porting, exporting, buying and selling
within the islands are now all upon uni
form basis and a fixed, known standard
and the whole public and the government
are able to forecast results. SO far as such
results depend upon the kind of money to
be paid received, as the case may be-
During the year 6,0o0,00 certificates of In
debtedness have been retired and only
100000 issued in their place, which leaves
only 81 100000 worth of these certificates
outstanding "a reduction of $4,500,00o during
the year, which is ample and sufficient to
meet all requirements and to maintain the
parity of Philippine currency with gold
These certificates were sold at premium
and the proceeds deposited throughout the
year as a portion of the gold standard fund
and has earned interest at the rate of not
less than 2La per cent, so that the mainte-
nance of this fund has been on the whole
a source of profit to the insular govern
ment instead of loss. In other words
the government has made money by Dor
rowing and issuing these certificates, and
has maintained a fund for the purpose of
the gold standard without any cost what
ever
Tobacco and Sugar Production.
The passage of the Philippine tariff bill is
strongly urged. 1t is stated that there is
only limited area of lands adapted to the
profitable cultivation of tobacco and sugar,
and that the quality of the former is gen
orally poor.
The total output of cigars in the Philip
pine Islands for the fiscal year 1919 was
only = per cent of the number consumed in
the United States and the total number eX-
ported TO all countries was only per cent
The high-water production of sugar under
Spanish sovereignty was 100000 tons, and
the total amount exported for the last fiscal
year was only l25.0oo short tons, which
included a considerable amount held in
warehouses from previous years.
Controlling reasons are clearly and con-
yincingly set forth to why the total out
put of both tobacco and sugar, If exported
to the United States and consumed here,
would be so insignificant a proportion of
the total amount of these two products used
by the people of the United States that they
could not by any possibility disturb the
home market. The only effect of the aboli-
ton of the existing duties in the United
States on tobacco and sugar. either now or
for years TO come is said to be simply to
enable the producer to obtain living price.
Banks for Farmers Needed.
The universal need of one or more agri-
cultural banks, established for the primary
purpose of advancing money to agrcultur-
lists mainly upon security of their landed
property is explained. The people have no
money with which to purchase the essential
animals and agricultural machinery and i'm
piememts for developing their lands, and
they are at present compelled to pay 10 to.
10 per cent more per annum for Dor
rowed money. Reference is made to the
system Of establishing an agricultural
banking system by limited government aid
which has been worked out In Egypt where
the conditions We're quite analogous to those
in the Philippine Islands. on basis that
has proved of the highest benefit to the
country. The recommendation is made for
congressional action looking to the estab-
iishment of an agricultural bank by pri-
waite capital, the interest to be guaranteed
by the insular government at a rate not to
exceed per cent per annum, with limited
total liability of the government during any
single year not to exceed $780, G0.
Recommendations are made for a coast
and geodetic survey and for the establish
Topographic survey of the islands. Alto
gether the islands are now reaching the
condition where they need more and more
of the attention and conveniences of
modern civilized community and 1t is be-
lieved that any money expended on them
in this direction will be funds well in
vested.