Omaha daily bee., 1906-02-02

lively no armed lawlessness.
In Cebu there are few ladrones. but the
protracted drought caused scarcity Of
food and failure of crops to such an OK
tent that there have been occasional dis
turbances.
In Panay conditions are also improved
1t is there a matter really for secret ser
vice people and arrests by peace officers
rather than any movement of armed men.
with the Moros.
Since the last report o. the commission
there is said to be a marked Improvement
in the conditions in the Moro province.
With the exception of the opposition which
was maintained by Dato All, who was
later killed and his band dispersed, every
thing as a rule has been peaceful and quiet.
There has been on the whole considerable
change for the better among those living
on the island Of Jolo. \ renegade Moro,
who ned from north Borneo after having
committed many crimes there, succeeded in
gathering a considerable Following around
him in Jolo and headed a ppasmodlc out
break, but he was finally killed and his
following dispersed. There has been con-
siderable progress and development along
agricultural lines both exports and i'm
ports have considerably increased and the
oullOOk lOT the luluTe Ol tulS great p!ON-
ince is dictlnctly encouraging.
The commission believes that generally
speaking, it may be said that as to this
province It is work of time, tact, and
constant watchfulness to change the feel
ings Of the Moros from suspicion and dis
trust to friendship ard confidence. The
three members OF the Philippine commits
sion who visited the province in Novem-
Der. 1904, state that evidences of prosperity
and progress were everywhere abundant.
In every community visited in this province
and others there were found some persons
who were waking up to their opportunities
and were taking advantage of modern
methods in their work. 1t is a commenda-
BILE fact to be noted that fifty Moros aad
fifty Igorrotes have joined the constabulary
and have proved themselves TO he excel
lent fighters and very determined officers
of Geace.
Business Conditions.
There was an increase in exports over
the preceding year of S2,129.73s. There is
falling off in the imports of $3.50. 203, en-
tirely due to the falling off in importatons
of rice, the principal article of food of the
people. More than $1,000, 900 less was ex-
pended for rice than the year previous.
In the controversies which arose between
the Independent Filipino church, of which
Bishop Agipay is the head, and the
authorities of the Roman Catholic Apos-
tolic church in regard to the ownership of
churches, converts and cemeteries in many
localities, the commission has not felt that
it had the right, enthusiastically. to
change possession where the same had
been peaceably obtained deemins the ques-
ton OF title one for settlement by the
courts.
The new currency upon a gold basis las
already taken the place of the old fuctuat-
ing Mexican, Spanish Filipino, Chinese and
other foreign coins previously prevailing in
tho islands, and commercial contracts, i'm
porting exporting, buying and selling
within the islands are now all upon a 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 or received, as the case
may be. The universal need Of one or more
agricultural banks, established for the
primary purpose OF advancing money to
agriculturists mainly upon security of their
landed property is explained. The people
have no money with which to purchase
the essential animals and agricultural ma
chinery and implements for developing
| their lands, and they are at present COM
| PEELED to pay 10 TO 40 per cent more per
annum for borrowed 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 were
quite analogous to those in the Philippine
islands, on a basis that has proved OF the
highest benefit to the country.
Public Lands.
Under the present law not more than
forty acres OF land may be sold from any
portion OF the public domain to any indi-
v!dual, and not more than $500 acres to
any person, association, firm or corpora
ton. In order to encourage the establish
ment Of plantations of considerable size
by Filipinos and Americans Of intelligence
and means and 20 successfully cultivate
hemp, cocoanuts, maguey. coffee. cacao,
sugar and TOBACCO, it is recommended that
the amount which may be purchased by
an individual be increased TO not more than
! LOCO acres, and that the amount which a
corporation may hold be increased to
5000 acres, and il is said that 1000 acres
would he the minimum aomunt upon which
a corporation could well AFFORD TO establish
I dat nlo nfa