New-York tribune., 1906-12-15
pa[L[PPINE PROGRESS.
orrLOOK ENCOURAGING.
,,rrtary Taft Sets Forth the Needs
of the Islands.

T
t|,o The government is doing the work there
g.. bss proposed 10 do. 1t IS maintaining peace
'nn' Sc with a firm hand: II is teaching the peo-
81 ~ nracticsl experience lessons in seif-govern-
20 snd Il is giving them opportunity by the
~ crops the proceeds OF which they may
ns & os-tsinfy take to themselves as their own.
s.,ssns OF making the islands prosperous. The
~ lament Is slow. and does not come with spec
demonstration but il is not for that reason
49, raesrded as unimportant. What is most
.sas row is legislation from Congress which
~ convince the Filipino people of the anxiety
-. American people TO aid them far as possi-
-. "a prosperity which has been absent from
:. Islands throughout the period OF American &C.
,aps,ion."
S,,-stsry Taft makes the foregoing statement IN
=. ,srr Of his annual report which treats of
.,,rs IN the Philippines. Other features OF the
ssort follow;
INCLUDE in ths annual report the report Of the
ptfinpine Commission for the year ending June 80
- with its accompanying reports of the various
sssds az departments Of the Philippine govern
.iors IN the Philippines show steady Improvement
Tbs commission has used every effort TO down
- sxyenses Of government. and has found this not
ssnsistent with rendering the government more
ao provinces OF Leyte and sanaT peaca Aeeps ann ID
-snouillity obtain. The capture or surrender OF
w Of ten OF the leaders Of Iadrone bands in the
s'and Of Luzon, comprising all but one of those
rho have vexed the peaceful Inhabitants of the
tsgalog provinces. has brought about better
,eSSiton than ever before existed in the islands
Sbess men who captured or who surrendered
tsys been tried before Filipino judge and have
sse5 shown have been guilty. without exception
Il many hendsh and cruel murders. and all but one
isaoed to thirty years Imprisonment. 1t IS sig
rfcaut that all these iadrone leaders styled them
y lSai habiaton but followed the officias from rom
cls jungle 10 another until they were captured.
ne impetus giYSn 10 agTiSultural operations and
he Increase IN the demand for farming property
tle TO the destruction Of these ladrone bands are
goints5 OF IN the report Of the commission.
* LEYTE AND sAAIAR.
In samsT and Leyte there has been for long
tins btes feud between the mountain peoples
Il those two islands. known as Pulajanes and tho
Pasianes raise hemp and dispose Of it 10 pur-
,hasers from the coast towns. They are ar times
subject TO oppression and fraud by the local deal
es In hemp and by the municipal officials who at
nmPt 10 monopoize their sales at prices very much
bslpW the market. These and other causes Gre
als q constant feeling of suspicion and resent
uent on The part or the mountain people against
constituted authority, and, much more through mis-
understanding than real spirit of lawlessness.
Disturbances arise and famed into flame by the
ease with which fakirs and pseudo-religious lead
Gs able 10 arouse the mountain peoples into
ise formation of armed bands and the making OF
forays into tfe lowlanos. The commission gives a
more detailed explanation OF the conditions in
ssmar and Leyte and their causes. 1 am in re-
Cei9t Of dispatches from General Wood, command
hs the Philippines division, and Governor General
1n the latest adyices that the department has upon
The subject
E0Yenent in conditiCns)
The census was completed late in the spring Of
M and under the organic act of the Philippine
Islands passed July l, 1872 an election for p6pu-
az assembly 10 act jointly with the Philippine
Commission ss the legislature of the Christian
Filipino provinces was 10 be held two years after
i int 9eInplsuon ana publication of the census, if
Isacs and tranquility satisfactory. If serious dis
t-Tbanoes in Samar and Leyte were TO continue
Of peace and tranquility IN the islands were such
a 10 justify calling an election for a popular
assembly. hope there VIII be no reason for hest
zuon IL this regard.
The depressed condition Of business in the islands
seems 10 nave continued, especially in respect to
ne raising and expectation OF sugar and tobacco.
s:te- which visited the islands in the latter part
q ls6 Destroyed about 100000 IN value of the
~ gop OF helnp IN the matter OF exports, however,
ms loss was made up by an increase IN the pro-
49, eApoI - non oI cocoanots, 50 tlat on
ssout hslf 2 million dollars.
The imports of the islands were reduced below
,as pEeoeong year some 81 S4eoooo, making the bal
snoe Cs traoe II favor Of the islands-that is the
ArEs part Of the reduction in imports was due
0 the reduction in the importation Of rice This
indicates that the Fgli6inos are raising their
osn roe ald extending their agriculture, which has
q cstlle rom r4nderpest. It IS slowly recovering
The finances of the government are IN good
Sonaluo1 .S @ AFTER all bills were paid June 80 last
90 !. "as surplus or a million and half gold.
poulo be sufficient amount available over and
osTote two three millions 10 much needed inter
t isc,9 Ios eie-ts The harbor Of Manila is now pro-
IIssEweters with an area sufficient to let the
ehs1t fee Of the Orient ride at anchor safely dur
thonths with great force. All the tonnage and
So agI c!arges have been removed; and two large
t9ngSlde Of which vessels OF 25-foot draft can
sSs -E y moor and easily discharge their cargoes,
sc Mhen these are completed, they will be in
= 49, sho.t trne, there VIII be no harbor in the East
,sel.i' 9Ln4e 10 shipping so far as the matter OF
t-.,s tro,- .or discharge Of cargo and the freedom
rr ro-.soo .sote5H,nent @ eSactions arc concerned
-. NJ NcrK IS proceeding 20 complete q system of
- s'g Supply for Manila that viii greatly reduce
% %ro1os have been issued and work is proceeding 10
VII % q complete sewerage system in Manila, which
RI, ne harbors of Ilolo and Cebu the other two
SSss shs,6ors a. Of The islands, are being rapidly i'm
,.-r az an aggregate cost Of 81 .5l00N0
a.oer construction in various Tarfs Of the Islands
~ ,IItIs IS being perfected. especially IN regard to
s'e expended and accounted for
SETTLING CHURCH CONTROVERSIES.
cIhe CONTROVERSIES between the Roman Catholic
mrcn rmlSrcn and the so-caied Philippine Catholic
hs courts whore thev are reaching a settlement
sel,;I % OF NC questions which has troubled the Ex-
ssag ss1 q oynership Of the land and buildings
isb regi ~ ne 'atholc Church under the Span
rgbiess ssias u vas contended that the land vas
q IL 1aa oelonsIns either to the munlcpaiites
tre9,S S.i.se9 70 INC government OF spain, because
-teu al governmental expense, and that by the
re,- Or Paris the title either remained In the mu
f'-i..a55. o! passed 10 the government OF the
,s.,eo States as The case might he, and did not
an advised hy cable from Governor General
o.. uat tgis question has been fully heard be-
Ne supreme Court of the Islands. consisting
49, ttF american Judges and three Filipino Judges
~ nat unanimous judgment has been rendered
lung that the title TO the churches and con-
r-.S used and occupied ly tie Roman Catholic
tsst ~ before the change Of sovereignty vested IN
,le 1i-fct and. Of course. was not divested by
Nc .t'edtN q Paris This result cannot but have a
el-laTF effect upon the religious contro-
eii'-.,s Nlicl lave disturbed and distressed the
.tL.s ln tic islands from one end TO the other.
Et,-loiE- cholera appeared IN Manila and else
t~ir.l N The islands during the last year, the
e.! ~ The health authorities was so prompt and
-''e 'Ta' Il did not spread
RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION.
nss June aud July last concessonary grants were
lffi,tt TIC Philippine government one to tho