The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1906-12-15
WORK OF THE j. S.
IN PHILIPPINES
SECRETARY TAFT IN REPORT
SAYS CONDITIONS ARE
VERY SATISFACTORY.
STEADY IMPROVEMENT
In All Lines and Peace Reigns in All
But wo ProVinces--EHort to
Make Natives Appreciate
Our Efforts.

Washington, Dee. little report
Of Secretary or War Taft on the
philippines, which was made public
today, follows,
| Include in this annual report the
report Of the Philippine Commission
for the year ending June 80, 1906, with
its accompanying reports Of the va
rious heads of departments OF the
Philippine government 1t gratifies
me 10 be able to say hat conditions
in the Philippines show steady i'm
provement The commission has used
every effort to cut down the expenses
OF government, and has found this
not inconsistent with rendering the
government more efficient. In every
part Of the islands, except IN the two
provinces OF Leyte and Samar, peace
and tranquility obtain.
qhe capture or surrender OF eight or
ten of the leaders Of ladroue bands in
the island Of Lu2on, cOmpriZng all
but one of those who have next the
peaceful inhabitants of the Tagalog
provinces, has brought about a better
condition than ever before existed in
the islands These men who were cap
tured or who surrendered have been
tried before a Filipino Judge and have
been shown to have been guilty, with
out exception, of many fiendish ana
cruel murders, and all but one have
been sentenced to death that one be-
ing sentenced to thirtyyears imprls-
onment.
Il is significant that all these la
drone leaders styled themselves high
officials in Filipino republic that had
no local habitat,on, but followed the
officiafs from one jungle to another
until they were captured.
The impetus given to agricultural
operators, and the increase in the
demand for farming property due TO
the destruction of these ladrone bands
are pointed out in the report of the
commission.
In Samar and Leyte there has been
for long time a bitter feud between
the mountain peoples of those two
islands. known as Pulahanes. and the
people of the coast towns In these
islands the Pulahanes raise hemp and
dispose of it to purchasehs from the
coast towns. They are at times sub
ject to oppression and fraud by the
local dealers in hempt and by the mu-
ncipal officials who attempt to mono.
police their sales at prices very much
below the market. These and other
causes create a constant feeling of
suspicion and resentment on the part
Of the mountain people against constj-
tuted authority. and much more
through misunderstood ng han a reai
spirit Of lawlessness, disturbances
arise and are famed into fame by the
ease with which fakirs and pseudo
religious leaders are able 20 arouse
the mountain peoples into the forma
tioa Of armed bands and the making
of fOrays nto the lowlands.
The census was completed late in
the spring of 1905. and under the
organic act Of the Philippine Islands. |
passed July I. 1902, an election for a
popular assembly to act jointly with
the Philippine Commission as the leg !
islature Of the Christian Filipino pro |
vinces was to be held two years after !
the completion and publication of the
censue. If the president should find !
the conditions as TO peace and tran |
guilty satisfactory.
If serious disturbances in Samar |
and Leytc we're 10 continue the ques-
tion might arise whether the condi- |
lions of peace and tranquility in the !
islands were such as to justify your /
calling an election for a popular as
sembly. As say. however 7 hope /
there VII be no reason for hesitation |
IN this RECORD.
Business Still Depressed.
The depressed condition Of business /
n the islands seems TO have contin- /
ued.. especially in re. pect to the rising /
and exportati of sugar and tobacco. /
The finances of the government are I
in a good condition After all bills |
were paid June 80 last there was 4 /
surplus of a million and a half gold /
and it was hoped that in the coming 1
year there would be a sufficient 1
amount available over and above the /
ordinary expenses Of the government /
TO devote two or three millins 20 much /
needed internal improvements. The I
harhOr Of Manila is now protected 4
and has 30 feet Of water behind the /
hreakwate ers. with an area sufficient /
to let the merchant feet Of the Orie-t 4
ride at anchor safely during the south /
west monsoons. which blow for six /
mon hs with great force.
Contracts have been LET. bonds 1
have been issued, andw ork is proceed !