The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-03
NEEDS OF THE PHILIPPINES.
REPORT or CHIEF OF BUREAU
or INSULAR AFFAIRS.

Urgent Plea for the Passage of the Philip
pines Tarin Bul 1T 10 Necessary for
the Prosperity OF the Islands -An AEri-
cultural Bank Outside OF Manila.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 2.-The report Of the
chief Of the Bureau Of lnsular Affairs TO
the Secretary Of War, made public yester-
day, deals chiefly with conditions in the
Philippines. The report commends the
coinage law reducing the weight and ineuess
of Philippine silver coins. the increase in
the price Of silver having made their coin
value greater than their face value as
currency.
In regard to the acquisition Of GOAL claims
of certain Spaniards on the Island OF Batan
the report says:
The governmental interest in this arose
from the fact that while there was at this
place large deposits of coal suitable to the
use Of the Government transports and inter-
island coastguard steamers, yet. owing 20
the fact that these claims remained I'M
developed, the Government was forced
to buy its coal in foreign markets at a price
considerably in excess Of what it could be
proftably mined for in the islands
The report pleads earnestly for the pas
sage by Congress OF a pending bill providing
hat eli products Of the Philippines except
sugar and tobacco shall be allowed 20
enter our ports free, and that uga and
tobacco shall have imposed on them for
three years only a duty of IS per cent OF the
Dingley rates, and that after 1903 there
shall be complete free trade between the
islands and the United States.
1T should be borne in mind, the report
continues, that for more than four years
every one connected with the government
of the Philippines has been impressed
with the urgent need of some such legisla-
ton as that proposed. to lift the Filipino
people out OF the depth of poverty into
which they have fallen a. the result OF the
wars, Instructions and pestnence win
which those islands nave been cursed Tor
a period of ten years; And not only nave
legislation to the islands, but they have
been uniformly of the opinion that such
assistance as would be given the depressed
agriculture of the Philippines by this act
could in no wise harm any interest IN the
United States.
zone might think, considering the result
of past efforts to obtain this legislation so
earnestly desired by the Fihpinos, that we
were called upon to enter into some altrulstlo
bargain impoverishing our people Tor the
benefit of barbarians on the other SIDE OF
the earth. 1t requires very little analysis
of the measure to show tina 1t involves no
extreme altruism, but ia one OF distinct
advantage TO us, regardless OF lIH duNhIldSG
to the Filipinos. IL may be safely asserted
that In Ho case nave We been ablet to obtain
from any country a reciprocal trade ar
rangement 50 favorable to us as that em-
bodied in this bill, which increases our
home market by over 100000 people,
producers exclusively, with the exception
of a relatively few cigars and cigarettes,
of raw material, and, more important still,
Of raw material rs per cent. OF which COM
petes with no product OF the United STATES,
.L-.-A - -.aoN asa IN ~ fnnfnriaG "
The report advises the passage Of the
bending bill providing for the establish
ment OF an agricultural bank in the Phllp-
pines, saying that the inhabitants OF the
Islands away from Manila have no place
in which they can secure their savings and
no place from which they can borrow on
reasonable terms the money necessary
in their agricultural or other industries.
Where such loans can be obtained at all the
borrower is forced to pay FROM l to 10 per
cent. a month, and there is absolutely no
place in which money can be deposited
with safety .
Regarding the ocean carrying trade Of
the islands the report says; ~
THE British flag continues to lead all
competitors, handling on the basis OF value
about 90 per cent. of imports and 10 per cent.
of exports. The Spanish flag has second
rank in both incoming and outgoing trelghts
in consequence of the regular service iur-
nished by the Spanish mail steamship line
plying between Liverpool and the Philip
pines. The German flag is third, while
American vessels are in the fourth rank,
carving about q per cent. Of the total inn
ports and a smaller percentage of the ex-
ports.
~In view of the small percentage OF the
United States trade with the island carried
in American vessels, the further suspen-
sion of the United States coastwise laws
until 1000, that otherwise under the terms
OF the FRYE bill would have become opera
tive in July, 1905, may be considered for
tunate. especially for the American export
trade to the islands. Whatever benefits
might nave accrued to American shipping
through increased freights, there was we'll
grounded fear of a serious encouragement
to trade between the United States and the
islands and a %prejudicial effect on Ameri-
can exports exposed to the competition OF