The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-01-02
Industrial Conditions.


tors.
Industrial Conditions.
The reports of the various governors
taken as a whole Indicate that the crops
are in a more prosperous condition. except
as to tobacco. sugar and hemp. plants of
the latter having been damaged by a
destructive typhoon to the extent of about
M000.O00 in value Of the crop. The re-
duction I'm the production of tobacco is
due largely 10 lack Of n suitable market
that of the United States being closed by
the absolutely prOhibitory duties imposed
by the Dingley tariff and to the cOnse-
quent low price realized for the leaf.
In the matter OF exports the loss was
made up by the increase i'm the produc-
ton and expectation OF cocoanuts The
imports were reduced below the preceding
year by some S4OO0.000. q large portion of
which consisted In the reduced importe-
lions Of rice, which is a good sign as il
indicates that the Philippines are raising
their own rice and extending their agrl-
culture. which for a number OF years has
been retarded by death OF cattle and draft
animals from rinderpest. locust plaques
etc. The balance OF trade i'm favor Of the
islands was about $6.000000. Enormous
numbers of new plants of Manila hemp
maguey (a most useful fiber plant) and
.cocoanuts have been set out. and there has
been large increase In the area planted
to rice
Another good sign OF returning prosper
ity is the increased purchases OF improved
AGRICULTURAL implements and machinery
Wn1cn not merely denotes Improvement In
purchasing. power on the mart OF the peo-
pie. but also furnishes the material for
constantly enlarged production.
Financial Condition.
The financial condition of the islands is
reported TO be- very much better than for
several years. At the close of the last
fiscal year there remained an excess of
receipts over expenditures of over a
million and a half gold, due in part to
the increased collections by the bureau Of
internal revenue and in part to the great
er economy in expenditures. and il is con-
fidently stated that during the coming
year there will be q sufficient amount
available over and above the ordinary
expenses of the government to devote two
or three millions to much-needed internal
improvements, road and bridge building.
and permanent public works.
Bonded Indebtedness.
In addition to the certificates of indebt-
edness of 100000 on account of the gold
standard fund the only bonded indebted
ness of the insular government is $1,000 900
OF purchasing the friar lands and So 500, 600
in public Improvement bonds.
Internal Revenue Law.
It is stated that practical experience I'M
Ger the internal revenue law has complete
ly demonstrated the wisdom of it's enact
ment as Il Is indispensable for the pur-
pose of revenue and redistrbutes the bur
den of taxation. placing It very largely on
articles OF optional consumption. and re-
lieves many small industries from an an
nOying and burdensOme tax that had be-
fore rested upon them. The total collec-
tons during the year amounted TO nearly
four and half million dollars the bulk
OF which is obtained from taxes on alco-
hOlic products. manufacturers of cigars
and cigarettes. opium smoking by Chi
nese. and from liquor licenses
Sixty-three per cent of the total amount
was collected in Manila and 81 per cent
in the provinces at a cost of Al per cent
of the receipts. The agitation against the
law continued to some extent until Octo-
ber 1905. when. becoming convinced that