The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-01-02
THE SALT LAKE HERALD: WEDNESDAY, JANUARY > 1907

it would not be modified IN any vital or
essential feature, the distillers and man
ufacturers OF tobacco products adjusted
themselves 10 the new conditions.
Suspension Of Land Tax.
Owing to the continued agricultural de-
preston. the loss OF carabaos. locust
plaques. typhoons. etc, and the improved
condition OF the insular treasury, it was
deemed eXpedient to furnish the land
owners outside of Manila a temporary
and much-welcome rest from the burden
OF lard taxes for one year. and. inasmuch
as the proceeds OF this land tax were de-
voted solely to local purposes. and in or
der that the municipalities might not be
funds to meet the expenses necessary TO
the maintenance Of schools, roads,
bridges public buildings and police forces.
the Philippine commission passed an act
appropriating TO the provinces and mu-
inequalities. from insUlar funds sum
equal TO the total amount of the land
taxes collected by them, respectively, DUR
ing 1905.
The land tax is an equitable one. very
small in amount and can not exceed rs
Of i per cent in any one year. but the
aggregate amounts to large sums, much
needed for local uses. As the tax is
new. ii has necessarily encountered many
obstacles through misunderstanding. but
il is stated that as the work of revalua
tons is steadily progressing it is believed
that this will result in such further
readjustment OF valuations and such other
certain ascertaiDment of titles as will OBJ
viate many OF the difficulties before ex-
perienced.
Agricultural Bank.
In the last report of the Philippine com
mission were set forth the need OF private
capital to establish agricultural bank
to aid agriculturists in developing their
properties by loaning money to them at
low rates of interest for the purchase Of
draft animals and improved farming ma
plements and machinery, which recon-
mendation was substantially In line with
the plan of the Egyptian Agricultural
bank, which has been working success
fully under circumstances quite similar to
those which exist in the islands. This
recommendation met with the approval of
the secretary of war, and a bill was in
trOduced at the last session of congress
providing for the establishment of such
n bank under a limited guaranty by the
Philippine government as well as lin
tied liability which that government
might be called upon to meet in any one
year.
Owing to the late date on which the bill
was introduced and the urgent press of
other important business the bill was not
acted upon at the last session. but the
commission earnestly recommends that il
receive favorable action at the present
session, rs Ii is necessary to attract pri-
vate capital. il is stated that the Filipino
people have been and are greatly inter
ested in this proposition as an aid in She
prosperity of the islands. and that. ow-
ing 10 the eAIOTllOnate rates or interest
which have been exacted of them by
money lenders. no single step could be
taken that would give greater satisfac-
ton to the working mass of the people.
Railroads.
In accordance with the authority grant
ed by congress bids were called for, con-
cessiOnary contracts granted, and surveys
have been for some time in progress for
the building of some 430 miles OF
railway in the island OF Luzon in addition
to the 200 miles already existing, and some
800 miles in the islands Of Panay, Negroes
and Cebu, about evenly distributed. 1t
will thus be seen that final steps have
been taken and the machinery set in mo-
ton which will result in the construction
OF over 200 miles of new railway. which
additional means of transportation are ur-
gently needed for any large development
or progress in the islands. For the agri-
culturist to bestow his labor the pro-
duction of commodities beyond the bare
utilities of life is useless when there eX-
lists no means of transporting them to
other parts Of the islands or to the great
markets of the world.
The railway soon to be under construc-
ton in Luzon carries no guaranty by the
Philippine government. but those I'm the
islands OF Panay. Negroes and Cebu are
given a guaranty for thirty years OF per