Evening star., 1908-12-21
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Wise Conservatism Shown by
Philippine Legislature.
EXPERIMENT A SUCCESS
Growing Popularity of the Postal
Savings Bank.
IN RAILWAY WORK
Gen. Edwards, Chief of Insular A.
fairs, Urges Absolute Free Trade
With the Islands.

With the Islands.
Many details regarding affairs in the
philippines are contained in the annual
report of Gen. Edwards, chief OF the
bureau of insular affairs of the War
Department. The most important
event, politically, has been the first
legislative year of the Philippine legis-
lature which opened October 16. 1907.
1t Is stated that the actions Of the low
er house were marked generally by a
wise conservatism that resulted in the
enactment Of considerable legislation
of far-reaching Importance. The first
act passed appropriated 100000 pesos
to aid in the construction of municipal
schoolhouses; while later acts provided
for relief of sufferers from public
calamities, aid in determination of cat
tie diseases, the institution of irriga-
ton systems, the construction of a
capitol building and the founding Of
the University of the Philippines.
Gen. Edwards reports that the Agri-
cultural Bank of the Philippine gov
ernment began operations in October
last. and he predicts that it will prove
an important factor in the restoration
and promotion of agricultural indus
| tries hitherto hampered by the usurious
| rates of intrest generally exacted.
Success Of Postal Bank.
| The Postal Savings Bank shows a
continued and increasing success in it's
operations. Up to the end of the last
fiscal year there had been 7,346 deposi-
tors. and increase of nearly 5000 over
the preceding year. The bank has been
| operated at minimum expense. and
| has paid the guaranteed rate of interest
on deposits aggregating over 100000
pesos.
| 1t has 245 Offices in operation
throughout the archipelago, divided
| into II first class, JOG second class and
| 127 third class branches, at which de-
pOSitS are made In sums of few cents
| to over 5000 pesos.
| Railway Construction.
| Gratifying progress is reported in the
construction Of the railroads for which
franchises have been granted In the
islands. In Panay thrty-three miles and
in Cebu nearly sixty miles are already
under operation, with regular passenger
service and freight service in force. Work
on the remaining mileage authorized is
| being pushed as rapidly as conditions per-
|
road to Camp No. 1 on the Benguet route
will soon bring it within twenty-five miles
| of Baguio, the summer capital OF the
| island.
Increased Revenues.
Omitting items Of refundable charac-
ter, Philippine revenues from all sources
for the fiscal year 1908 show an increase
over the preceding year of $253. 90 ~ and
/ -
creased revenues in the city Of Manila
Both insular and provincial revenues show
a slight falling off. though not sufficient
to Offset this increase in Manila.
The total expenditures for the fiscal
year 1907 were $14, 4,7O4, A.. considerably
less than for any of the four years i'm
mediately preceding. This was accounted
| for by noticeable decreases in disburse-
| ments Of insular and of city OF Manila
| funds. In 1908. however the total ex-
penditures resumed their normal state,
| and amounted to $l7.735 O51.s2. showing
increase in both insular and city of
| Manila expenditures and slight decrease
| for the provinces.
Imports and Exports.
Excluding gold and silver and United
States government and railway supplies
admitted free Of duty, the total value of
imports into the Philippine Islands for the
year shows an increase OF little more
than $2,OOO,OOO over 1907 and reaches a
total of $3O,91s.357. This increase is due
to the increased importation OF rice and
the exceptionally high prices throughout
the year of this product The value of
rice imported shows an increase of So
19S. 763 over the preceding year. and ex-
| Guiding this 1t appears that the value of
\ other {mnnrta iS S1hSf ntiallv ho
| for 1908 as for 1907.
| In exports, due mainly to the steady de-
cline in the price of hemp throughout the
year, the total of s32,s16.567 for 1908 is
by nearly 81 100000 of the total reached
in 1907. Although the amount of the
products exported was generally salts
| factory, and in some cases-notably in
| sugar and copra-helped in a measure to
offset the reduced figures in hemp. Gen.
| Edwards says the fact that this product
| Is the most important of the islands ex-
port trade prevented conditions otherwise
generally favorable from counteractins
the depression in the hemp market.
Legislation Earnestly Desired.
An earnest hope is expressed that Con-
gress will act favorably on the pending
bill providing for absolute free trade be-
tween the Philippine Islands and the
United States after April II, 1909, and
the pending bill providing for certain de-
sired changes in the Philippine tariff, de-
| signed to benefit agriculture, road maxi
ing. shipbuilding and the mining and
| smelling of ores in the islands.
Filipino Students In This Country.
At the present time seventy-seven Fill.
pino students are being educated In the
United States at the expense OF the Phil
ippine government. fifty-two Of the orig
inal number having returned to the is.
lands during the past year. The health
of the students has been very good
| throughout says Gen. Edwards, land
the attitude OF the governing authorities
of the institutions where they are In at
| tendance and the relations between the
| FfipinOs and the other students have
| continued to be most cordial. The work
| of these students has been, on an aver
| age, very good and in one or two cases
Of an exceptionally high order. The value
| of the movement as a whole to the Phil
| ippine government and people must still
| be left to the future to disclose but every
sign points to its immense importance"
Civil Pension List Urged.
1t has long been evident, says Gen. Ed
wards. that some inducement in addition
| to the salaries should be offered to ap.
pointees in the insular service if the high