The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1908-09-23

TaftS Philippine government re-
Gently received an invitation from the
Russian government to attend an irri-
gtion congress called to meet at st.
Petersburg. Some carpetbagger with a
pull got hold of the invitation and con-
ceived the idea that the proposal might
furnish a basis for an enjoyable junket.
That the Philippine Islands stand in
relation t. Irrigation as five wheels do
20 q wagon was of small consideration
in view # the fact that the ne tive
would DO {. u, JelleG 1, bear tie Xxx
pensc 8 'so anpropria -; for s3U.nuo,
n.al CI-~thcv was ri. .t: Though
and rs'' -: ent secI" i {. the ~,
position. Ia gentlemen m secured
Tie apl o'D':' mt to Az the st
Petersburg cation CO. ,~rSS is n)ted
- {. gay L.: ariO. Wi h Il reti:.I- @:
sore .ri''s aid servants BETTING the
i.EiCr: - the occasj~ /, the or
entail embassy started :e.,i: {. =.
.urn~y Itav;: g arrived a. one y: the
far eastern ports, the head of the en-
rassy became enamored of a dream in
fluffy ruffles. And then began a. mer
r. chase around the world-at the ex-
Il
Iecple. But to cut a long story short,
this Oriental embassy arrived in st.
Petersburg some three weeks after the
irrigation congress had adjourned.
Recently, the legislative assembly
Of the Philippine Islands, composed
wholly of natives, recognizing the fact
that the poverty stricken people could
no longer bear the burden Of excessive
taxation, introduced and passed an act
through the native legislative body,
reducing salaries all along the line.
Lest the charge be made that the act
was aimed at American officials and
assistants, the nativei assembly began
by reducing their own salaries by half.
Then followed a reduction of native
salaries in other departments of the
government. The cut in salaries of the
American officials and assistants was
reserved to the last, and was ap-
preached with an apology and regret
that the poverty of the tax payers
made it absolutely necessary The act,
upon its passage, went to the upper
house composed of Americans. with
the exception of three members Gov
ernor-General James F. Smith, presid-
ing prepared the reply of the American
upper house, approving the cut in ma
tive salaries and disappearing the cut
In American salaries. This action was
taken by the American upper house
with the express approval of Secre-
tary of War William Howard Taft.
whose slogan, ''the Philippines for the
FllIplnos," has enabled him, from the
beginning, to deceive the American
people, while working his despotic, in
competent and corrupt sway with in
solent impunity.
View Taken Of Taft's Government by
the Business Men Of the Islands.
In September, 1903, the business
men of Manila addressed an open let
ter to the members of the National
Association of Manufacturers in which
they charged Taft with Having all
the prejudices of the ancient profess
slonal gentleman against everything
which smacks of trade; with respon-
sibility for the tariff barriers which
keep American goods out of the Phil
lppines;" with IAN utter contempt for
economy in the matter of public ex-
pendltures;" with the employment of
men incapable of earning in any walk
OF life the amount of money which
they receive for their services" assert
that the business men of the Philip
pines are willing to pay in taxes every
cent they can bear for making public
improvements and opening up the
country. but are tired of wearing
themselves to their withers paying ex-
orbitant salaries to public officials who
know little and care less about the
commercial interests of the Islands,"
denOunce the official boulevard" upon
which millions had been expended as
useless and of absolutely no material
benefit to the people of the Islands,
whereas. had this amount of money