New-York tribune., 1908-12-21
PHILIPPINE NEEDS
FREER TRADE URGED.
General Edscdrds ReJiescs Work OF
InsuIdr Bureau.

washington Dec e-Tne bill TO amend the Phil
tppine terin act now pending in the Senate Is IN
,So-sed the Philippine scouts are highly coTnehueo
and encouraging progress in the Philippines and the
maintenance Of peace and order in Cuba Throughout
rhe rear are announced in the annual report OF
Br1gadier General Clarence R. Edwards. chief of
the bureau Of insulsr affairs. which was mace
public Tonight
passed the House at the last session but was still
pending in the Senate before committee when Con-
gress adjourned. 10 provide free entry INTO tne
United States Of Philippine products. with certain
exceptions free entry Of United States pTooucts
snf7 the islands and free trade between the United
States and the Philippines without exception after
April Il 1903. the friends Of the measure are
entirely agreeable the inclusion OF clause I'm
Sting Philippine sugar be admitted under its pro-
visions 10 100000 tons annually. This the sugar
people admit would be sufficient to restore some OF
the former prosperity the interests In the
islands reduction of the present duties on TO-
bacco. the report suggests. would afford the moral
encouragement Of which producers in the lslahos
now stand seriously in need. The other principal
products OF the Philippines, hemp. copra and rice
have the advantages over sugar Of not requiring
such enormous capital for development and Of not
entering into competition with interests OF this
country.
The report says that the Philippine scouts are
an important factor IN the education Of the people
and The creation Of a higher standard Of living in
the islands. well in the extension OF the
American influence The settlement OF the Catholic
Church claims is noted
The passenger outlook IS especially bright on the
railroads Of the islands The average density OF
population in the different provinces compares IA
zorably with some OF the countries Of Europe In
Cebu Il is greater than the density OF population
!n Japan. Italy Germany France The Nisayah
lines. according 10 the report should pay 1alf
interest on the investment above the per cent
guaranteed by the Philippine government. for they
should develop an increasing freight traffic from
the fertile country. The postal savings BANK part
Of the bureau Of posts. shows steady increase OF
business and the institution has been well received
by al classes. OF the depositoTs 80 per cent are
Americans and 20 per cent F1pinos- The individual
deposits range from few centavos 70 more than
5000 pesos
The excess Of insuIar expenditures over revenues
IN the last fiscal year S57O.524 and the excess
Of receipts expenditures n the city Of Manila
was SIPS S67 The work Of the Filipino students IN
this country has been average very gooo' ano
in one OF two cases OF exceptionally high oroer-
The value Of the movement as whole 10 Ile
Philippine government and people. General Ed
wards says must still be left 10 the future TO ols
close but every sign points to its immense irnpor
tance-
The expenditures Of the Republic Of Cuba on ac-
count Of American intervention from Octooer l.
1906 10 June 90 1905 were S757,343, these eXpenol-
lures being made from funds allotted by the pro
visioaal government for military expenditures que
directly the army service IN CUBA Inc s'a'e
71ert Of extraordinary expenditures on account OF
rre army Of Modification ir Cuba, which under
legislation by Congress are 10 be REIMBURSED IroIn
she Cuban treasury. shows total Of $5.3ll,S2 OF
which & 3S7e $50 was from October l. 1886. 10 June
So 1901 and the remainder from that time until
June 50. 1905
TIE settlement Of the Dominican debt. the stead
flv widening activities in the Philippines, and the
administrative control Of Cuba continue TO bring
up important questions Of Law. making the de-
nands The law officer OF the bureau constant
and serious Legislation for retirement Of certain
civil employees Of the Philippine government on
part pay after ten more years OF satisfactory
service is among other subjects discussed