The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1908-09-22

twelve thousand dollars, local curren-
cy, each per annum.
Provincial and municipal govern
ments are equally extravagantly or
ganized and conducted. AS an example:
The income of the Moro provinces,
wholly under thel control of the Amerl-
cans. was five hundred and ffty-nVe
thousand dollars, local currency, for the
fiscal year ending June 80, 1907. OF this
amount, more than five hundred ana
fifty three thousand dollars were eX-
pended on high salaries, useless offi-
Gals. and administrative expenses,
while ONLY ONE THOUSAND FOUR
HUNDRED AND NINETY THREE
DOLLARS, local currency, were ex-
pended on ROADS AND BRIDGES for
the use of some two hundred and hfty
thousand people scattered over some
thirty thousand square miles OF terri
tory.
Last year the poverty-stricke ma
tives were compelled to contribute tnlr-
ty million dollars, local currency, TO-
ward the support of American carpet
bag government in addition to native
provincial and municipal governments.
On the other hand, the last fiscal year
under the Spaniards show that the SER
vice for which we charged the Fillp1-
nos thirty million dollars, the Spaniards
charged but ten millions. Under the
Spanish regime the Filipinos had excel
lent markets for everything they pro-
duced Under Taft's regime the F1llpl-
nos have been so burdened with tarlH
taxes to support American carpetbag-
gers that their markets have been de-
stroyed.
The ugliest feature of our carpetbag
rule in the Philippine Islands is that
MANY times the number of officials and
assistants reasonably required to con-
duct the government are employed,
while the salaries paid out are from
twice to three times the amount such
officials and assistants could command
in any walk of life in the United States.
Eo furnish positions for this horde OF
carpetbaggers Taft created constabu-
larry army. while 1900 white troops,
paid for by the American government,
remain idle. This wholly useless or
ganiZation cost the poverty stricken
natives several million dollars each
year.
Recently Taft paid $15,000,000, local
currency for what is known as the
friar lands. These estates, the most
highly developed in the islands, have
been permitted to revert to the jungle,
but the poverty stricken natives must
continue to pay interest on the bonos
sold to secure the amount.
Taft recently mOrtgaged the F1llplnoS
to railway corporations for period OF
80 wears in the sum of SIS, 900, local
currency. The payment by the govern
ment of a few thousand dollars per
year toward the construction and OPP
Grafton of small water craft by private
boat lines would have been far more
beneficial in my Judgment, the rail-
roads now being constructed will not
pay operating expenses any time with
in the next twenty years, to say moth
ing of the interest guaranteed by TAFT
to be paid for by the Filipinos. On the
other hand. instead of encouraging the
extension of water transportation, TAFT
squandered some 100000, native
money, building government boats, the
competition of which practically bank
rupted all private lines. When the nov
city of being known as thd 'commo-
dore' of this fleet of government boats
wore off, Taft had them tied up back
of the breakwater in Manila harbor
where they are rapidly rotting away.
Taft RECENTLY purchased, through
real estate agents, the only first class
hotel property in Manila as an office
building, paying therefore $675,0O0, To-
cal currency, whereas he could have
gone into the open market and bOugh1
the entire stock of the Hotel ORR
ente company and saved $215,OO0, local
currency At a public session Of the
Philippine commission, this fact was
pointed out to Taft and the other mem
bers of the commission by the writer Of
this article: other business men at the
meeting pointed out the fact that by
taking possession of the Hotel Oriente
Manila would be left without first
class hotel which would discourage the
great majority of tourists from visit
ing Manila. thus losing the city mil
lion or more dollars per annum. On
the strength of the showing made, tine
Philippine commission voted down
the proposed purchase of the building
At this action of the commission, Taf'
is said to have raved like mad man
and at subsequent and secret session
of the commission. compelled his col
i leagues to reconsider their vote AM
purchase the hotel property. The
charge was openly made at the time
that this extra amount went into the
pockets of high officials In my estl-
nation. this is an error. The only ben
| Gift Taft derived from the transaction
! if any at all, was through the politica
! influence of the attorney for the Hote'
| company, an alleged democrat, WIFI
put through a resolution in the next
| Insular democratic convention endors
| ing "Taft's wise and patriotic admin
; istration in the Philippine islands"
Taft forced the expenditure of abou,
six million dollars, local currency. to
build what is universally referred to
in thei Islands as an official bOule-
vard," through the uninhabited noun
tain province of Benguet in order to
establish delightful summer capital
-s~1