Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1909-12-02

and load for the infantry soldier, ana
fo decide upon the number, kind, and
weight of articles of equipment to
he carried The board has before
n samples of the field equipment
used by the foot soldier in foreign
armies. and all papers and recon-
mendations relating to the SUBJECT on
file in the War Department, and ali
Officers have been invited to submit
ideas germane to its work directly
TO the board. Moreover, the board
is considering a large variety OF ex-
perimental equipments, the material
shops. and workmen at the Rock Is
land Arsenel having been placed at
it's disposition for the alteration or
manufacture of experimental articles
of equipment, and a battalion OF the
Tenth infantry designated to test by
actual use such experimental equip
ment as the board may deem worthy
of consideration.
Free Trade iWth United States.
The most noteworthy event of the
year I'm the Philippine affairs was
fhe provision for limited free trade
contained in section of the tariff
act, approved August 3, 1919, apply
ing under sertain restrictions to ar
ticies the growth, product, and man
ufacture of the Philippines Islands
imported into the United States Ihe
new insular tariff providing for free
admission of practically all products
of the United States has been in force
too short a time TO afford basis
for estimating it's effect upon the IN
sular revenues.
The department anticipates THAI
the resulting decrease OF custom rev.
enues will not be great and will be
satisfactorily met by an increase or
internal revenues.
1t is expected that the develop
ment of the commerce of the archi-
peligo under the new tariff will re-
suit within a few years in material
increase of revenues both from GUS
toms and internal revenue.
Conservative action along construc-
tive lines marked the harmonious
and satisfactory session of the first
Philippine legislature, which ad-
iourned May 20, 1909. The next
session will convene on October 16,
1910. instead of February 1, as or
iginally provided. The change in the
time of holding the sessions was
found Enthusiastically desirable, and
it also avoids the heated season.
Agriculture.
Philippine agriculture still suffers
from the depression due to the con-
tinued loss of work animals from rim
derpest. In the past the more press
ing demands of public health have
perhaps elouded the Importance of
the suppression of this scourge. The
force of veterinarians has been ma.
terially strengthened during the last
few months and it is hoped that
much more substantial progress may
now be made in this direction. 1t
seems probable that the time is ripe
for a decided broadening of the work
of the bureau of agriculture, and it
is hoped that this may be brought
about in such a manner as to mate
rally assist the Filipinos in their
economic development.
The additional executive depart
ment authorized by the act of Con-
gress of May IL, 1908, has not yet
been created. A careful study of
the subject leads to the belief that
this department should be created
in the near future, and that it should
be devoted largely, If not exclusive
ly to agricultural and kindred mat
tiers. Agriculture is the principal
source of wealth of the islands. CO.
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