New-York tribune., 1910-12-27
YEAR OF PEACE AND ORDER
General Edwards Reviews Af-
fairs of lnSuIar Possessions.
PROGRESS IN PHILIPPINES
Trade Greatly Helped by New
Tariff Law-Porto Rico Ex-
ceptionally Prosperous.

ceptionally Prosperous.
washington Dec 2e-General Clarence
r. Edwards. chief of the Bureau of Insu-
| lar Affairs of the War Department, In his
| report for the year ended November 80
says that with minor exceptions, readily
| controlled by the civil police power, and
| of themselves Of less Importance than
numerous disorders occurring in the United
States, peace and order have marked the
conduct of affairs throughout the Philip
pine Islands. While reduction has been
made in the number of United States
troops in the islands, no call on them has
been necessary, or seems likely in the i'm
| mediate future, and their continued pres
ence may be considered valuable from
internal point of view, long as present
conditions continue, merely for moral effect.
The constabulary has continued on high
plane of efficiency, and has demonstrated
its fitness to cope promptly and certainly
with such disorder or Iawlessness as has
recently appeared
General Edwards says the practical estab-
lishment of free commercial relations with
the United States. accomplished by the
tariff legislation of August s. 1909 Uhe
Payne-Aldrich law, marks a new era in
the material development Of the islands.
In both imports and exports the values
recorded far exceeded those Of any pre-
vious year Imports amounted to $37 ,G67,-
$780, and were 1925, 253 in excess of those
of 1909, while there was an increase OF
sSS70.60S IN the export total of $o9, 1853 for
1910. In both branches OF the trade the
United States was credited with the larger
part of these increases imports OF Ameri-
can goods more than doubling in value and
exports increasing more than so per cent
For the first time the United States took
the lead in imports, with value Of $10,-
rs, ,301, about 80 per cent of the total,
and in the increase OF S., ,SS1 for the year
the most noteworthy instance OF the oper-
alton of free trade is found in cotton
cloths. These imports of American origin
increased in value from $452, 401 to s1.911.
3SS in a textile trade heretofore distinctively
British. American iron and Steel which
had already taken a prominent place in the
supply Of the islands, was imported to a
larger value than In 1909 by more than
S1,0OO000. The import trade from countries
other than the United States reflected the
improved conditions of the year and
showed aggregate increase of S., 600 900.
He reports the continued success of pos
tai savings banks, reviews progress in rail-
road building and recommends amendments
to mining laws which will develop the re-
sources of the islands while preventing
their exploitation for purposes of specuIa-
ton
| Speaking Of his trip to the Philippines
with Secretary Dickinson General Ed
wards says it has served to emphasize in
his mind the desirability Of such visits by
| those who have to deal directly with the
administration of Philippine affairs or the
fixing Of Philippine policy. and leads him
to suggest the Importance CT visits by at
least subcommittee of the Senate and
House of Representatives whenever such
visits are practicable. The information
gained and the insight secured from direct
contact would, he thinks, far more than
| repay in the time saved in the deliberations
of the committees and in debate on the
to assure the best legislative results for
the Philippines.
Porto Rico's Prosperity.
Porto Rico, General Edwards saws ha 9
enjoyed an exceptionally prosperous year.
free on the one hand from serious political
agitation and marked on the other by en-
couraging commercial and industrial de-
velopment. The administration has been
h uiSLlllCC success, WHICH the Governor
Is entitled to much praise
That confidence has been established in
the stability of the government and the
opportunities presented seems proved by
increased investments and operations, as
well as by the Introduction of new capital
During the year there have been registered
fourteen domestic and foreign corporations
for sugar making, eighteen for raising
canning and packing fruit, and twenty-five
to engage in coffes and cattle raising ship
ping and transportation and other enter
prises- That, Notwithstanding this only
about 80 per cent of the lands of Porto
Rico under cultivation should afford q
clearer impression of its industrial possi-
bilities with sufficient capital interested and
the extension of modern agricultural meth
DDS.
Education has kept pace with the finan-
cial and industrial improvement. Nearly
SO, 100000 has been expended in educational
activities in the last ten years, and the
number of pupils enrolled has more than
quadrupled. In the last year nearly 80 per
cent of the graded schools were taught
wholly in English, as compared with Sc per
cent the preceding year.
One of the lasting benefits OF American
control in Porto Rico has been the rand
extension of good macadamized roads
throughout the island In order to continue
this work the Legislature on March TO- 1910
authorized the issue of bonds to the amount
of s425.0o0 for the construction of roads and
bridges.
General Edwards urges action Oh the hill
to amend the Foraker act passed by the
House last summer and now awaiting &C
ton by the Senate giving citizenship and
a larger share in governmental affairs to
the Porto Ricans