The Washington herald., 1910-12-27
SAYS PHILIPPINES
NEED MORE FUNDS
Gen. Edwards Recommends
Bond Increase.
CIVIC IMPROVEMENTS NEEDED
In Annual Report, Chief OF Bureau
of InsuIar Affairs Asks $1,000, 600
Increase in Bonded Indebtedness
of IsIands-POStaI Savings Bank
Proves Successful in Far East.

Brig Gen. Clarence r. Edwards, Chief
/ OF the Bureau OF Insular Affairs OF the
War Department recommends in his an
nual report made public yesterday. that
the maximum bonded Indebtedness OF the
Philippine Islands be increased from
100000 to 100000. in order to permit
additional public improvements.
The act of Congress of February 8,
/ 1906" Gen. Edwards says, authorized
/ the Philippine government to incur
maximum bonded indebtedness of 5000
900 for the construction Of port works,
roads, bridges, schools, and other pub
! lie improvements. The entire indebted
ness thus authorized has been incurred
/ through three issues of bonds, the pro-
ccedS of which have been devoted to
! public works, the most important being
the harbor improvements at Manila,
! Cebu. and Iloilo, which have made the
! former one of the best harbors in the
east The entire proceeds of the bond
issue have been appropriated and nearly
all have been expended
"In order to carry on the work at pres
ent authorized or necessary TO be under
taken in the near future. a bill was in
| trOduced at the last session to increase
the limit of bonded Indebtedness for
! these purposes 10 SlO,OO00O0, subject 20
the same restrictions as fixed by the
original act. This bill passed the SEN
ate, and after a full hearing was favor
ably reported TO the House, where il now
is awaiting action.
Legislation Is Approved.
Tho governor general. with the support
Of the Philippine Commission, has earn
| estly recommended this legislation. and
the Secretary of War has approved the
measure; and IN view OF the safeguards
provided. which guarantee careful con-
sideration before any issue of bonds can
be made, and the present excellent hnan-
ciaI condition of the islands. it is be-
lieved that favorable action by the House
is fully guaranteed"
The operation of the postal savings
bank, he continues, has been successful.
and there are about 230,2S7 pesos deposit
cd by 4.50 persons. He recommended
that the rate Of interest be increased
from 21-2 to 3 per cent
The summariZation OF trade returns
Cen Edwards adds. lis ample TO show
that the establishment of free commercial
relations between the TWO countries marks
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 Sg7.O6I. go
and We're S9,275,223 in excess of those of
1893 while there was an increase OF 81 SO
6J6 in the export total Of SIS, SJ4. 16g for 1910
In both branches OF the trade the United
States was credited with the larger part
o. these increases. imports Of American
goods more than doubling in value. and
exports increasing more than 50 per cent.
Porto Rico Prosperous.
Conditions in Porto Rico, he adds. are
prosperous, There has been no serious
political agitation, and there is an encour-
aging commercial and industrial develop
ment The general health Of the islands
has been good. the mortality rate being % 10
per 1000. which compares favorably with
other countries. The hookworm disease. he
says, is gradually being brought under
control but as the work is conducted
wholly with local funds. progress is nee
essarily slow. There has been a rapid ex-
tension, the report adds. of good macad-
amizsd roads throughout the island.
The Dominican customs reoeivership.
Gen Edwards says, is in satisfactory con
dition. During the five years of its opera
ton sl6,503. SO has been collected and dis
tributed in accordance with the modus
vivendi and the subsequent conventions.
The receipts under the operation Of the
new Dominican tariff indicate return 10
normal and healthy trade conditions. The
report concludes:
The revenue realized gives assurance
Of the tariffs effectiveness as a revenue
measure that viii both meet the conven-
ton requirements and satisfy the fiscal
needs OF the Dominican government. The
new tariff legislation has been favorably
received, and the outlook is encouraging
for a year Of increased business that
should promote a more general prosperity
throughout the republic"