El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-12-30
MORE BONDS FOR
THE PHILIPPINES
Congress Is Urged to Per
NIT the Issuance of
$15,OOO,OOO Worth.

Washington, D. c., Dec. 3O.-MOre
bonds for the Philippine islands for
public improvements is the urgent rec
ommendatiOn of the chief of the bu-
reaU Of insular affairs OF the war De
Dartment, submitted to congress TO-DAY
He calls attention to the rapid spread
of the English language among the
natives.
In support of his recommendation for
more bonds, the chief gives some OF
the Improvements needed IN the arcnl-
pelagO. He says:
An increase of the limit of bonded
indebtedness for public works, now
fixed at $4,000. 600, has been repeatedly
urged. The Philippine commission Tor
the last three years has requested au-
thority to issue bonds for public WORKS
to an additional amount Of $15,OOO,OO
not more than two and a half millions
to be expended in any one year. rms
is modest request in view of the
pressing needs Of the islands and IN
comparison with the amounts expended
from time to time by many of our
states and some of our municipalities
Needed improvements.
New wharves at Manila and improve
ments in Pasig river, which, in effect,
is a part Of the port Of Manila, and j
new arrastre plant for freight hand-
ling at the Manila customhouse, are
needed at a cost Of 100000; similar
improvements at Iloilo and Cebu, $780,
600; improvements of the port OF san
Fernando. La Union, 100000; improve
ments of other ports, S400, 900; irrigation
projects, S1,000,000, and capitol build
ing This building is designed to be
erected in sections as the needs OF the
insular government grow. The pres
ent offices are far too crowded and
the present demands warrant expendl-
ture for this purpose of $1,OOO,OOO.
Other permanent improvements need
ed include new customhouses at Ma
Mia and uoilo, school and university
~s.1T nT how
tails, bridges, etc. 1t is estimated that
at the rate of constructing roads now
possible from current revenues II Will
require IS years TO complete the roads
at present necessary
government to assume the responsible
ity of an addition to its bonded In
debtedness is apparent from an analy-
sis of its receipts and expenditures, cost
of carrying Sl9, COO, 600 dddlIlOnal DOnu-
ed Indebtedness at ( percent interest
with a percent sinking fund pro-
vision, would be less than one-third Of
the amount from the current revenues
devoted in 1912 to public works.
Commercial activity.
The increased commercial activity OF
the Philippines, inaugurated by free
trade with the United States, continued
throughout the year, and the aggre-
gate value of imports and exports for
the first time exceeded 100000 600.
There was an unprecedented IN
crease in exports and the total of $780,
1883 exceeded, by more than 25 per-
cent the previous high values Of 1910
and 1911. Imports amounted to s54,-
5499S0 but as the increase of S4,116,-
25S was largely for rice AID in the
nature of emergency impOrtations TO
meet conditions created by the disas-
trous drOuth of the year, the favor
able showing of the figures is subject
to corresponding discount
Porto RieO's Growth.
Relative to Porto Rico, it is stated
that the external commerce of the IS
land increased approximately $4,000
600 over 1911, or II percent. The
United States purchased Porto R1ean
products to the value of $42, S73, 401,
while Porto Rico imports from the
home markets reached $37, 425, 545.
The assessed value Of property in
Porto Rico increased 9 percent, reach
ing a total of s17S,275,00 which is
practically double the assessed value
of 1905.
The total net revenue receipts of the
consular government - $3.50, $500 -
were the largest Of any year in its his
tory On June 80, 1912, total bonded in
debtedness of Porto Rico, less sinking
fund accumulations, was S4,13S,76O-4O.
or 1870 per capita and rs percent OF
the assessed valuation of property.
American Citizenship.
at is practically universal testi-
mony of everyone familiar with condi-
lions IN Porto Rico that the subject OF
the citizenship of Porto Ricans is the
underlying cause of whatever political
and social unrest there is in the is
land" says the report. ''The grant Of
American citizenship to those Porto
Ricans desiring it has been repeatedly
recommended by this bureau, successive
secretaries Of war, and successive presi-