The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-05-31
PRAISE OF PHILIPPINE
ISLANDS; THE GROWTH
From Thursdays Daily.


Prosperity. peace and content
ment are running riot in the Philip
pine islands. There is no better
place on earth to live. Manila is
becoming an ideal city under the
guiding hand of Americans. | an
pleased with its present splendid
conditions, and the future has in
~ store for it the brightest prospects
These are the sentiments expressed
by William G. Masters, who reached
Mankato today, and will be here
several weeks as the guest of his
brother, Charles Nj. Masters. Mrs
Masters accompanied her husband
Thirteen years ago Mr.. Masters
went to Manila, having resigned
from the railway postal service to
become an inspector i'm the bureau
of posts in the Philippine islands
Mr.. Masters is assistant director in
the bureau. He likes Manila and
enjoys living there. "This is my
first visit to the states in five years, -
said Mr.. Masters today. ut seems
good to get back among my ole
friends. My stay in the states will
last until the latter part of October
or first of November | will remain
in this section most of the time and
propose to do some fishing and
hunting when the season opens.
Will Attend G. o. p. Meet.
81 will attend the republican ma
tiOna1 convention having boon oIoof
ed an alternate, but | do not think
my principal, J. NJ Switzer, will
come, so that will put me in the
delegate class. My associate will
be T. l.. Hardigan. He is on his
way to this country now We are
instructed to vote for President
Tafts denomination, l am an en-
thusiastic Taft man and believe he
is entitled to denomination and re-
election.
81 am also a delegate from the
Manila lodge of Elks to the nationaI
gathering at Portland. After at
tending that convention | will re-
turn to Mankato and spend the bal
ance of my vacation visiting my
friends"
Mr.. and Mrs. Masters came from
Manila to the United States as pas,
sengers on the transport Thomas,
leaving the capital of the Philippines
on April Is. The Twenty-first IN
fantry was aboard. These soldiers
were landed at Portland. This dis
lance travelled by Mr.. and Mrs.
Masters was 1920 miles.
Manila a Healthy City.
Speaking of conditions in Manila
and the Philippine islands, Mr.. Mast
ers said: "The islands are prosper
Gus and Manila is growing in popu-
lation and wealth. 1t is healthy
city in which to live. There is not
city in the states where the death
rate is lower.
"The Payne-Aldrich tariff act has
been a boon for the Islands. Last
year the importations into the Is
lands amounted to $49,S34, 900, and
40 per cent of all this vast sum
came direct from the manufacturers
in the United States. | guess thai
has helped the industrial centers in
this country some, i'm spite of tho
criticism of that tariff act. The ex- !
ports amounted to $39,779, of which
AZ per cent were received in the
United States. Prior to the pas
sage of the Payne-Aldrich bill the
importations from the United States
amounted to only II per cent.
81 have read criticisms of the ex-
pense that Uncle Sam is put to in
maintaining the islands. The writer's
of these criticisms are ignorant OF
the facts. For the last fiscal year
the revenues collected by the gov
eminent from the islands amounted
to $2O,OOO,OO0. The expense of main
tanning the islands was $19,610,O00. |
The revenues are derived from in
ternal revenue taxes on tobacco and
liquors and import duties.
"The expense of maintaining the
army stationed there is about $4,000
900 per year, but these men would
entail upon the United States a ,
like sum if they were occupying bar
racks in the states.
''The growth of business in the .
islands is evidenced by the expan-
sion of the postal service. When |
went to Manila thirteen years ago
there were but eight postoffices.
Now there are $50, of which 29S
have telegraph stations and Ala
maintain postal savings departments
in connection. These banks have
28,SO4 accounts with deposits amount
ing to $1,523,OOO There are 2,1S0
employees in the service. Thirteen
years ago there were but eighty.
Last year we handled 500,006 tele-
grams The total length of the tele-
graph and cable lines is $500 miles.
service was $966,OOO last year, with
receipts of $534,O00.
THE Philippine islands are no
longer a problem. They are getting
along splendidly. The natives are
fast taking on the ways of Ameri-
cans and are the agriculturists of
the country and the crop. production
is constantly increasing under their
skillful tilling of the soil. There is
a marked improvement in their con-
dition and never better feeling eX-