Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-03-10
: By FREDERIC J. 4AsKIN.

their government so they put all other issues aside
until they what these changes will be.
loo, ovar,nent is not only hanpered by the fact
that an arm of the legislature must appropriate wnere
it cannot legisate but also because the Phppne les
isature has little control the sources OF revenue
a. tho islands Customs receipts and internal revenues
are the two whence the administration draws
funds keep it running. Yet the legislature unos'
the present organic cannot pass any eftectua law"
concerning either of these forms of taxation that
power is vested in the United States congress
7roa insular government cannot borrow money with
out express permission from congress one eliecr OF
this has been to keep Philippine finances in excellent
condon-the total Indebtedness is only twelve million
dolars-but the people of the islands believe tnat
point been reached where the system - .
serious check progress 1t Is suggested tndI Il
approval from Washington is desired sufficient pre-
caution would for the president to approve each
loan before 1t is Such system would be much
less cumbrous than the present one winch calls LOT
affirmative legislation from congress
Finlly the local government wants power to enact
laws which will bring about the development OF the
natural resources archipelago The public lands
are the great of the islands, after which come
timber resources and mines The commission pleaded
vainly for thirteen years for revision of the public
land laws a which would stimulate agriculture
1t seems certain that increase in the power or the
local government in this respect will be followed oY
faster progress and development
Americans and Filipinos agreed that the plan q
insular administration needs reorganizing That such
reorganization is provided for in bill whose preamble
given odispute which the body of the bill would
never have awakened,
Afnericansf IN the islands view the future Of the
philippines with sentiment that it is hard for their
brethren at home to understand. The progress that
has made is astounding and it has not
easily. Every step eff 1t won by who
their the work. held their lives lightly
where that work concerned You see the results
today but the cogon has covered the Of
the who died in attaining them.
They alien land and alien people
where murder AZ pasttne ana sickness sta1ked
a dozen forms the year around. Fney died of fever,
cholera Of dysentery by bullets and
the bolos of criminals If they lived. they said nothing
and the work went II they died, other took
their places, and the work went They charged
with crime from perjury to murder
petty gratis they interfered with. They feared
and hated by some of the people for whom they did
three mems work. But they did their work.
Great Britain is fond Of pointing out her achieve
ments in spreading civilization she can show soms
remarkable results bringing light into the dark
places but the American Philippines
passes anything that has been England any
other nation Some day will up monument to tse
men who died in the Philippine But those who
NIL their places today think monument will
be an assurance that their work shall not be lost
We hive duty to these dead consider. We
have our duty toward the Filipino toward pagan
and the Moro, toward the Americans and Europeans
have thrown their lot with the islands
toward the international family of powers. What tnat
duty be, each man must decide for himself; but
this much of each mans duty is That he do
not decide without considering the possible
consequences of his action.