New-York tribune., 1921-02-26
Congressional Inquiry
Into Conditions MAY
Be Asked When Presi-
dent-Elect Takes Helm
Governor Harrison
Blamed for Misrule
National Banks Agency
Said to Have Lost Mil
lions i'm Silver Deals

From The Tribu1,cS Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, Feb. 25.-Grave con-
dltions in the Philippines will be one
Of the legacies left by the Wilson Ad-
ministration to the Administrati Of
Harding. The full facts as to these
conditions are just beginning to come
to light. 1t may take Congress onal
investigation to illuminate them COM
plctely.
Already there is talk of such an in
quiry. One of the proposals is for a
searching investigation by joint COM
mittee of Congress. which would 60 to
the islands and make a business like
examination into Philippine affairs.
Another proposal is that competent
commission of experts and reliable men
be sent over.
Neither of these plans may be fol-
lowed, and the upshot of it may be
that the new Governor General to be
named by Mr.. Harding will make his
own investigation. If such a man as
General Leonard Wood or W. Cameron
Forbes is made Governor General it
is probable the full burden of trying
to rectify things in the archipelago
will be thrown on his shoulders.
A powerful movement IS on to have
General Wood sent to the islands to
undertake again q task Of the same or
der as that which he assumed when he
undertook the administration of Cuba.
Needless to say, such task would in
volve a great sacrifice for the public
service by General Wood, but, on the
other hand, it would be great public
duty. Mr.. Forbes, formerly on the Phil
lppineS Commission and former Gov
ernor General, is another man consid-
cred we'll fitted for the difficult bust
ness. Mr.. Forbes has plenty Of sup
Port, but doubt is entertained here
whether for personal reasons he could
be induced to undertake it.
Harrison Ready to Leave
Governor General Francis Burton
Harrison, appointee of President Will
son, is eabout to leave the islands.
Back of them is a record which. to
say the least, is not considered cred
table either to himself or the Admin
istration. In his time the foundation
of American sovereignty in the islands
has been undermined. Filipino dcma-
gogues and adventurers who urge in
dependence for their own selfish pur-
poses have come to the front, Amcri-
can authority has been sadly impaired
the fiscal affairs of the islands have
been thrown into chaotic shape and
things have gone backward instead Of
forward.
Administration of the Philippine
National Bank has been such that the
institution is now considered in a de-
plorable situation. Being practically a
Philippine government institution, of
course, the bank is in no sense in
danger. 1t has. however, lost much
money and has not been conducted in
such q way as to make it the most cf-
fective instrument for the building UP
Of the business and industry and
finances of the islands.
One of the most startling recent de-
velopments in relation to the bank
concerns the Shanghai agency of the
institution,
1t is known that the Shanghai
agency has lost money heavily. 1t
suffered losses by selling exchange on
New York and London. Expecting sill
yer to go up. the agency failed to real
ize expectations. Silver went down,
and the agency or branch suffered Sc
rious losses. Estimates unofficially are
that these losses amount to four or
five millions OF dollars. The Bureau
of Insular Affairs, has directed there
be an investigation, and one now is on,
Officials to Investigate
Officials Of the Philippine National
Bank, including Vicc-Presdent Con-
cepcion and one or more attorneys.
have gone TO Shanghai to find out the
facts and report, as we'll as to try
to straighten things olt. The head of
the Shanghai agency is John ". Miller,
who was formerly in charge of the
postal savings bank system of the
Philippines.
The condition of the Shanghai
branch, however, is only small part
of the troubles of the Philippine Ma
tional Bank, which has offices in
Manila and agencies throughout the
islands.
f. R. Wilson, of San Francisco,
until recently vice-president of the
Anglo London Paris Bank of San Fran
cisco, has lately been named general
manager or head of the Philippine
National Bark. He has arrived a.
tCoatlnued on rage thres)