Evening star., 1937-07-04
QUEzON MAPPING
COSTLYPROCRAM
Has S50,OO0,O00 WindfaIl
to Spend on Public I'M
pr0VementS.
BY JAMES G. WINGO.

BY JAMES G. WINGO.
With a plan on how to spend a $50
100000 windfall from the United
States Treasury in his pocket, Pres
ident Manuel Luis Quezon of the
Philippine Commonwealth, who has
been running his government by re-
mote control in the last six months, is
now on his way home.
Before ne left Washington he asked
the Treasury to transfer to the ac-
count Of his government the ~ pro-
ceedS of taxes collected up to July
!, 1887, on the processing OF Philip
pine coconut oil. The uindfall is
much larger than the annual revenue
OF the insular government. The Phil
ippine Commonwealth will receive
s24 100000 year from this single
source.
Surprisingly, the supersensitive
chief executive publicly revealed.
through Assistant Secretary OF State
Francis B. Sayre. chairman OF the
Joint Preparatory Committee on
Philippine Affairs. the recommends
tions he would make to his rubber
stamp unicameral National Assembly
on how to spend the $5o,0OO,OO Ap-
parently he wanted to assauge the
fears of American critics who are
afraid that he might spend 1t for
his army, which is believed by many
here to have been organized to set
him in office perpetually.
Favor Quez0n Reelection.
Already there is movement in Ma
Mia to amend the Philippine consti-
tuition to pave the way for his re-
election for another six-year term.
Resident Commissioner Quintin Pa
redes recently expressed his approval
OF the repeal of the constitutional
provision OF one term only for the
Philippine president.
Quezon told United States officials
that he would spend s2O,OOO.OOO of
the windfall for the purchase of all
large landed estates practically all
trlars' lands) for the purpose of re-
selling them in small parcels to ten
ants and others, for the establish
ment of a credit institution for the
parcel purchasers, for building of
roads in Mindanao and other more
or less virgin spots. for esta blishment
OF certain government-sup elee-
moSynary institutions and for build
ing rural schools.
In his recent visit to Cuba he said
that he would follow Dictator Ba-
tlsta's example of using the army
to eradicate illiteracy in rural dis
tricts. The rest of the windfall Que
zon intends to keep intact for the
readJustment of Philippine economy
as recommended by the Joint Pre-
paratory Committee.
This committee recently completed
hearings in Washington. Before SAIL
ing for the Philippines on July "a
from San Francisco it will hold hear
lngs on Philippine affairs in that
city
The Quezon plan of spending the
windfall from the United States disap-
pointed many American teachers who
entered contracts and served the
Philippine government for many years
because no sum was set aside for
them.
Teachers Fund Abolished.
Unexpectedly last year Quezon had
his assembly abolish the teachers
retirement and disability fund on
the pretext that the pension system
was insolvent. Observers at the time
saw shrewd political move in Que
IONS act. In Washington he would
use 1t as a bargaining instrument.
Old needy American teachers would
write frantic letters to their congress
men asking them to beg President
Quezon to re-establish the fund.
The Quezon act meant that the
American teachers would not get the
retirement pensions toward which thev
had been contributing 3 per cent
OF their meager salaries (ranging from
$500 to $1,500) for 35 years
In combined protest and petit
ton prepared by the American Re-
tired Teachers Association of the
Philippines and sent to various Wash
ington officials. the hardships en-
countered by the men who built a
Nationwide modern educational sys-
TEN were described wildly.
The return Of President Quezon in
Manila, which will end his so-called
"radiophone government" is creating
much interest in the Philippines not
so much to his temperance on the
island scene as to the anticipated
showdown on the precedence ques-
ton between him and High Commits
sioner Paul Worries McNutt, who has
made an excellent impression upon
Manila Americans and anti -Que1on
Flipinos.