1448
THE PHILIPPINES
Philippines admitted into the United States free of duty were eligible for a return of the export duty imposed in the Philippines so long as shipped to the United States direct, and proof be submitted of their importation and consumption there.
The official report on the Commerce of the Islands for the fiscal year 1909 (ending June) shows a total value of foreign trade of nearly $51,838,940 (gold), nearly five millions less than in the previous year. The trade is divided between imports and export about evenly, with a balance of trade in favour of the Islands of $2,000,000. Hemp, the major product, is the main hope of these islands, and there is no cause for discouragement. Sugar is the second product in importance, The average exports since 1898 have been 90,000 tons, although in 1902 and 1903 250,000 tons were exported. The average exports from the Philippine Islands for ten years have been less than 3 per cent. of the foreign sugar consumed in the United States, which makes the fears of the beet sugar growers of that country absurd. Copra (dried cocoanut meat), cocoanut oil and Tobacco are the other leading exports. Coming to imports, which total about 27,795,000 (exclusive of supplies for the Government, military and naval forces, etc.), cotton goods form the principal item in the list. The United Kingdom supplies over half of the cotton goods and the report of 1997 spoke of "the prestige in the local market of British cotton textiles" also "the particular attention devoted by British manufacturers in this as well as other lines to the production of qualities of goods best adapted to the requirements." The Customs Bureau collected $8,500,000, which goes a long way toward supporting the Insular Government. The high tariff is certainly a success as revenue producer. The Islands have stopped the legal importation of opium, and the loss in receipts is considerable.
The average annual receipts from opium during the years of 1903-1907 inclusive was the handsome sum of $328,864.40. The officials of the Islands certainly deserve credit for their skill in adjusting the finances to meet this large shortage.
The policy of the United States towards the Philippines was defined by President Roosevelt in his Message to Congress in December, 1904. At present," he said, "the Philippine people are utterly incapable of existing in independence at all, or of building up a civilisation of their own, I firmly believe we can help them to rise higher aud higher in the scale of civilisation and of capacity for self-government, and most earnestly hope that in the end they will be able to stand, if not entirely alone, yet in some such relation to the United States as Cuba now stands." Under Section 7 of the Act of Congress, approved July 1, 1902, all that part of the Islands not inhabited by Moros or other non-Christian tribes is vested in a Legislature consisting of two Houses-the Philippine Commission and the Philippine Assembly. The first general election of delegates to the Philippine Assembly was held on March 27th, 1907, and the Hon. W. H. Taft came out to Manila to preside at the first meeting. In a speech delivered by Mr. Taft at Boston before his election to the Presidency he expressed the opinion that the Philippines would not be fit for self-government for one or two generations.
The military force maintained in the Islands amounts to 13,030 white troops of all arms, 5,000 native scouts allied to the white garrison, and 3,000 constabulary, who act as a sort of semi-military police.