EXHIBIT M.

STATEMENT OF GOVERNOR WRIGHT AS TO NECESSITY FOR ACTION BY CONGRESS IN REMOVING DUTY ON SUGAR AND TOBACCO.

The following statement is furnished by Reyes and others: Sugar industry prosperous until 1884, when the bounty system was introduced in Europe for the purpose of aiding beet-sugar industry. As this prospered the cane industry declined. Not only in the Philippines, but everywhere, planters in time were compelled to borrow, the estates became heavily encumbered, eaten up by usurious rates of interest, foreclosure resulting in many instances. McKinley-Dingley tariffs operated against Philippines, which, with annexation, Hawaii practically closed United States to Philippine sugars the Pacific coast absolutely-and it may be safely said that the only cargo sent to the Atlantic coast ports within past five years was of a speculative character, based on probable action Congress in tariff matters. Japan-China war transferred Formosa to Japan with free trade between the two. As a consequence, while Philippine sugars pay duty about $10, gold, per ton, Japan has been and still is large consumer Philippine sugars; but Formosa, with such advantage, will no doubt shut out that market soon, as aim will be to produce sufficient to meet all requirements of Japan. While the Philippines is country best adapted to sugar production, only free, fair market is China, where have to compete with Java sugar. Industry there is in higher state of development than here. Therefore at some disadvantage. The causes operating against industry past five years are the Dingley tariff, annexation Hawaii, Philippine insurrection, and consequences of high-priced labor, higher cost rice through necessity importation, loss carabaos, loss credit to planters through want faith on part of capitalists in industry under present conditions. Pampanga, Batangas, Laguna, and Panay sugar plants destroyed by insurrection. Negros almost bankrupt. Seventy-five per cent of the estates will probably have to close. Planters completely disheartened at bringing of Formosa under Japan. Only solution is to put the Philippines on the same basis as Hawaii as regards sugar, that is, complete abolition Dingley tariff. United States market formerly best. Must be restored in order to restore confidence and revive industry, otherwise it will die. State aid, some form or other, therefore, necessary to save situation. Comparative statement exports sugar from Manila, Cebu, and Iloilo in 1897, 1898, shows 3,332,010 piculs and 2,859,661, respectively. Dwindled in 1902 to 1,473,160 piculs. Full figures by mail.

Tabacalera Company claims tobacco industry fallen off greatly past five years only. Due partly change sovereignty, principally to abnormal conditions due to war followed by famine and disturbance. During Spanish régime, leaf tobacco had safe market Spain, as government compelled contracting company to purchase certain amount tobacco in Philippines. This stipulation omitted last contract. Philippine tobacco inferior to Habana, and can compete only because cheaper. Brazil and other South American tobacco, although inferior in quality, is cheaper still and can compete all markets. Market Dutch Indies closed to Philippine manufactured tobacco, duties being 2 florins per kilo as against half florin on tobacco rest world. In order for the Philippines tobacco to enter the United States it must be free. Only way to compete with better quality Habana tobacco and cheapness South American. With duty of 50 or even 25 per cent, Dingley tariff will exclude it.

357

EXHIBIT N.

REPORT OF AN INVESTIGATION MADE BY JAMES ROSS, SUPERVISOR OF FISCALS, CONCERNING ALLEGED SUFFERINGS AND DEATHS AMONG CERTAIN LABORERS SENT FROM MANILA DURING THE MONTH OF JULY, 1903, TO WORK ON THE BENGUET ROAD.

MANILA, P. I., September 1, 1903.

SIR: In compliance with your verbal instructions of August 6, 1903, I have made an investigation of the reports concerning the alleged sufferings and deaths from starvation of certain laborers organized in Manila during the month of July, by Mr. Pascual H. Poblete and his assistants, and sent to Dagupan and Twin Peaks for the purpose of working on the Benguet road. During the course of this inquiry I have visited the provinces of Laguna, Tarlac, Pangasinan, and Benguet, and have examined a large number of witnesses, the testimony of whom is herewith presented.

My object has been, as directed by you, to obtain all the information possible and to ascertain the whole truth with reference to the reports that have been so freely circulated by certain individuals through the means of conversations, written communications, and the public press concerning the alleged sufferings of the "Poblete Obreros." Having completed the investigation, as directed by you, I now have the honor to submit the following report of the same.

On the morning of August 7 I proceeded from Manila to Calamba, province of Laguna, and with the assistance of the municipal officials succeeded in finding several men who had been members of the so-called "Poblete Obreros" and took their statements, which are as follows:

At Calamba, August 7 and 8.

STATEMENT OF MAXIMO TRASONA.

I live in Calamba, and was a member of a company of laborers that went to Benguet in July last. I joined the company in Manila on July 15, upon the solicitation of Andres Egasani, who accompanied me there. No other laborers went to Manila with me. I united with the other workmen in Manila at Poblete's house. As an inducement in the way of salary, etc., for my joining these laborers, Egasani offered me 2 pesos a day and rations. It was understood that when we got to Benguet we were to work on the road there.

I did not have any conversation with Poblete about the work I was to do or the compensation which I would receive. I spoke only with Andres Egasani.

I and my companions left Manila for Benguet on the 7th of July, taking the train for Dagupan and arriving there about 9 p. m. of the same day. There were a great many of us.

Before leaving Manila for Dagupan we were furnished three days' rations, which consisted of rice and meat. Upon arriving in Dagupan we had supper and spent the night in stores in the market place, sleeping on the floors which were made of bamboo. Nothing occurred to us in Dagupan. We left Dagupan the following day at about noon. Before leaving we had breakfast.

We started in the direction of Benguet. The first night we arrived in a town, the name of which I do not remember, and passed the night there. We started out the next morning and arrived at Twin Peaks at about 4 or 5 o'clock in the afternoon. Upon arriving at Twin Peaks Andres Egasani had a conversation with the officer in charge there. After the conversation we had supper and rested. The following

morning Andres again had a talk with the same man, after which he came out of the house, called us together, and said, "Come on, let's go back to Dagupan" ("Vamos Dagupan").

Upon arriving at Twin Peaks we had supper. I was not molested in any way by any person at that place. We left for Dagupan during the afternoon of the day when Andres Egasani told us to return and arrived in Dagupan in about two days. Egasani gave us no reason for his desire to return.

From Dagupan we returned to Manila. Some walked faster than others and arrived in Dagupan earlier than the rest. All of the company to which I belonged left Twin Peaks together, no one remaining there to work. This was the same company with which I left Manila. There were many laborers in it. I do not know of any of my companions having died on the trip. There were only a few laborers in the party which arrived with me in Manila. I do not know where the others were. When we arrived in Manila we went to the court in Intramuros. I do not know why; afterwards we united in Poblete's house. I did not have any conversation with Poblete, neither did any of my companions; we only talked with Andres Egasani. I do not know what took place. After several days I returned by boat to Calamba.

MAXIMO ELASEGUI.

I live in Calamba, and am acquainted with Maximo Trasona. He was with me in a company of laborers which went to Twin Peaks. I left Calamba for Manila with my companions one Sunday in July, I do not remember the exact date; there must have been about 40 of us. Andres Egasani went with us. In Manila we went to Poblete's house where we had a conversation with Andres Egasani. These 40 laborers upon arriving in Manila were joined by others until the total number of laborers was about 200. We were given three days' rations and went to Dagupan by rail. Arriving there we had supper, and slept on the bamboo floors of the tiendas in the market. When we reached Dagupan an American was there who showed us where we were to sleep. We were not given any rice that night because we had some left over from what had already been furnished us; but the next morning we were given our breakfast and rice for the journey to Twin Peaks.

The following day we started for Twin Peaks. The first night we slept at a place called San Jacinto, and left there the following morning, stopping en route at two other places, the names of which I do not remember. We arrived at Twin Peaks on the third day out from Dagupan.

Upon arriving at Twin Peaks, Andres Egasani went up into a house to speak to a man there. He afterwards came out of the house and said "Vamos." We left; reached Dagupan within two days, and from Dagupan walked to- Manila. We returned because the "capataz" told us to do so. He did not give us any reason for telling us to go. We left when the capataz told us to go, because he was the one who had taken us there. We did not ask Andres Egasani (the capataz referred to) why, as we were very tired and weak.

I do not know that any of us were badly treated at Twin Peaks. We saw some Americans working there, but I do not know how many; we did not have any conversation with them. We arrived at Twin Peaks between 4 and 5 o'clock in the evening; slept there, and left the next day. It is not true that we wanted to enter the houses there and were not allowed to do so. I heard that some Americans had Kicked over the pots in which some of the laborers were cooking their rice, but I did not see this. Upon arriving in Dagupan we did not ask for transportation by rail to Manila, but started off afoot. I can not say how many days we were in walking from Dagupan to Manila, but we were very tired. I did not see any of my companions die. I heard rumors that some people had died, but I can not remember the time or the place, or the name of the person who told me.

We came back in small bands; I came behind the others. Upon arriving in Manila we went to Poblete's house. He did not give us any more food; we bought rice in Manila. Some women and children went with us to Twin Peaks. I know Braulio Menece; he was one of those who returned with me on the boat from Manila to this place.

EMILIO MENDOZA.

I went to Benguet upon the solicitation of Andres Egasani. He promised me 2 pesos per day and rations. In Manila we were each given 6 chupas of rice and some meat. In Dagupan each of us was given 4 more chupas of rice, but no fish or meat. We slept on the floor of a warehouse in Dagupan. It did not rain that night. I did not hear any complaints about the food or shelter there. When we reached Twin Peaks we were furnished rice and some canned meat. The capataz, after talking

with an American there, told us that the American said we would only receive 2 pesetas per day. We would not work for this and the capataz told us to return. The capataz asked us if we would work for this and we told him no. We remained in Dagupan one day. The capataz told us that we were to return on the train, but the conductor would not let us go aboard it.

We were eight days in walking from Dagupan to Manila, scattered along the road, the strong ones in front and the weak ones behind. I was at about the middle of these groups. On the way back we lived on rice which we begged from the people along the route. Upon arriving in Manila, some of my companions told me that several of the laborers had died; but I do not know who they were. None of those who went with me died.

When we went to Poblete's house he gave each of us a chupa of rice.

I am in good health now and feel no bad effects from the trip.

MAURICIO AND TIBURCIO MENDOZA (OF CALAMBA).

We went with our brother, Emilio Mendoza, to work on the road in Benguet. We were promised 2 pesos a day, with rations. In Manila we were given three days' rations for the trip to Dagupan. We returned from Twin Peaks because the capataz said he was not satisfied with the pay we would receive. In Dagupan the capataz told us that we had been refused transportation on the train, so we had to walk back.

Q. Did you hear the American in charge at Twin Peaks say that he would only pay you 2 pesetas a day?-A. No; the capataz told us that the American said so. Q. Why didn't you speak to the American about the salary before undertaking such a long journey home?-A. We could not speak to the American about it, because we can't speak English.

Q. You don't know, then, that the Filipinos who are working on the road in Benguet receive 25 cents gold per day, with their rations?-A. We asked the capataz what we would receive, and he said 2 pesetas per day, and our food.

In the group with which we returned there were about 20 laborers; and we were in about the middle of the crowd which was going back from Dagupan to Manila. We do not know that anyone died; but when we returned to Manila we were told that some of our companions had died on the road. We do not know their names, neither do we remember the names of those who gave us this information.

BRIGIDA ABRIL.

NOTE. This woman admits having told a policeman that her husband, Braulio Menece, who went to Benguet, had died there. She states that this story was invented by her as a joke, and that she has seen her husband since he returned, and that he is now in Manila.

From Calamba I proceeded to Cabuyao, Laguna Province, and there found a number of men who had belonged to the Obreros, having been organized by one Publio Batallones, of Cabuyao; their statements are as follows:

At Cabuyao, August 9, 1903.

NARCISO GENERALIA.

I was one of a company of workmen who went to Benguet in July last. I was invited to go by Publio Batallones of this town, who promised me $2 gold, per day, with rations. I went to Manila with about 250 others, residents of this place and of Calamba. Publio Batallones accompanied us. We arrived in Manila on Sunday, and started out for Benguet Friday. During that time we were in Poblete's house. The capataz went up into the house and had a conversation with Poblete; he then told us that if we would do as much work as the Americans we would receive $2 gold, per day; and if we did not do as much work as the Americans that we would receive less.

NOTE. Regarding the details of the trip to Benguet, the food furnished, etc., and what took place at Twin Peaks, the statement of this witness is substantially the same as that of the foregoing witnesses.

The trip back was a very hard one. We were seven days on the road from Dagupan to Manila. Several of our companions died on the road. One of the laborers died at Pozorrubio, on the way to Twin Peaks. I do not know his name; he lived at Los Baños. I did not see the body. He was taken sick on the way up. I saw him in a house there at Pozorrubio, and when I returned I heard that he was dead.

Andres Egasani, the capataz, told me this. The man first had fever, and then later he seemed to be taken with a sort of cholera. I heard that others had also died.

Q. You say that you were traveling for seven days from Dagupan to Manila; did all go together or did you travel in small bands?-Å. In small bands. I went from Dagupan to Manila on the train.

Q. Then what you know about the seven-day trip is all hearsay? A. Yes.

Q. So you can not state whether or not anybody died on the road between Dagupan and Manila?-A. I can not.

Q. Did you return from Manila to Calamba on the boat with other workmen who had been with you on this trip?-A. No; I was alone. I paid my own fare.

Q. Did you understand that Batallone's promise of $2 gold per day and rations was made by authority of Poblete?-A. Yes. When in Manila we were standing below the window of Poblete's house, and he appeared at the window and stated to us that we could earn $2 gold per day. This was Wednesday before we left for Dagupan. Poblete told us that if we would work well and equal the Americans we could earn the same, which was $2 gold per day.

Q. Do you believe that you could do as much work in a day as an American?— A. Yes.

Q. Did Poblete say that if you could do half as much work, or one-fourth as much work as an American, you would receive less in proportion?-A. No.

Q. Did Mr. Poblete not tell you that the Government was offering Filipino laborers a fixed salary of 25 cents gold per day and rations?-A. No.

Q. Did you people think that Poblete was authorized by the Government to make this offer?-A. Yes.

Q. What made you think that he had this authority?-A. We thought that he was authorized by the Government to make us this offer through the capataces, Publio Batallones and Andres Egasani.

Q. Did any official of the Government make such a statement to you?—A. No. Q. In regard to the man who died at Pozorrubio. Were you the only one from Cabuyao who was present with him in the warehouse where he was sick?-A. Yes. Q. And afterwards, when you returned to Dagupan, you heard that the man had died? A. Yes.

Q. You only know what Andres Egasani told you about it?-A. Yes, that is all; but when we were coming back the man was not there. Personally, I do not know that he died; Andres Egasani told me about it.

Q. Was Andres Egasani with you at Twin Peaks?-A. Yes.

Q. Did he come back at the same time? A. Yes.

Q. And arrived in Pozorrubio with you at the same time?-A. Yes.

Q. Then Andres Egasani only knew and told you something he said he had heard about a man having died at Pozorrubio?-A. Yes.

Q. Did anybody in your company go to look for the grave of this alleged dead man or make any inquiries about him?-A. No, not that I know of.

NICOLAS DIAZ.

I went to Benguet to work on the road there in July last. Publio Batallones had come to me and stated that I could make good money in Benguet, and would be given transportation there from Manila to Dagupan by train, and from Dagupan to Benguet we were to walk.

This

We did not stay at Twin Peaks because Poblete's promise was not kept. promise was that if we did as much work as the Americans we would receive the same pay, but when we got there they only wanted to give us 2 pesetas and our rations. I did not talk with the officer in charge, but was told this by the capataz. I was told by the capataz from Calamba (Andres Egasani) that several workmen had died on the road back to Manila; personally I do not know anything about this. NOTE.-Regarding the details of the journey, this witness makes in substance the same statement as that given by the preceding witness.

Q. When you were at Poblete's house in Manila, before going to Dagupan, did you hear Poblete say anything about the salary to be paid?-A. Poblete told us that we should work well and equal the Americans, because we would then be paid well; that if we would work like the Americans did they would give us $2 gold per day; that if we did not work as well then we would receive half that amount.

Q. Do you believe you can do as much work as an American? A. Yes. Q. On the way back from Dagupan to Manila, did the capataz walk with you?-A. Yes; he came with us. I suppose that Andres Egasani (the Calamba capataz) was in a group which was ahead of us; and Publio, I think, was behind.