Show general nelson A allies in his criticism of the military and civil control of the philippine islands made much of the distress of the natives and declared famine wag upon the whole population there was some to his statements but just enough to make half truths and impress the public with his comments governor anft was called upon to reply to tho criticisms and he haa done so in a manner to convince the most skeptical that not only lias general miles overdrawn over drawn his famine picture but furthermore that american control is proving a great blessing to the islanders and to bo a source of ever increasing good fortune to the natives in part governor general taft says that there is a shortage in tle islands of the usual supply is undoubtedly true but I 1 have been surprised to find thus far how little famine or hunger there ia I 1 have not received a single call from a single provincial governor for rice fo free distribution in the entire archipelago in tho province of batangan Ba tangas capt broughton in managing the so called war famine fund the history of which haa been already officially reported to you has made a very small gratuitous distribution of rice not exceeding 1 should think in quantity more than two thousand dollard dol larb worth the action of the commission in directing a proclamation by tho civil governor calling upon the people everywhere to plant corn br sweet potatoes rice and other quick growing food products barda wide influence nr stirring up the people tor ovido against tho coming famine it is true that an unexampled drouth in the islands has prevented this planting from being as productive as otherwise would have been and that the locusts too have interfering with some of tha crops but on the whole I 1 have been greatly surprised to find alie suffering so much less than wo expected it to be in may june and july avo may have calls for aid but we will be bially now that three million dollars havo been appropriated for them nation is the loss of the cattle from it is not feasible to bring cattle into the islands without making sure that they will not catch this dicas after coming here and die from t the fields of the islands are affected with so that cattle from other islands brought here are almost sure to have it it s necessary therefore that all cattle brought here shall bo immen iced having a serum injected foto tacit veins which will render them immune for three or four months and at the same time by being inoculated with tho virus which renders them immune for at least five years and probably longer we have made a contract for ten thousand barabos in the island after the permanent immunization these arc to be brought from china our iii sular purchasing agent together with a cattle expert 0 he burc auh now visiting the various ports of the orient with a view to making contracts |