[This section is devoted to the evils resulting from the remoteness
of the islands, and the neglect of providing them with facilities
for communication with España; it is necessary, if the government
desires to keep the islands; to remedy this deficiency at once,
for their material prosperity, the administration of justice, their
safety from enemies, their loyalty to the crown--all are at great
risk under present conditions. "The establishment of postal service
in vessels of the royal armada would be a most burdensome expense
to the treasury of España and to that of Filipinas. Unfortunately,
previous to the royal decree of 1820 in regard to the commerce of
Filipinas, in the long period of forty years only twenty trading
ships have gone to those islands, leaving them without assistance or
communication during the long space of three, four, five, or [even]
seven years." However, this can be remedied, and without expense, by
suitable measures for the promotion of commerce between the islands
and España, "an attempt at which has been made in these last six
years, during which time more expeditions direct to Filipinas have
been effected than in the preceding forty years--that is, sixteen
from Cadiz, three from Santander, Coruña, and San Sebastian, and five
whose return is now expected."]
OF THE CAUSES WHICH OPERATE IN THE BACKWARD CONDITION OF THE
ADMINISTRATION, BOTH CIVIL AND ECONOMIC, OF THE FILIPINAS ISLANDS;
AND THEIR CORRECTIVE
[Of the failure of governors and intendants to make reports]
[Exact and circumstantial information is of course, necessary for
the guidance of the home government in all measures relating to the
resources, needs, development, and administration of the islands, and
annual reports on all these matters are demanded from governors and
intendants by the laws of the Indias. Essential as this requirement
is, it has always been neglected.] What those officials sometimes
write, when questioned about these matters, are but generalities;
their reports and information are reduced to how much has been
produced and how much spent, in the résumé of the royal exchequer
accounts. Thus it is not known with what necessity and justice certain
extraordinary expenses have been incurred, what number of employees the
king has in that colony, what causes have occasioned the increase or
decrease in the product of the revenues, and, finally, how the means
and resources of the people who contribute to the royal income can be
augmented so that the latter can likewise be increased, all which the
government ought to know. [It is true that the governors are laden with
multifarious routine duties, which often prevent them from attending
to these important matters, and from examining conditions personally,
for which they have to depend upon the reports of their subordinates;
and these are apt to be actuated by self-interest and they do not like
reforms, so their statements are not very reliable. The reports made by
the municipalities, commercial consulate, and other bodies are of the
same sort, as being always from the standpoint of their corporation;
and neither authorities nor corporations have the same stimulus to
thoroughness, accuracy, and energy as has the private person who
undertakes an enterprise. It is through the latter class that great
projects and advances are made, but such persons hesitate to present
plans for these to the authorities there, because the authorities
do not examine them personally, "but by means of a contentious,
voluminous, and annoying expediente," and likewise have no authority to
adopt these plans until they are referred to Madrid--where, too, they
are not encouraged to bring such projects before the royal government,
and these, moreover, would have to be sent to Manila first (apparently
to contend there with the aforesaid expediente). Bernaldez continues:]
In order, then, to awaken this interest of enterprising private
persons in the agriculture, manufactures, and commerce of Filipinas,
it is necessary to have there a body expressly devoted to this object,
and authorized to adopt provisionally any plan for improvement and
progress which may be proposed to it and examined by it with the aid
of its special knowledge of the country; and this body ought to be
the superior council of the royal exchequer of the islands.... This
council, as such, has very little occupation; its ministers, like
all who are employed in Filipinas, attend to their official duties
only in the forenoons, remaining free during all the afternoons and
evenings for employment in a service of so great importance as this.
I am, then, of opinion that his Majesty should deign to establish
the following: That the superior council of the royal exchequer
in Filipinas constitute a similar council for the improvement and
prosperity of the country, with the object of stimulating in every way
the Indians to work, and capitalists to undertake enterprises. That
its members hold weekly meetings for this purpose, at such hours as
the president shall designate. That it also call in the proprietors of
lands, agriculturists, manufacturers, and merchants of the country,
listen to their views, and encourage them to propose reforms and
plans for promoting the useful arts. That it be authorized to decide
upon the execution of projects, provisionally, until the approbation
of his Majesty is secured, in all matters which do not occasion loss
to the country or injure the interests of the treasury. That it can
draw upon the treasury of the community for a moderate amount of
necessary expenses for the encouragement and reward of enterprises,
for anything which can bring a positive and general benefit to the
Indians and the government.