Proceedings of the first Independence congress : held in the city of Manila, Philippine islands, February 22-26, 1930 / Published under the direction of Dean maximo M. Kalaw, executive secretary, University of the Philippines.

DEFENSE AND COMMUNICATIONS

259

for determining the order of their primacy or importance from
the point of view of general interest.
The adoption of the above policy is a necessity which is
advised by the logic of things. Such has been the procedure
in the United States, in Japan, in all parts, and wherever
exists a sentiment of national unity which is sufficiently developed; for to it is reduced in the last analysis, the whole
question; the existence of a collective conscience, strong and
sound which agrees in putting above local or regional advantages
the interest of the nation.
Let us take the case of America, where the federal government invests immense sums in road improvement without the
protest of other sections which do not directly participate in
such improvement.
According to official statistics Congress has voted in the last
thirteen years only, or rather from 1917 to 1929, the stupendous sum of P1,530,000,000 with the purpose of helping
in the construction of national highways.
With respect to the improvement of important ports only
for those of New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore, the
government with other entities has already invested an approximate amount of P4,672,500,000 distributed thus:
Port of New York:
For piers, gangplanks, bulkheads of defense, floating and fixed bridges,
landing places shipyards, etc...... P 3,472,000
Port of Philadelphia:
For piers, gangplanks, bulkheads of defense, floating and fixed bridges,
landing places shipyards, etc...... 1,050,000,000
Port of Baltimore:
For piers, gangplanks, bulkheads of defense, elevators of cereals, warehouses,
landing- places, shipyards, etc.... 200,500,000
Total................. P4,672,500,00Q
In this enormous sum were not included the $750,402,000
spent for the construction and maintenance of the Panama
Canal or the P70,000,000 for the fortification of that zone.