The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-11-26
THE OPEN DOOR POLICY.
Chairman DineIey Of the Ways and Means
Committee Explains Its Meaning
FQuAlIIYoF TREATMENT NOT FREE TRADE
same Rates or Duties Must lie Paid
by United states rs other Conn
tries Pay in the philippines.

Washington, November Is. = Chairman
| DingIey, Of the ways and means commits
tee. in an interview with Star reporter
today, explained the term open door
policy as applied TO the future COM
nlerce of the philippines in case they
should be acquired BY the United States.
"1herhrase open door policy, which Is
row beng talked about so much In the
newspapers" said Mr.. Dingley, means
simply equality Of treatment and not free
trade AS applied to the dependency of u
country ii simply reans that the Imports
ilom all countries are to- be admitted
on the same terms as imports from the
mother country. AS applied to the Thil-
lDDines 1t would mean that imports from
Great Biltain and lll other foreign coua-
tries are 10 be admitted at the same rates
of duty as imports from the United States.
"of course, this policy could not be APP
piled ito The Philippines II they should
TO admitted into the Union with terri
torial form of government, because the
constitution provides that duties shall be
uniform within the United States unless
there should be an amendment to the con-
stituion permitting this
Whether 1T would be possible to apply
this policy to the Philippines after they
should become a part of the territory Of
the United States under that provision
of the constitution which authorizes con.
cIess to make needful rules and reaula
tons respecting the territory or other
property of The United States ! am not
prepared to say, 1t is probable, however,
that the resolution providing for the un-
nexaton of Hawaii. passed at the last ses-
son of congress, 1t was provided that the
Hawaiian tariff should continue in force
Until congress should otherwise determine.
1t is TO be borne in mind, however.
that the present talk about an open don
lclicy for the Philippines dis intended to
rpply entirely to those Islands while un-
der military administration which would
be permissible and net apply to those
islands after they shall have been formally
recognized as "a part of the United States.
OF course lit would be competent for
the Paris commissioners 10 incorIo ate In
the treaty with Spain a provision granting
TO spanish imports into the Philippines
euuaHty of treatment with imports from
the United States for term of years and
MAT provision in the treaty when ratified
nv the senate and, projected Into law by
congress would be the law of the land.
In the discussion of the open door poll
icy. | notice that many papers assume that
1t IL the uniform policy of Great Britain
should be borne in mind, however. that
there IS Il conspicuous exception TO this
hn the case OF Canada her most important
colony, which admits imports from Great
Britain at 20 per cent less duty than they
are admitted from the United States and
other countries. Ii is understood that this
policy was adopted by Canada il not on
the suggestion, at least with the approval
Of Mr. Chamberlain. British secretary for
the colonies and that he is urging o. r
colonies of Great Britain to give a similar
preference TO that country"