Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-05-31
TARIFF IN THE PHILIPPINES.


New York, May 31.-A special to the
times from Washington says:
As a result OF the investigation the
treasury department has been making
into the question Of n tariff for the
Philippines to be levied as a military
contribution during the occupation OF
the islands by the United states forces,
the administration has practically de-
cided to enforce the existing Spanish
schedules with only such changes as
the circumstances may make neceS-
sary.
The experts of the customs ser
vice have made an exhaustive study
of Spanish tariffs, with special refer
ence to the course to be pursued in the
Philippines, and the results OF these
labors have been laid before the Presi-
dent by Secretary Gage. The hrst
proposition was to adopt new tariH
drawn on the American model as was
done when this country occupied ram
pico durlns the Mexican war
In that case. which has furnished
the most useful presidents for the
present emergency, a special tariff was
prepared and enforced du: ing the brief
occupation of the port by the military
forces OF the United States. In the
case of the Philippines, however In
view of the differences Of language
and of standards of measures, of the
remoteness of the territory and of the
conditions entirely dssimilar to those
existing here, 1t has been deemed wiser
simply to take up the tariff lists as the
Spaniards will leave them and conun-
ue the same duties as usual. This, II
| Is believed will cause less Interruption
to commerce. be more satisfactory to
| merchants who do business with the
| islands, and prove more acceptable to
! the natives, whose good Will Is recog-
nized as worth cultlvating IL the ter
ritory is to be retained.
The Spanish tariff III the Philippines
| is different from our own, in that ii Is
revenue tariff. Pursuant to the
Spanish policy of squeezing the colo
| niles lust as much as they Will stand,
| the rates have been made just as high
as possible. They are specific entirely,
no advalorem being laid. No goods
imported from the mother country are
exempted from taxation, so as to make
1t to the interest of the people to trade
with the mother country. one of the
| particulars in which the tariff will be
changed under the American admins
tration Is the free list, so as to take
away the Determinations in favor OF
the church and the numerous holy or
ders.
The enforcement of the tariff will pt
left to the military forces, under Gen
Merritt. The treasury department
will have no official connection with II
although 1t will send out n number Of
expert assistants to All the army Off
Gals in the technical execution of tn,
task. The tariff being imposed strict,
as a military contribution, the pro
ceeds will be turned into the army
strong box without the formality o
forwarding them to the treasury. Ii
view of International law, the Philip
pines, even after they have been occu
pied by the military forces of the Unit
ed States, will remain extraneous ter
rltory. They will not be a part of thi
country until the conclusion of
treaty of peace has settled the It'll
upon us. In consequence, America
goods shipped to the islands will b
made to pay duty just as other good
from foreign countries. As the i'm
, port taxes will not be Increased, a
, American merchants will have no nd
vantage over those of other countries
and as there will undoubtedly be a
improvement In the administrator
with regard to honesty and progress
the commercial world of the Far Eas
1t is pointed ont, will have nothing I
complain of as a result of the chang
of masters In the Philippines.