The times., 1898-11-27
TERRITORY AND TARIFF.
The "Open-Dcor'' Question In Our
New Possessiops.

-SC" iOSSCHSAODS.
The members of President McKinley's s
Administration generally have not as yet
arrived at any definite understanding re-
garding the proposed open door" policy
to be maintained in the Philippines.
Doubt is expressed by many IS 20 the
authority of the President 10 establish a
different revenue system in the Philip
pines or any of our new colonies than
that which prevails in the States The
Constitution, they point out. states that
the revenue and custom duties of the
Government must be uniform throughout
the territory of the United States They
hold that the moment the treaty of peace
is ratified that the Philippines, Porto
Rico, and other islands which we may
acquire from Spain win become as much
part of the territory OF the United
States as any of the original States.
Therefore 1t will not be constitutional
they say, to inaugurate any new system
of tariff regulations in the colonies that
does not correspond TO the existing laws
in force in the States.
Some Republicans think that this can
be done while the colonies are under mill
tary government. Chairman Dingley, of
the House Ways and Means Committee,
inclines to this view. In discussing the
subject yesterday, Mr.. Dingley said
1.-The phrase open door policy, which
is now being talked about so much in the
newspapers, means simply equality Of
treatment and not free trade. AS applied
to the dependency OF country 1t simply
means that imports from all countries are
to be admitted on the same terms as i'm
ports from the mother country. AS ap-
piled TO the Philippines 1t would mean
that imports from Great Britain and all
other foreign countries are to be ad-
mitted at the same rates of duty as i'm
ports frcm the United States.
Whether it 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
i>the Constitution which authorizes Con-
! gress to make needful rules and reguia-
| tions respecting the territory or other
! property of the United States | am not
| prepared 10 say. 1t is noticeable, how
/ ever. that in the resolution providing for
| the annexation Of Hawaii, passed at the
last session OF the present Congress, ii
was provided that the Hawaiian tariff
| should continue in force until Congress
/ should otherwise determine
ut should be borne in mind that a very
vital point as to revenue is involved in
the possible admission of Porto Rico,
| Cuba and the Philippines into the Union
as Territories or States. These tropical
islands are capable of producing every
I pound OF sugar and many other tropical
products that the United States con-
sumes. If they should be admitted into
the Union in such 2 manner as TO extend
our tariff over them and thereby allow
the free importation of their products, we
should probably lose not less than
$50, 10000 of revenue annually, which
would be d very serious situation under
/ existing conditions.
"All Of these difficulties only serve TO
emphasize the soundness of the sug-
gestion that the true policy for the next
year is to continue the military admins
tration Of whatever islands fall into our
hands, and in the meantime make such
, thorough investigation of every phase
Of the serious problems which must be
met, which will properly prepare US to
meet them with wise legislation