New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-14
1.-THE OPEN DOOR"

Mr. Cecil Rhodess advice to the United States
TO stick to tho Philippines and 10 keep there an
open door FOR England and other Powers who
treat us az well lscally rs England does In re-
turn for the moral support Of England in the
Eastern venture raises n broad question OF the
possibilities under our Constitution, OF colonial
governments with revenue systems differing
from that which we maintain AZ home IL Is
apparent to all thar such possession as the
Philippines. far away from this continent with
totally different Industrial conditions. would re-
qu.re characteristic laws ms 10 taxes and prop
erty as well as 10 social order and political privi
leges Some anxiety as to the possibility Of
meeting these necessary conditions has been ex-
pressed
There can be no doubt that Congress has
ample power TO meet all possible necessities Of
the situation so far as internal affairs 90. The
language OF the Constitution is The Congress
shall have power 10 dispose OF. and make all
"needful rules and regulations respecting the
territory or other property belonging 10 the
Omitted States" That Is full warrant for any
method OF government suited 10 the islands, and
some have suggested that so large grant OF
powers over acquisitions OF the Federal Gov
eminent puts any external colonies beyond the
restriction Of the Constitution In another ar
tice. that call duties. imposts and excuses shall
be uniform throughout the United States"
Such an Interpretation opens the door for car
rying ont Mr.. Rhodes's suggestion In the easiest
possible way. But II Is impossible for us to
give foreign nations, except by indirecton. any
better tariff facilities In the Philippines than
they have here In 1920 this question OF the
taxing power of Congress in Territories com
Dared with States. was before the Supreme
Court, and Chief Justice Marshall declared:
"The power then. TO lay and collect duties, I'M
"Iosts and excuses may be exercised. and must
"beexercised. throughout the United States. Does
"ths term designate the whole or any particu-
"lar portion Of the American Empire? Certain
"ly this question can admit Of but one answer
1T Is the name given 10 our great Republic
(which is composed Of States and Territories"
The Court called attention to the fact that the
Constitution. while making duties, imposts and
excuses uniform. specially excmpts taxes from
that rule so II will be seen that Congress has
free hand in the Philippines except to indie
pendent tariffs
But after al we can practically offer ian
open door meeting all reasonable desires Of
foreign nations. IAN open door does not mean
no duties, but fair chance for unveXed and I'M
restricted trade New-York Is an open door
and all the world finds 1t profitable to come
here for trade. True Chicago can buy and sell
here without paying the duties which London
PAYS but we do not shut ont foreign traders, ms
Spain once did from her colonies. If we hold
the Philippines there will be no closed door such
as England feared al Russian and German ports
in China, but the same freedom for foreign
trade which British diplomacy considers It
triumph 10 have won ut Port Arthur and Kao-
Chau. An absolutely free port is an nbstrac-
ton. Even Liverpool levies duties and the
home trader has advantages I'm it's markets.
The practical question Ia that Of securing favor
oble opportunities for trade subject 10 reasona-
Die charges, and certainly the United States as
ruler OF the Philippines. could offer TO foreign
nations better chances than were ever enjoyed
there before. Spain levied an export duty on
tobacco and taxed heavily all foreign Imports
muslin and petroleum. for instance-about 100
per cent. Even then England had O profitable
trade there, about "a per cent of the imports
being from the United Kingdom and about 20
per cent from British colonies. The exports to
Great Britain were nearly three times as much
as the imports from there. in spite Of export du-
ties. The United States levies and can levy no
export duty. even in n Territory. and It's import
duties mean free trade a. compared with