The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-12-04
Knows Just What the "Open Door
Policy Means.
A TEMPORARY EXPEDIENT
DESIGNED TO RAISE THE TWEEN
TY MILLIONS.
All Nations VIII Be On a Tariff
Equality and, as ''the foreigner
Pays the Tax Foreign Nations
Will Pay the Indemnity-The
Presidents Power.

New York, Dec. 5.-Senator William
e. Chandler of New Hampshire, in an
interview with a washington CORE
spondent of the Tribune, had this to
say about the scope and meaning OF
the "open door, tariff policy which
may be put in operation temporarily in
the Philippines:
"There seems to be a general misun-
derstandinS of the proposed open door
policy of the administration. The
phrase, in its present application, is
somewhat misleading. l have heard II
contended that if we inaugurate this
policy foreign nations who are in closer
proximity to the Philippines than the
United States will have great advant-
age owe US in the matter of trade.
Now, as a matter of fact, this policy
will not continue for any great length
of time. The president has no author
ity to prescribe permanent tariff laws
for the Philippines; that is a congress
sional function, and must be exercised
exclusively by congress when the
islands ave reached their nomal peace
conditions. The president, in the exc
cution OF his duties, mas only the right
to demand that Spain eyacuate the
islands and turn them over to the
United States. Then he sets up a mill
tary government until such time as
congress may act. 1t rests with con
gress to establish a permanent scheme
of commercial relations and tariff adj
ministration.
After Spain has left the islands the
military branch OF the government
takes charge. Then comes the open
door policy. The tariff rates are pre-
scribed by the military government,
which shall apply not only to European
nations, but to the United States as
We'll. No nation ON earth is given an
advantage. The object is solely to raise
enough revenue to pay off the $40, 000,-
600 to Spain. That money will come
from revenue derived from England,
France, Germany, America; in fact,
every nation. 1t can be seen, therefore,
that foreign nations, on account of
their convenient situation to the Phil
i2Dines, will have no material advant-
age over the United States. We want
to raise the $780, 00, goo to pay 10 Spain,
and instead of being to our disadvant-
age, it will be to our benefit if these
nations can increase their trade to the
Philippines for the time being, thus in
%creasing the custom receipts.
"The open door policy will prevail
only SO long as it is necessary to raise
the $40, 000, 600 which it is agreed to pay
Spain After this money is raised, then
1t will be time for congress to act. 1t
will enact such tariff legislation as it
deems proper. If it is decided to an
mex the islands, hen customs duties
Will be prescribed which will not give
any foreign nation an advantage owe
us in the matter of trade. We all have
free and unrestricted intercourse with
the islands, while foreign nations will
be obliged to pay duties on the products
that they import. Hence it can be seen
that the open door policy is only a
temporary measure, and, instead of be-
ing to our disadvantage, will rebound
to our benefit.
IF congress decides to grant the Fill
pinos their independence, then they
will probably be obliged to pay us the
S20,0O0,00 which we are to give Spain.
l find that the main opposition to the
annexation of the Philippines comes
from people who have all along beer
opposed to the independence of Cuba.
They are disappointed in the fact that
Cuba has been freed, and, in line with
their views on this subject, are op-
posed to the acquisition of the Philip
pines by the United States. The cry
of imperialism is a misplaced one, and
is not only misunderstood, but entirely
unWarranted."