Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-11-25
It is Explained as Applied to the
Philippine Islands.
REPRESENTATIVE OINGLEY TALKS
Difference if Territorial Form of
Government Existed.
GREAT BRITAIN AND CANADA

Chairman Dngley of the ways and means
committee. in an interview with Star re-
porter today, explained the term open
door policy, as applied to the future COM
merce of the Philippines in case they should
be acquired by the United States.
THE phrase open door policy which Is
now being talked about much in the
rewspapers," said Nh. Dingley, means
simply equality of treatment and not free
trade. AS applied to the dependency of d
country it simply means that imports from
all countries are to be admitted on the same
terms as imports from the mother country.
AS applied to the Philippines it would mean
that imports from Great Britain and all
other foreign countries are to be admitted
at the same rates of duty as imports from
the United States.
If a Territorial Form of Government.
"Of course, this policy could not be ap
piled to the Philippines if they should be
admitted into the Union with a territorial
form of government, because the Constitu-
ton provides that duties shall be uniform
within the United States, unless there should
be an amendment to the Constitution per-
mitting this.
Whether it would be possible to apply
this policy to the Philippines after they
should become part of the territory of the
United States under that provision of the
Constitution which authorizes Congress to
make needful rules and regulations respect
ing the territory or other property of the
United States l am not prepared TO say
1t is noticeable, however, that in the reso-
luton providing for the annexation of Ha-
wall. passed at the last session OF the pres
ent Congress- it was provided that the Ha-
waiian tariff should continue in force until
Congress should otherwise determine
1T is to be borne in mind, however, that
the present talk about open door policy
for the Philippines is intended to apply en-
tirely to those islands while under mill
tary administration, which would be per-
missible, and not to apply to those islands
after they shall have been formally recog-
nized by Congress as a part Of the United
States.
"Of course, it would be competent for the
Paris commissioners to incorporate in the
treaty with Spain provision granting to
Spanish imports into the Philippines equali-
ty of treatment with imports from the
United States for a term of years, and that
provision in the treaty, when ratified by
the Senate and projected into law by Con-
gress, would be the law of the land.
Great Britain and Canada.
In the discussion of the open door poll
cy 1 notice that many papers assume that
it is the uniform policy of Great Britain in
her relations with her colonies. It should
be borne in mind, however, that there is a
conspicuous exception to this in the case
of Canada, her most important colony,
which admits imports from Great Britain
at % per cent less duty than they are ad-
mtted from the United States and other
countries. 1t is understood that this policy
was adopted by Canada, if not on the sug-
gestion at least with the approval of Mr..
Chamberlain, British secretary for the col
onies, and that he is urging other colonies
of Great Britain to give d similar prefer
ence to that country.
ut should be borne in mind that very
vital point as to revenue is involved in the
possible admission of Porto Rico, Cuba and
the Philippines into the Union as territo-
ries or states. These tropical islands are
capable of producing every pound of sugar
and many other tropical products that the
United States consumes. If they should be
admitted into the Union in such a manner
as to extend our tariff over them and there
by allow the free Importation of their
products, We should probably lose not less
than SfOOOO,OO0 of revenue annually, which
would be very serious situation under eX-
listing conditions.
Continue the Military Administration
"All of these difficulties only serve to en-
phasize the soundness of the suggestion
that the true policy for the next year is to
continue the military administration of
whatever islands fail into our hands and
in the meantime make such a thorough in
vestigation of every phase of the serious
problems which must be met, which will
properly prepare us to meet them with
n